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Exhibit Labels

An Interpretive Approach, Third Edition

Beverly Serrell and Katherine Whitney

Beverly Serrell and Katherine Whitney cover the essentials of the processes of exhibit label planning, writing, design, and production. In this third edition, Serrell’s classic guide to writing interpretive exhibit labels is updated to include new voices, current scholarship and the unique issues the museum field is grappling with in the 21st century. With high quality photographs and new sections, this edition is more accessible and easier to use for all museum professionals, from label writers to museum directors to exhibit designers.

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  • Author
  • Author
  • TOC
  • TOC
  • Reviews
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  • Features
  • Features
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 250 • Trim: 7¼ x 10¼
978-1-5381-6045-9 • Hardback • January 2024 • $95.00 • (£73.00)
978-1-5381-6046-6 • Paperback • January 2024 • $45.00 • (£35.00)
978-1-5381-6047-3 • eBook • January 2024 • $42.50 • (£35.00)
Subjects: Business & Economics / Museum Administration & Museology
Courses: Museum Studies; Collection Management, Museum Studies; Historical Museums & Local History, Museum Studies; Exhibit Planning & Design, Museum Studies; Public History

Beverly Serrell has been an exhibition and evaluation consultant with art, history, natural history, and science museums, as well as zoos and aquariums. She was previously head of a museum education department for eight years, and worked as a high school science teacher and a research lab technician. Serrell holds an MA in science teaching in informal settings and a BS in biology. In 1995, she was a guest scholar at the J. Paul Getty Museum and has received two National Science Foundation grants to conduct research on visitor behavior in museum exhibitions. She has been a frequent museum visitor all her life.

Katherine Whitney is a museum consultant specializing in exhibit development and label writing. Her work has taken her into art, science, history and children’s museums, as well as zoos and aquariums. She is particularly interested in how families engage with museums and has written about her own family’s experiences. Whitney has an MA in Museum Studies and a BA in Art History.

Preface

PART I: INTRODUCTION

1. Guidelines and Essentials

PART II: OVERVIEW

2. Behind It All: The Big Idea

3. What Are Interpretive Labels?

4. Types of Labels in an Exhibition

5. The Importance of Captions

6. Label Systems

Photo Figures for Part IIxx

PART III: CONSIDERING THE AUDIENCE

7. Who Is The Audience?

8. Audience Segmentation

9. The Number of Words

10. Readability Issues

11. Multilingual Labels

12. The Labels Voice: Who's Talking to Me?

Photo Figures for Part III

PART IV: ENHANCING THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

13. Improving Orientation

14. Being Visitor Friendly

15. Making Words and Images Work Together

16. Labels That Ask Questions

17. Labels for Interactive Exhibits

18. Digital Label Strategies

Photo Figures for Part IV

PART V: TASKS

19. Getting Started, and Getting Done

20. Prototyping

21. Typographic Considerations

22. Production Materials and Issues

23. Evaluation After Opening

Photo Figures for Part V

PART VI: VOICES FROM THE FIELD

PART VII: CONCLUSIONS

24. What Research Tells Us About Visitors

25. Essentials Takeaway

Acknowledgements

Photo Figure Index

Bibliography

Index

In this third edition, Beverly Serrell and Katherine Whitney remind me of what’s important and challenge me to do better—with humor, humility, and references to the great work colleagues have done creating and evaluating exhibit interpretation. This book provides inspiration, examples and connections to other museum colleagues and organizations who have navigated similar interpretive labyrinths. I can’t imagine working without it by my side and on my team.


— Jenny-Sayre Ramberg, Newsline Editor, Exhibition


Real objects and phenomena are the great differential asset of the museographic language and what gives uniqueness to an exhibition. However, written language —properly used— is also an essential support for an exhibition with communicative capacity. This new edition consolidates the relevance of a completely essential book in this aspect.


— Guillermo Fernandez, Museographic project consultant, Spain.


This latest edition of Exhibit Labels serves as the perfect antidote to those who claim, “Nobody reads the labels!” Serrell and Whitney, through wonderful illustrated examples and pithy, actionable tips, inspire everyone who works for, or with, museums to craft labels that everyone will want to read!


— Paul Orselli, Chief Instigator, POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.)


