Expectations and Additional Tasks

While the greeter may provide a guest’s first impression, you will be able to provide them with a lasting impression.

Two Museums, One Team

As we grow, our goal is to have a docent assigned to the trolley station as well as a docent assigned to the National Road Museum.  If no one is assigned to the Trolley Station, National Road Museum docents should have some understanding of the trolley exhibits and a willingness to walk over to those exhibits with visitors.

Greet guests and make yourself known with a smile.

“Hello, my name is ______ and I’ll be around to answer question you may have about the exhibits.” is all it usually takes.  Sometimes the greeter will introduce you if you are there to welcome the guest at the first exhibit.

Observe and remain reasonably near to guests so that they can ask questions.

Even if you don’t know many answers, remain in the exhibit hall when guests are browsing the exhibits.  You don’t need to remain with the guests at all times, feel free to sit in a chair and read a book or linger nearby, but make sure the guests know where you are and don’t have to seek you out if they have a question.  We don’t want our visitors to feel abandoned.

We don’t expect you to memorize everything…in fact, there is far too much history related to our exhibits for anyone to learn it all.  We expect our docents to have read the three “101” courses here in the Learning Center, and be familiar with where to look for common answers if they are needed.  We offer summary histories in the Red Book under the desk, and some library resources in the Multi-purpose room.

If a guest asks a question you can’t answer, it is always OK to say that you don’t know.  Every time you don’t know something, it is an opportunity to learn!

Offer input or direction if guests appear to be confused or lost.

Even though we provide guests with a self guided tour map, the order of exhibits can sometimes confuse people, and many overlook the theater.  Don’t be afraid to speak up and offer suggestions for what to explore next.

Find ways to engage guests and help them to better understand the exhibits.

Our exhibits give many basic ideas, and many of which will be new concepts for our visitors.  Feel free to offer insight about the exhibit the visitor is reading beyond what the text says, if you know more information about the exhibit topic.

Monitor the exhibit hall equipment to ensure everything is working.

Our exhibits have some interactive elements, and more will come as we improve on them.  Our docents should check these from time to time and report any damages or malfunctions immediately.

Optional Additional Tasks

If you have downtime and don’t have a book of your own to read, consider the following options.

• Study exhibit topics through the library in the Multi-Purpose Room.
• Gently dust the exhibits.
• Check the bathrooms for any cleaning or refilling needs.
• Assist the greeter with their tasks.

When there are no visitors in the building, our docents are more than welcome to socialize with our greeters.  Just be sure to give all focus to guests when they are present!