ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Renting spaces in the museum can be complicated internally and  
externally, as Phil illustrates.  I think you have to be clear what  
the parameters are,  they have to be specific and consistent and well  
communicated with the staff and the public.  If you don't rent public  
spaces during public hours, you don't do it at all.  If specific  
spaces are only available at specific times, that has to be  
consistent.  The temptation is to waive internal rules to cultivate  
clients or increase earnings, which can lead to real problems.  Our  
space rental program has been an important part of our earned income  
stream for 20 years, and there are still internal issues with it,  
though only very rarely have we caused any public inconvenience.  I  
think we can count the number of public complaints in the past decade  
on one hand.  Staff complaints?  That would take millipede.

Eric Siegel
Executive VP
    Programs and Planning
NY Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Queens, NY 11368
[log in to unmask]
718 699 0005 x 317
www.nyscience.org


On Oct 26, 2006, at 8:41 AM, Phil Edgerton wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> ********************************************************************** 
> *******
>
> No offense specifically to Washington Museum; I'm sure they have their
> reasons. But if I as a visitor came to a museum with stated  
> operating hours
> and found a corporation with satchels of money in possession of the  
> facility
> causing me to lose my access I would be angry. I would never  
> frequent that
> museum again and would withdraw all my support in any way possible.  
> If my
> tax money went to that museum I would try my best to get that stopped.
>
> Phil Edgerton
>
> ********************************************************************** 
> *
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