Please Touch! Why the touch barrier needs to be dropped!
Please Touch!
Why the Touch Barrier Must be Dropped
And How to go About Doing it!
Gasp! Did he really just say that?
Yes, I did. It’s time for museums to move past the ‘no-touch’ rule.
But wait… aren’t artifacts fragile? Don’t you need special training?
Do you? I’ve handled hundreds of fossils, rocks, and minerals—as an amateur collector, while working in natural history museums, and through formal study.
Trust me, most fossils and rocks are far sturdier than you think. In decades of experience, I’ve only broken one… and, well, we don’t talk about that!
Additionally, durability isn’t the reason visitors aren’t allowed to touch objects. As Eilean Hooper-Greenhill explains in Museums and the Shaping of Knowledge, the touch barrier was established to distinguish curators—who studied objects and generated knowledge—from visitors, who were limited to simply observing.
It is about status, not about the object! But we live in a slightly different world now.
Need more reasons to abandon this outdated practice? People are already handling fossils, rocks, antique furniture—and yes, even those cherished rings you hold so dear.
Did you know that most antique jewelry is not in museums? The trade in fossils, rocks, and antiques is healthy and vibrant. People are knowledgeable. If they can't engage in museums, they will go somewhere else.
Traditionally, museums have placed a strict “Do Not Touch” policy on their exhibits to protect artifacts from deterioration. However, as museums evolve to become more interactive and inclusive, there is a growing movement toward allowing visitors to touch objects in controlled ways.
This shift enhances engagement, deepens understanding, and makes museums more accessible to diverse audiences, including children and individuals with visual impairments.
But how can museums allow tactile interaction while preserving the integrity of their collections? Below are some strategies and best practices to balance interactivity with conservation.
1. Creating Touch-Friendly Zones
Museums can designate specific areas where visitors can handle objects without jeopardizing rare or fragile artifacts. These zones may feature:
- Replica exhibits: High-quality reproductions of artifacts that mimic the original's texture and form, allowing visitors to engage physically without damaging authentic pieces.
- Durable objects: Some artifacts, such as certain stone or metal tools, can withstand frequent handling with minimal degradation. Selecting robust objects, like fossils and rocks, for hands-on experiences ensures longevity.
- Many spaces, like aquariums and zoos are already doing this. Museums need to as well.
If I can touch a stingray in an aquarium, I should be able to touch a fossil.
You're going to tell people not to do something they are already doing? Nice ammonite, by the way!
2. Using Protective Measures
For museums that choose to allow handling of authentic objects, protective measures are necessary:
- Gloves: Requiring visitors to wear gloves when handling objects can reduce the transfer of oils and dirt that may accelerate degradation.
- Protective coatings: Applying conservation-approved sealants to objects can help protect against minor wear and tear.
- Scheduled handling times: Restricting when and how often objects can be touched reduces exposure and prolongs their lifespan.
3. Technology-Enhanced Interaction
Advancements in technology provide innovative ways for visitors to experience objects without direct contact:
Screens can give visitors the opportunity to be a researcher for a day and inspire the scientists of tomorrow!
- Touch-sensitive screens: High-resolution, 3D-scanned models of artifacts can be explored using touch screens, allowing visitors to zoom in and rotate objects virtually.
- Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): These technologies enable users to "touch" objects in a digital space, offering a tactile illusion without physical contact.
- Haptic feedback: Some museums integrate touch-sensitive gloves or surfaces that simulate the texture of an artifact, giving visitors a realistic sense of touch without actual handling.
4. Interactive Workshops and Educational Programs
Museums can introduce special events where visitors are allowed to handle objects under expert supervision. This could include:
- Guided touch tours for visually impaired visitors.
- Archaeological dig simulations, where guests handle replicas of ancient objects to learn about excavation.
- Material-based learning, where visitors can touch different materials like stone, wood, and textiles to understand how artifacts were made.
