Museums Books trustworthy One of the most gay Very Television News Newspapers The Internet Radio Magazines 18% 10% 8% 5% 3% 3% 49% 43% 39% 26% 18% 24% 19% Somewhat 10% 31% 35% 47% 37% 51% 53% Alitl trustworthy 2% 4% 8% 11% 15% 14% 14% Not very istvorthy 0%9, 1%9 6%9 7%9 13%9, 7%9 10%9, (don't know) 1% 3% 1% 0% 11% 0% 2% Total Trustworthy 87% 61% 49% 34% 23% 28% 22% Tustworthy 13%9 36%9 50%9, 65%9 66%9 72%9 trustworthy trustworthy Total Not 9 166) A recent survey found museums to be the mosttrusted source of information among respondents. (NAPSA)—A recent survey showed when it comes to learning in the information age, most Amer- icans are careful to consider their sources. What may surprise some people is that for nine out of 10 respondents, the information source most trusted is museums(books ranked second at 61 percent). In addition, the survey—com- missioned by the American Asso- ciation of Museums (AAM)— found Americans consider only schools and libraries to be more important educational resources than museums. According to AAM president Edward H. Able Jr., the study showed the public’s high level of trust for museums may be based on three things: The fact that museums present history, are research oriented and deal in the Past, which documents public trust in museums’ treatment of history,” says Able, “indicated that Americans believe museum accounts of history even more than first-hand accounts by their ownrelatives.” The AAM cites increased museum attendance (nearly 60 percent of Americans say they have visited a museum, zoo, botanical garden or science center since the year 2000) as further evidence of people’s esteem for museums. Able’s organization represents the American museum community. The group assesses and accredits museums, helps train museum professionals and oper- ates international museum programs. The group strives to keep museums operating at a high standard of excellence. they provide “first hand interactive “Museums view this (public trust) as an awesome responsibility, reflecting not only what they have done in the past, but also the public’s ongoing expectations independent source of objective information.” the American people,” says Able. For more information, visit facts. Able adds the survey also found people trust museums because experiences” and “represent an “A 1998 book, The Presence of about museums as educators of www.aam-us.org.
