Caribou’s Nylander Museum of Natural History growing energy costs cause winter hours to change

    Facing the upcoming winter with skyrocketing fuel costs, director Jeanie McGowan at the Nylander Museum of Natural History wants the public to know that the museum will remain open during the 2008-2009 winter; but things will be a bit different. In light of the increasing cost of museum operations and in an effort to support a global call for reduction of energy consumption, the Nylander board and McGowan have agreed to take a proactive stance toward moderation and reduce the open-to-public hours at the museum during the fall/winter season of 2008-09.    “At our August meeting, we discussed the options and agreed that our community’s natural history museum should take a leadership role and step forward with its own plan to reduce energy-consumption costs, as well as, promote conservation of the world’s natural resources,” says McGowan. “The Nylander trustees are very forward-thinking individuals and are ever watchful of the museum’s expenditures; but this year’s global concern for oil dependency has sparked a new interest in creative conservation attitudes. We discussed multiple options for the upcoming winter and decided on a two-fold plan that works best for the Caribou community and for the museum’s operation.”
    Seemingly contradictory, the Nylander will increase its open hours during the month of September by maintaining its 20-hour week summer schedule, