Should A Museum Be Open 7 Days A Week?

I'm on the road right now in Bulgaria (although this particular "road" is very winding, narrow, and full of rocks ... ) but for this post I couldn't help but notice the announcement from The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York that they will now be opening 7 days a week.

So I'll ask the question: Should a museum be open 7 days a week?

I have really mixed feelings about this.  Certainly if you're a visitor or tourist, why shouldn't a museum be open as often as possible?  I'm sure part of MoMA's decision is a financial one, but aren't there different kinds of "costs" that come from being open every day?

I'm thinking specifically about exhibits and building operations.  Perhaps it's different in an Art Museum, but I know that in the hustle and bustle of interactive museums like science centers and children's museums, that it is very helpful, if not essential, to have a "non public" day to do building maintenance tasks and just put all the pieces back together again.

So what do you think?  Should museums be a 7 day a week operation, or is there value for staff (and visitors!) for at least one "day of rest"?   Tell us know your thoughts by clicking into the  "Comments" Section below this post.


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