P.A. system mooted for museum

Press, 22 June 1984, Page 4

P.A. system mooted for museum

A public address system may be installed at the Canterbury Museum. The museum’s director, Mr Michael Trotter, believes a public address system would complement the new television surveillance equipment, as well as being useful for public announcements and paging staff members.

He told Museum Trust Board members yesterday that it would be particularly useful for special events, emergencies, and announcing the closing time each day.

the new television security system was successful and had already helped stop one act of vandalism, but Mr Trotter believed a public address system would improve the facility.

Some board members were concerned that messages to staff would disturb visitors. Mr Trotter said the address system would need two circuits — one for staff

messages, and the other for public announcements. Mrs Myrtle Duff said the system would be “terrible.”

“All the major museums in the world can do without them and so should we.”

She suggested that staff should carry “bleepers” similar to those used by doctors.

Mr Trotter said it would cost about $2500 to buy portable radios for four staff members. The advantage of a public address system would be that all staff could be reached at one time. No decision was made by the board. Special meeting Future policies and staff allocations will be discussed at a special meeting of the board.

The. staff committee had been asked to prepare a report on staff allocations but said that this could not be done without examining

guidelines and policies for the museum’s future.

Dr Colin Burrows suggested that the board should discuss what the museum was trying to do.

Other board members supported this and said it would encourage them to look closely at the museum’s policies and not just rubber-stamp recommendations. Display closed The museum’s costume gallery has been closed temporarily while show cases are rebuilt and modified, and a new costume display set up. The new display will be be of clothing for special occasions from 1720 to 1960. Mr Trotter said the show cases were being modified to make it easier to change displays. He hoped this could be done about every three years, which was the average time that surveys suggested visitors returned to the museum.