This paper presents basic information about the Americans with Disabilities Act and its physical guidelines presented in the ADA Guidelines. It also lists examples of ways museums and visitor attractions can creatively provide access in integrated ways, often at little expense or difficulty.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Paul BilziRobert AlexanderJean Parker
In this paper, researchers at Universidad Autonoma de Madrid discuss their evaluation study of the Tiphlologic Museum, a special project of the National Organization for Blind people in Spain. Key study objects, methodology, and findings are defined.
In this paper, Pat Sterry of the University of Salford (UK) discusses the potential of family group research and the need to establish a research program in a variety of heritage sites and attractions, not just museums.
This is a summary of an article by W.G. Conway featured in "Curator" in 1968, which describes the narrative of a dream. In the dream, a devil called "M" takes the author through a bullfrog exhibit to demonstrate the unlimited possibilities of exhibitng even the most common type of species.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Visitor Studies AssociationW.G. Conway
In this article, Jacksonville State University researchers Steve Bitgood and Don Patterson describe principles of visitor behavior related to three aspects of exhibit design: (1) the characteristics of the exhibit object or animal, (2) the characteristics of exhibit architecture, and (3) the characteristics of the visitors.
In this article, Michael Pierce of the Anniston Museum summarizes D. Jenkins's research on interactive technologies featured in the "Proceedings of the 1985 American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums." Jenkins divides interactive exhibits into four types: comparisons, extending human senses, learning play, and conservation.
In this article, Wilcomb E. Washburn, Director of the Smithsonian's Office of American Studies, discusses museum directors' lack of confidence, fear, and "sheer ignorance" of the value of evaluation. Washburn goes on to discuss how this lack of commitment to evaluation is mirrored by AAM policies.
This is a brief summary of a 1982 report by Jacksonville State University researchers entitled "Research and Design at the Reid Park Zoo." This report outlines design research by describing an evaluation of the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson. The authors suggest three ways that careful design research benefits a facility and identify principles for better zoo design.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Visitor Studies AssociationJ MartinJ O'Reilly
This is a brief summary of a 1981 paper in the "Proceedings of the Environmental Design Research Association" that defines post-occupancy evaluations as multifaceted alternative to exhibit evaluation.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Visitor Studies AssociationJ Shettel-NeuberJ O'ReillyJ Vining
This is a brief summary of a 1982 article in "Curator" entitled "Video vs Wall-Panel Display: An Experiment in Museum Learning," which discusses key findings from a survey of visitors who viewed a special painting exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. Information about an artist and his work was alternately provided for visitors by color wall panels, a video display, a combination of the two, or the information was not provided at all.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Visitor Studies AssociationJ. LandayR Bridge