A Slow Saturday

Because of AP tests, I was not able to go in for my project Monday or Tuesday, so in order to make up these hours I worked on Saturday. Unfortunately, a large 5-k down Pennsylvania blocked to main entrance, and while visitors could still access it, it had the outward appearance of being inaccessible thus reducing visitor flow. In addition, it seems that because a large percentage of the visitors are school groups, weekend traffic is habitually lighter to begin with, thus it was a rather slow day.

Sami and I received separate posts, and I spent my morning in the Pulitzer gallery. While this is one of my favorite galleries to visit it is not one of the better places to be stationed. The combination of the gallery’s introspective nature and its proximity to the restrooms leaves visitors little to approach us with. The light visitor flow left the gallery relatively empty in the morning, and being a visitor services volunteer no visitors leaves little to do while volunteering.

In the afternoon Sami and I switched posts and I moved up to the 9/11 gallery on the fourth floor while she was stationed in the Pulitzer gallery. Like the Pulitzer, and frankly the entire museum, the visitors have few questions for visitor services. While gazing on the wreckage of the broadcast antenna from the north tower was interesting, it was difficult to learn much of anything while stationed on the floor. Unlike the orientation period, volunteering is less about gaining insight into much of anything; it is an art, one must remain open to visitors while refraining from interrupting their visit.