Hi All, As someone in visitor services who works with Protection staff, I suggest people stop thinking of each department in a museum as discrete. This is not a task for security/protection OR visitors services, but a matter of: (1) regular cross-training sessions with visitor services (or public relations) department/personnel on how to deal with visitors appropriately and effectively -- which includes not hovering over visitors as if they are about to damage or steal an artifact or work of art. Obviously, security/protection staff must not be responsible for answering questions about the art/artifacts, as they must focus on security issues . . . but they should be able to suggest resources (library, personnel, etc.) in a friendly manner. ALSO, (2) a less formal/imposing uniform -- as in "The Changing of the Guards" (ARTnews, March 2001). The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Mint Art Museum, etc. have all shifted to a more down-to-earth, street-clothes kind of uniform. Sincerely, Jay Heuman, Visitor & Volunteer Services Coordinator Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68102 342-3300 (telephone) 342-2376 (fax) www.joslyn.org > -----Original Message----- > From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On > Behalf Of Ross Weeks > Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2001 9:38 am > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: security officers and "hosts" > > > Wouldn't the security contractor consider not requiring "uniforms" for > personnel on duty? That has worked elsewhere and also is my personal > experience. The museum could, if necessary, provide blazers & slacks. > > If appearance is the only concern, security people can work just as > well without an uniform. If having an interactive host is the concern, > then that would be a function of visitor services. > > Ross Weeks Jr. > Historic Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park > Tazewell, Va. > http://histcrab.netscope.net ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).