In Barcelona I was asked to leave my bag in a locker (backpack and purse!).
In Greece there was no problem, but they do have an attendant at each
doorway so they pretty much keep an eye on you.  At the Bowers Museum in
Santa Ana, California, they are asking people to leave bulky items, and
cameras behind in their cars (they have a high security show going on there)
and people have been compliant.  If you cannot install lockers (due to
finances or lack of space), then asking people to leave things locked in the
car should be an option.

O
Olivia S. Anastasiadis, Curator
Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace
18001 Yorba Linda Boulevard
Yorba Linda, CA  92886
(714) 993-5075 ext. 224; fax (714) 528-0544
www.nixonlibrary.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lori Allen" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 8:42 AM
Subject: Re: Security concerns and storage lockers


> Concerning the use of lockers, personally I hate it.  If I am carrying the
> bag, I must be doing so for a reason and having to put it in a locker
> defeats that reason entirely.  Frankly, in Europe, I have never been asked
> to leave my bag.  Have staff check it going in and out, yes, but leave it
> somewhere, no.  I know many people who feel the same way and some that
feel
> the opposite: they see lockers as a convenience.  You'll get some of both,
> no doubt.
>
> However, I understand that there just some environments where it is a
safety
> issue for the collections to have people with large bags wondering around
> (due to space constraints).  I think this needs to be explained UP FRONT.
I
> especially like the parking lot idea.  It really pisses me off to have to
> walk back to the car because they won't let my all-in-one purse/diaper bag
> backpack in the museum. (Actually I left, because no mother in her right
> mind would go anywhere with an 8 month old and no diaper bag,)
>
> My biggest peeve however, is that many museums seem to discriminate based
on
> age of carrier or type of bag.  I have been asked to leave my backpack
when
> older women with purses the same size are not asked to leave theirs.  And
> when I did carry a large purse-type diaper bag combo, I wasn't asked to
> leave it and others with school backpacks on were asked to leave theirs.
> Inconsistency looks very discriminatory.
>
> I would think that being up front and consistent would be key.  Also, why
> are you asking for people to put their bags in lockers?  If it is due to
> space constraints, I think most people will understand and accepting.  If
it
> is because you think someone might bring something in or out of the
museum,
> I think bag checking is a much better solution personally.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Panza, Robin
> Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 10:26 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Security concerns and storage lockers
>
>
> >>>>From: Richard Fields [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> With that said, could anyone give information on storage lockers for
> museums-historic sites?  Do the public balk at using them or is it just
> accepted.  <<<<
>
> When I went to Fallingwater (a Frank Lloyd Wright historic house in SW
> Pennsylvania), there was a person at the entrance to the property, before
we
> even reached the parking lot, handing out slips of paper.  The slip stated
> that bulky purses, camera bags, etc. would absolutely not be allowed in
and
> to be sure to leave them in the car.
>
> You don't need to buy lockers if you do it that way.
>
> Robin K Panza
> Section of Birds, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
> 4400 Forbes Ave.
> Pittsburgh  PA  15213  USA
> phone:  412-622-3255
> fax:  412-622-8837
> [log in to unmask]
>
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