We all learn different codes of conduct for different types of spaces. One does not act the same as a spectator at a hockey game as when browsing for books in a library. As we preserve and protect valuable collections, museums have (written or unwritten) rules regarding visitor behaviour that sometimes need to be communicated and enforced.      But how? And by whom?

Here are a few areas of concern.

Ming tomb stone guardian camel photo source : Lorie Pierce

1. Touching and climbing – we have two of these beautiful stone carved camels sitting nose to nose. Can you see the ‘No Touching’ sign? Parents routinely place their children on these objects (from the mid-1600′s) for photos. I have seen two teenagers run the length of the gallery and vault over one.
2. Gum chewing – The removal of gum from surfaces, such as artifacts, can cause a great deal of damage. Therefore, gum chewing is forbidden in the galleries. Last week, I saw a teacher of a visiting class actually blow a bubble and smack her gum loudly in her mouth. I politely told her our policy and the reason for it, making sure she removed the gum.
3. Food in the galleries – Parents often pull out a bag of snacks. We have special accessible area for families to eat food they have brought themselves. It has vending machines for drinks and is close to washrooms and a drinking fountain. There is a full cafeteria also on the premises. Visitors can also leave to eat elsewhere and re- enter with their ticket stubs.
4. Loud voices and running – Museums are exciting places and kids want to share their new discoveries with their friends. This can add up to a lot of pandemonium, especially in our Age of Dinosaurs Gallery. This behaviour does not concern me that much as long as the excitement is directed at the collections, rather than be an impromptu game of tag (or hide-and-seek behind the giant clam). Usually there are security guards in all the major galleries who monitor the traffic. However, due to budget constraints, we do not have as good floor coverage any more. Increasingly we have toddler and senior visitors who are less mobile so I am definitely proactive when excited swarms of kids are mixing into the same gallery space as those groups. Redirection to the nearest, coolest object in the collection, tends to get kids’ attention and calms the behaviour.
5. Photography – Several years ago, our museum changed to a policy that allows photographs throughout our collections and gallery spaces, unless signed otherwise. Examples of areas of prohibition would be blockbuster traveling exhibits and artwork/artifacts on loan by others (as they own the copyright, not us). In saying that, sometimes an artist, such as the photographer Sebastião Salgado, gives permission for photography of his work.