This question is really directed toward medium-sized and larger
institutions.

Our museum is offering an increasing number of behind-the-scenes tours
as prizes at auctions, for higher-level donors, new employee
orientation, to cater to future facility rental clients, visiting
dignitaries, etc.  Most of these tours last from one to two hours.
There are currently two curators being asked to do these tours quite
regularly.  I would like to propose to administration that a small group
of long-term volunteers, maybe five, be trained to lead these tours to
each department and then the staff in that department would give a five
or ten minute introduction to that area. All requests would be filtered
through the volunteer office and scheduled just like a docent-led tour
in the exhibit halls.  (I know there are a few volunteers who would love
the opportunity to lead special tours to the upper floors).

What I would like to ask is this: Who does them in your
museum/institution and how is it coordinated?  Any additional comments
or suggestions on this topic appreciated.

Dawn Scher Thomae
Milwaukee Public Museum

=========================================================
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).