Jerrie,

Bravo!

Tim
__________________
Timothy S Bottoms
Registrar
Cape Fear Museum
814 Market Street
Wilmington, NC  28401-4731
Phone: (910) 341-4350 ext. 3011
Fax: (910) 341-4037





Jerrie Clarke <[log in to unmask]>@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM> on 02/27/2001
12:55:25 AM

Please respond to Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>

Sent by:  Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>


To:   [log in to unmask]
cc:

Subject:  Re: visitor charters


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


>From: Eugene Dillenburg <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: visitor charters
>Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2001 00:39:37 -0600
>
>While I, too, was disappointed to see so few responses to the request for
>visitor charters, I fear this may simply be indicative of the low regard
>many museums have for Visitor Services -- or even for visitors.  We define
>ourselves by our collections and our research, and tolerate the public as
>long as they are quiet and, well-behaved, do what we want them to do and
>learn what we want them to learn.
>
>Many of us joke "This would be a great place if it weren't for all the
>visitors," but much truth is spoken in that jest.  (And no, I still
haven't
>tracked down the source of that quote.)  What is sadly overlooked is the
>fact that visitors are the defining characteristic of our profession.  If
>you're not open to the public, you may be a fine collections and research
>facility, but you are not a museum.  You'd think we'd pay them a little
>more
>attention.
>
>The reasons for this are many and interesting, and tend to revolve around
>issues of professionalism.  (Those professions which require the most
skill
>and training, and thus tend to accrue the greatest authority, respect, and
>salary, tend not to be directly involved with the visitors.)
>
>Opinions?
>
>-- Gene
>
>"According to the laws of quantum mechanics, God can be omnipotent, or He
>can be omniscient, but He can't be both."
>
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