Introducing touch to museums turns them from unfriendly exclusion zones to community centers.
5. Visitor Education and Responsibility
Encouraging responsible interaction is key to ensuring objects remain intact. Museums can educate visitors by:
- Posting signs explaining the importance of careful handling.
- Training staff and volunteers to demonstrate proper touch techniques.
- Providing audio or visual guides on why some objects can be touched while others cannot.
Some caveats: obviously, material and purpose is relevant. There are objects, like paintings, where touching does not make sense. Paintings are very much a look only object. But if the material is suited towards touch, go ahead and allow it!
Conclusion
By thoughtfully incorporating touch-friendly exhibits, museums can offer richer, more inclusive learning experiences while still preserving their collections. With the right balance of technology, education, and conservation strategies, museums can bridge the gap between preservation and engagement, making history and art come alive in a more hands-on way.
Ensuring that visitors can touch means that museums will remain relevant into the future.
But how can museums allow tactile interaction while preserving the integrity of their collections? Below are some strategies and best practices to balance interactivity with conservation.
1. Creating Touch-Friendly Zones
Museums can designate specific areas where visitors can handle objects without jeopardizing rare or fragile artifacts. These zones may feature:
- Replica exhibits: High-quality reproductions of artifacts that mimic the original's texture and form, allowing visitors to engage physically without damaging authentic pieces.
- Durable objects: Some artifacts, such as certain stone or metal tools, can withstand frequent handling with minimal degradation. Selecting robust objects, like fossils and rocks, for hands-on experiences ensures longevity.
- Many spaces, like aquariums and zoos are already doing this. Museums need to as well.
If I can touch a stingray in an aquarium, I should be able to touch a fossil.
You're going to tell people not to do something they are already doing? Nice ammonite, by the way!
2. Using Protective Measures
For museums that choose to allow handling of authentic objects, protective measures are necessary:
- Gloves: Requiring visitors to wear gloves when handling objects can reduce the transfer of oils and dirt that may accelerate degradation.
- Protective coatings: Applying conservation-approved sealants to objects can help protect against minor wear and tear.
- Scheduled handling times: Restricting when and how often objects can be touched reduces exposure and prolongs their lifespan.
3. Technology-Enhanced Interaction
Advancements in technology provide innovative ways for visitors to experience objects without direct contact:
- Touch-sensitive screens: High-resolution, 3D-scanned models of artifacts can be explored using touch screens, allowing visitors to zoom in and rotate objects virtually.
- Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): These technologies enable users to "touch" objects in a digital space, offering a tactile illusion without physical contact.
- Haptic feedback: Some museums integrate touch-sensitive gloves or surfaces that simulate the texture of an artifact, giving visitors a realistic sense of touch without actual handling.
4. Interactive Workshops and Educational Programs
Museums can introduce special events where visitors are allowed to handle objects under expert supervision. This could include:
- Guided touch tours for visually impaired visitors.
- Archaeological dig simulations, where guests handle replicas of ancient objects to learn about excavation.
- Material-based learning, where visitors can touch different materials like stone, wood, and textiles to understand how artifacts were made.
Introducing touch to museums turns them from unfriendly exclusion zones to community centers.
5. Visitor Education and Responsibility
Encouraging responsible interaction is key to ensuring objects remain intact. Museums can educate visitors by:
- Posting signs explaining the importance of careful handling.
- Training staff and volunteers to demonstrate proper touch techniques.
- Providing audio or visual guides on why some objects can be touched while others cannot.
Some caveats: obviously, material and purpose is relevant. There are objects, like paintings, where touching does not make sense. Paintings are very much a look only object. But if the material is suited towards touch, go ahead and allow it!
Conclusion
By thoughtfully incorporating touch-friendly exhibits, museums can offer richer, more inclusive learning experiences while still preserving their collections. With the right balance of technology, education, and conservation strategies, museums can bridge the gap between preservation and engagement, making history and art come alive in a more hands-on way.
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