In response to the requests for information on audio guides. I have just spent the last two months searching for studies on this topic for my grad project. I have found very little in terms of formal studies on the benefits of using audio guides or which work the best. With the exception of the three listed below. However, I have realized in talking to many museum people that maintenance is a main concern, therefore, assess how much daily usage you expect when deciding between the relatively inexpensive cassette tape guide and the more expensive solid state MP3 style. Anything with motors will have more wear and tear. I have heard repeatedly that CD-Roms are problematic and breakdown a lot.

Alan J. Friedman, Director, New York Hall of Science published a report titled, The Audio Tour Access Project at the New York Hall of Science" in the ASTC Newsletter and he also produced a report "Interactive Audio Tours for Hands-on Exhibits in Informal Learning" in April, try contacting him for a copy.

In addition, Ellen Giusti, American Museum Natural History, presented a report titled "Now Hear This: Expanding Interpretive Possibilities with Digitized Audio Guides" at the American Association of Museums Annual Meeting, May 5, 1996. I think a tape of this can be purchased through the AAM.

If you run across anything else I would appreciate you letting me know as my research still slogs on. My project is on designing a new type of tour guide which incorporates visual as well as audio information. My design brief can be found at www.eciad.bc.ca/~eleyland apologies to Netscape users, this site works best in Explorer.