Over 70 photographs



Exhibit Labels

An Interpretive Approach, Third Edition

Cover Image
Hardback
Paperback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • Beverly Serrell and Katherine Whitney cover the essentials of the processes of exhibit label planning, writing, design, and production. In this third edition, Serrell’s classic guide to writing interpretive exhibit labels is updated to include new voices, current scholarship and the unique issues the museum field is grappling with in the 21st century. With high quality photographs and new sections, this edition is more accessible and easier to use for all museum professionals, from label writers to museum directors to exhibit designers.

Details
Details
  • Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
    Pages: 250 • Trim: 7¼ x 10¼
    978-1-5381-6045-9 • Hardback • January 2024 • $95.00 • (£73.00)
    978-1-5381-6046-6 • Paperback • January 2024 • $45.00 • (£35.00)
    978-1-5381-6047-3 • eBook • January 2024 • $42.50 • (£35.00)
    Subjects: Business & Economics / Museum Administration & Museology
    Courses: Museum Studies; Collection Management, Museum Studies; Historical Museums & Local History, Museum Studies; Exhibit Planning & Design, Museum Studies; Public History
Author
Author
  • Beverly Serrell has been an exhibition and evaluation consultant with art, history, natural history, and science museums, as well as zoos and aquariums. She was previously head of a museum education department for eight years, and worked as a high school science teacher and a research lab technician. Serrell holds an MA in science teaching in informal settings and a BS in biology. In 1995, she was a guest scholar at the J. Paul Getty Museum and has received two National Science Foundation grants to conduct research on visitor behavior in museum exhibitions. She has been a frequent museum visitor all her life.

    Katherine Whitney is a museum consultant specializing in exhibit development and label writing. Her work has taken her into art, science, history and children’s museums, as well as zoos and aquariums. She is particularly interested in how families engage with museums and has written about her own family’s experiences. Whitney has an MA in Museum Studies and a BA in Art History.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Preface

    PART I: INTRODUCTION

    1. Guidelines and Essentials

    PART II: OVERVIEW

    2. Behind It All: The Big Idea

    3. What Are Interpretive Labels?

    4. Types of Labels in an Exhibition

    5. The Importance of Captions

    6. Label Systems

    Photo Figures for Part IIxx

    PART III: CONSIDERING THE AUDIENCE

    7. Who Is The Audience?

    8. Audience Segmentation

    9. The Number of Words

    10. Readability Issues

    11. Multilingual Labels

    12. The Labels Voice: Who's Talking to Me?

    Photo Figures for Part III

    PART IV: ENHANCING THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

    13. Improving Orientation

    14. Being Visitor Friendly

    15. Making Words and Images Work Together

    16. Labels That Ask Questions

    17. Labels for Interactive Exhibits

    18. Digital Label Strategies

    Photo Figures for Part IV

    PART V: TASKS

    19. Getting Started, and Getting Done

    20. Prototyping

    21. Typographic Considerations

    22. Production Materials and Issues

    23. Evaluation After Opening

    Photo Figures for Part V

    PART VI: VOICES FROM THE FIELD

    PART VII: CONCLUSIONS

    24. What Research Tells Us About Visitors

    25. Essentials Takeaway

    Acknowledgements

    Photo Figure Index

    Bibliography

    Index

Reviews
Reviews
  • In this third edition, Beverly Serrell and Katherine Whitney remind me of what’s important and challenge me to do better—with humor, humility, and references to the great work colleagues have done creating and evaluating exhibit interpretation. This book provides inspiration, examples and connections to other museum colleagues and organizations who have navigated similar interpretive labyrinths. I can’t imagine working without it by my side and on my team.


    — Jenny-Sayre Ramberg, Newsline Editor, Exhibition


    Real objects and phenomena are the great differential asset of the museographic language and what gives uniqueness to an exhibition. However, written language —properly used— is also an essential support for an exhibition with communicative capacity. This new edition consolidates the relevance of a completely essential book in this aspect.


    — Guillermo Fernandez, Museographic project consultant, Spain.


    This latest edition of Exhibit Labels serves as the perfect antidote to those who claim, “Nobody reads the labels!” Serrell and Whitney, through wonderful illustrated examples and pithy, actionable tips, inspire everyone who works for, or with, museums to craft labels that everyone will want to read!


    — Paul Orselli, Chief Instigator, POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.)


Features
Features
  • Over 70 photographs



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