Page 75 - EXPOTIME!Sept2017

Discussed in the web

This time: Three threads from and delegated as necessary,
o most time consuming but highest level of clean-
Museum-L and Museums-Themen ing with least chance of some sort of negative event
occurring.

1) Cleaning question They all had their advantages/disadvantages and were
2) Light text on dark background mainly dictated by need. Your main issue is staff time on
3) objects stolen from the University of Bergen Mu- busy days. If these are known ahead of time and regular,
seum a contacted company/individual might be your easiest
route but if it’s here and there a part time staff member
1) Cleaning question will likely give you the most flexibility, especially if it is
someone you can call on short notice.
Hi,
I’m wondering what everyone who runs a small museum William Shepherd
does for cleaning. Right now our staff does the cleaning Collections Officer
but on really busy days this can be an arduous task. I’m Swift Current Museum
debating between hiring a service and employing some- 44 Robert Street West, Swift Current, Saskatchewan
one specifically to clean. S9H 4M9
Phone: 306-778-4815, Fax: 306-778-4818
Sarah Smith Syden w.shepherd@SWIFTCURRENT.CA
executivedirector@CMSSNY.ORG
2) Light text on dark background

Hi Sarah, Hi All:

In a few places where I have worked, the museums hired If nearly every graphic design reference I see says to
a cleaning service for the public spaces, but have only avoid using large amounts of light text on dark colored
staff and/or volunteers clean the collections storage ar- backgrounds, why am I seeing this in so many recent
eas. This is mostly for security and safety. We had the exhibit designs? And I mean ALL of the text is light on
cleaning service come on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. dark. I'm specifically referring to printed exhibit graphic
panels rather than materials presented on screens.
Hope that helps!
-Krista What's up with that?
barryk@BELOIT.EDU
Many thanks,
--
Hello Sarah, Dan Bartlett
Curator of Exhibits and Education
I’ve worked in a few different settings: Instructor of Museum Studies
· (large institution) in house full time cleaning staff Logan Museum of Anthropology
that clean virtually everywhere expect collections Beloit College
storage/lab/exhibit items, bartletd@BELOIT.EDU
o necessary due to the sheer size of the building,
can be trained, and have an investment in doing a
good job as it’s their only location, Hi Dan,
· (medium institution) in house part time cleaning
staff that clean virtually everywhere expect collec- I've noticed in both exhibits I've created and other muse-
tions storage/lab/exhibit items, um exhibits that there is often a glare and when it's light
o benefit of potentially being cheaper than an out- on dark lettering, the glare wipes out the text making it
side service, greater flexibility for events and such, impossible to read. I think if you're able to avoid a glare
greater oversight of work being preformed, and al- problem you should be fine to use light on dark instead
lowed for easier transition of staff as no tenders of dark on light. The dark background also sets the mood
with insurance requirements had to go out, etc., of the exhibit so perhaps it's more common to have a
· (medium institution) contracted cleaning staff that lighter, more "upbeat" exhibit.
clean virtually everywhere expect collections stor-
age/lab/exhibit items, Kelly Haynes
o most hands off and easy to end relationship hayneskelly95@GMAIL.COM
should issues arise,
· (medium institution) responsibility of current staff

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EXPOTIME!, issue August/September 2017