Exhibition Docent Handbook - Museum on Main Street

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TIPS FOR BEING ANINFORMED ANDEFFECTIVE DOCENT• Introduce yourself and make sure each visitorin your tour group feels welcome.• Tell visitors that BETWEEN FENCES is an exhibitioncreated by an innovative partnership that bringsSmithsonian exhibitions to rural communities.It was specifically designed to be small, flexible, andeasily transportable.• Orient your visitors to the exhibition and give thema starting point from which you’ll begin their tour.If your visitors prefer a self-guided tour, providea few highlights of the exhibition and make sure theyknow you are available to answer questions.• Give your visitors an idea of what they can expecton the tour—how long the tour will last (45 minutesis a good average), whether there are seating areasalong the way, etc.• Be familiar with the exhibition and the informationprovided in your docent handbook. Feel freeto carry your handbook on your tours, but avoidreading directly from it. Aim for comfortable andconversational exchanges with your visitors.• Encourage visitors to ask questions. Don’t be afraidto say, “I don’t know,” but try to find out the answerbefore the visitors leave.• Avoid asking questions that can be answered with“yes” or “no.” Ask open-ended questions like: “Whatdo you think . . . ?” or “How do you feel about . . . ?”• Give visitors time to think about and answer questions.Usually someone will speak up in about 10 seconds.• Be sure to practice your tour with museum staff, otherdocents and volunteers, and your family and friends.• Remember, if you’re relaxed and having a good time,your visitors will enjoy themselves too. Have fun!
As representatives of the museum, docents are oftenasked all sorts of questions.BE PREPARED!• Know the museum’s name, address, phone number,hours of operation, and the locations of the giftshop, restrooms, water fountains, pay phones, andseating areas.• Know the disabled access information for themuseum or exhibition space.• Be familiar with dates and times of special eventsassociated with BETWEEN FENCES.• Be familiar with other exhibitions in the museumor exhibition space.Written by Ann C. EasterlingDesigned by Hall Smyth, Chicken & Egg Public Projects, Inc.© 2005 Smithsonian InstitutionThis publication may be reproduced for educational purposes.www.museumonmainstreet.org
Page 1 and 2: docent handbookMuseum</stro
Page 3 and 4: Welcome to BETWEEN FENCES and thank
Page 5 and 6: THINK ABOUT ITHave your visitors en
Page 7 and 8: Chicken & Egg Public Projects, Inc.
Page 9 and 10: THINK ABOUT ITEncourage your visito
Page 11 and 12: • Match the sliding front-yard fe
Page 13 and 14: LET’S TALK• Does The Leedom Far
Page 15 and 16: Rail pile near Circleville, Ohio, 1
Page 17 and 18: THINK ABOUT ITAsk your visitors to
Page 19 and 20: THINK ABOUT ITEncourage your visito
Page 21 and 22: LET’S TALK• In 1860, only seven
Page 23 and 24: • Do you think livestock should h
Page 25 and 26: LET’S TALK• What do you think
Page 27 and 28: Spite fence, Lanesboro, Minnesota,
Page 29 and 30: THINK ABOUT ITAs they explore both
Page 31 and 32: Postcard of the border between Sono
Page 33: Photographs from Farm and Fence <st

Exhibition Docent Handbook - Museum on Main Street

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