I'd like to echo Jerrie's Sentiments.  When this topic came up the only
question on my mind was "what good would it do?"  What functional difference
would a charter have on the day-to-day operations of a museum? You either
take it seriously as an institution or you don't, and I can't see how taking
time out of your already filled schedule to write a charter will change
that. Yes, it sounds good in theory, but I am slowly getting cynical about
studies, charters, plans, etc. Too many professionals and trustees think
writing a report is a substitute for doing the work.

A quick show of hands: How many people have reports from consultants,
evaluator's reports, plans done in house, and the like on their office
shelves that were completed and never referred to a again? That's what I
thought. At a previous gig I had over a foot and a half of shelf space
devoted to such things and then we hired a consultant to create a report on
past reports. I felt like I was in a Dilbert cartoon.

Visitor service is not rocket science or even political science. We know
what needs to be done and there are some fine books, workshops, etc. If your
institution takes it seriously, you don't need a Visitor's Charter to tell
you what to do. If your institution does not, I cannot see how a visitor's
charter will change that. Like I said, it all sounds reasonable and
righteous in theory, but I just don't see it truly helping in those
institutions that truly need it.

Just my 2¢.


-- 
Matthew White
Director of Museums
Mount Washington Observatory
www.mountwashington.org




Jerrie Clarke Wrote:

> While I feel that sometimes too much time is spent defining every aspect of
> what we do and setting goals we cannot meet because we are writing reports,
> resolutions, charters and more goals.  Why do we need a visitors' charter
> (said calmly with a curious look on my face and tone in my voice).  Isn't
> the visitor in mind as we design exhibits, write labels, and present public
> programs?
> 
> I don't think it's necessarily indicitive of low regard for the visitors.  I
> think it's just that we have way too much to do already.
> 
> Jerrie
> 
> Jerrie Clarke
> Curator of Collections
> Valdez Museum
> http://www.alaska.net/~vldzmuse/index.html

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