We are getting ready to mount an exhibit.
Does anyone have suggestions of adhesives for labels that won’t do damage
to walls?
Katie,
Columbia, PA
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of George Garner
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006
9:28 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L]
Hi John,
AAM published a fantastic resource called Standards
Manual for Signs & Labels. Visit http://aam-us.org/bookstore/detail.cfm?id=595
to purchase. When the Met decided to redo their label copy, they studied
optimal readability for a variety of visitors. The results in this book offer
great minimal standards for different needs of visitors and different types of
labels. It has become my ready-reference manual whenever I'm designing label
copy.
But the other post was correct. Ideally, wall-mounted text should be centered
around 43-51" with at least an 80% contrast between text and background, a
readable font, and a size large enough for the distance the visitor can easily
view it from. The book has examples of typefaces and type sizes. There's
nothing wrong with floor labels or hanging titles from the ceiling so long as
they're angled properly and are large enough and readable enough. Again, the
book can help. It was well worth the $25 cost ($34 for non-members) and made a
significant impact on my museum and our visitors. I get a lot of complements,
particularly from some of our older volunteers.
Best,
George Garner
George Garner
Director of Exhibitions
Center for History
808 West
www.centerforhistory.org // (574)
235-9664
--------
Celebrate Black History Month in February at the Center
for History by visiting the exhibition, "A Free Life."
John Martinson wrote:
I had a question on ADA conversation on the issue of wheelchairs and that the "exhibit can be seen from viewing sightings of43 in. to 51 in. high from the floor."(p 5 of 39 ADMS, PNNEW INDEX). Does that mean that we can only have 8 in. of panel on the wall, orthat the panel must fit within that areaoff the floor, or it could mean the panel can be anywhere from 0 in. to51 in's from the floor? I have seen no museums are using only an 8 inch section of panel (43 to51 in. from the floor) for their exhibit/labels, or have their entirepanels/exhibit BELOW 51 inches. Sitting in a chair near the panels it is readable, but we were thinkingthere are more people who are 5 feet 5 or taller who would have a verydifficult time looking down at something 43 inches, especially if tryingto read the text. How does your museum comply with ADA John