ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

It is anecdotal. Don't get too concerned.  When you have a handful of
similar complaints then start to look at it again. I had one very
serious complaint concerning our dairy cow exhibit and how it needed to
be "removed immediately" for the bad message we were conveying regarding
farm animals and their treatment and the "myth of milk" be good for you
and that we had become industry mouthpieces and so on....she actually
had some points I agreed with but we didn't change the exhibit.  All too
often we can read between the lines and what we actually are hearing is:
"My kids were tired and cranky and so was I and gee how come our visit
didn't solve all our problems."  

Most museums have some standard policy/method for responding to these
kind of complaints.  I am sure you folks do as well.  Here in Austin we
let the appropriate staff members review the complaint. That is usually
me (exhibits), the manager of education and that day's floor manager.
It could also include someone from membership or operations, etc.
depending on the nature of the complaint.  We all weigh in with our take
on what transpired, what needs action and what was just the nature of
that day.  Then one of us makes a phone call(prefered) or writes a
response. The personal touch is very important and often leads to more
meaningful input from the visitor. We will often then offer a few free
passes or maybe some other compensation.  

Erich Rose
Exhibit Manager
Austin Children's Museum
201 Colorado Street
Austin, TX 78701
512-472-2499 ext 207
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Thomas Humphrey
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 1:48 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: scaring children?

ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
************************************************************************
*****

Dear Listserve,

I am writing in the hope that one of you may be able to give me
information which would be helpful in accessing a recent complaint about
an exhibit in the collection: 'Listen:Making Sense of Sound' at the
Exploratorium. A mother wrote that our exhibit Sonic Storytelling
"scared her kids". Sonic Storytelling is a radio sound effects exhibit.
Various radio scripts are read while visitors add sound effects. One of
the scripts is a film noir sort of script (campy, in my opinion) about a
detective investigating a murder. The sound effects include doors
slamming, phones ringing and a gunshot at the end. I am taking her
complaint seriously but it doesn't seem to me that such an exhibit is
inappropriate for a place like the Exploratorium. Maybe there is some
evidence that it is. Do any of you have any experiences which would
inform me? Free free to respond to the listserve, or to my email at
[log in to unmask]

Thomas Humphrey
Senior Scientist
The Exploratorium

***********************************************************************
For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and
the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
www.exhibitfiles.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft.
To learn more, visit http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.

To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]

***********************************************************************
For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.

To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]