Learning in the history museum: designing exhibit labels that engage visitors
Loading...
Files
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of New Brunswick
Abstract
This qualitative study examined the ways that exhibit labels influence the process of engagement at a history museum. New labels were designed for an existing exhibit at a local museum. Volunteers were invited to visit and share their experience in a post-visit survey and interviews. The results suggest that labels can significantly influence visitor engagement, by initiating, extending, transforming, interrupting, or severing connections with display objects; that prior museum experience is a determining factor in museum visitors’ response to labels; and that to understand engagement in the museum, it is necessary to interact with visitors rather than simply observing them.