英文摘要 |
Museums use a variety of media and methods to guide visitors around their facilities. This includes everything from signage and tour guides to printed guidebooks and other drawings and written instructions. Printed guide is one among the tools used to help visitors find their way around a museum. But how effective is it in fulfilling this role, and what other functions does it offer for the visitor? This article looks at the visitor's guide used in the National Science and Technology Museum to evaluate their usefulness in directing visitors and in serving as marketing materials for the museum. Finally, we look at the willingness of visitors to purchase a printed guide of the museum, what prices they will accept and overall satisfaction with the visitor's guide. The article relies on a questionnaire handed out to visitors when they enter the museum as well as number calculation and chi-square statistics. Analysis of the results showed that 72.1 % of those surveyed felt the content of the visitor's guide was very clear in its introduction of the exhibition galleries and main display themes. 79.3% said the illustrations clearly presented the themes and special features of the exhibits. This indicates that the visitor's guide used in the museum are highly successful in offering 'concept guides' for visitors that will explain the main themes and allow them to tour the museum without any problems. Most of those surveyed were able to locate specific points in the museum by following the printed maps and signs 82.4% easily found the exhibition galleries while 68.9% found a restroom and 486% were able to locate the second floor café. This indicates the value of the maps in finding spots throughout the facility. This is especially encouraging given the multi-level layout of the NSTM with six floors and one basement level; the large number of exhibition areas (18 permanent and three temporary exhibition galleries); and the considerable floor area (114,355 sq.m). The maps together with the signage around the museum helped the visitors to find the areas they were looking for quickly and effortlessly. In addition, 89.1 % said the printed guide had a definite effect on their selection of what to see in the museum. In short, the guides helped to enhance the usefulness of the National Science and Technology Museum for visitors. The National Science and Technology Museum has set up stamping stations at each of the 18 permanent exhibition galleries where visitors can stamp their guidebook as a souvenir and record of their visit. Surveys showed that this marketing ploy attracted 84% of those surveyed to use the stamps. The chi-square test showed that those who stamped their guidebooks were far more likely to retain the printed materials and take them home or give them to others to use. A total of 92.8% of the sample expressed intent to take the guides home for themselves or for friends and relatives. Thus the stamp pages and the guidebooks themselves have definite marketing value for the museum. The survey also polled visitors on their willingness to purchase printed materials as a part of the trend toward more self-sufficient public museums in Taiwan. 52% of those surveyed said that if free materials were discontinued due to cost considerations, then they would be willing to pay for the materials. Must suggest a price from NT$6 to NT$20 a copy, a price range which the museum should keep in mind in setting prices in the future. Willingness to pay was actually quite high, at 96.4% of the samples. Most visitors can accept the idea that 11 whoever uses the materials should pay for them', and such a move should be beneficial to both visitors and the museum if it is taken in the future. |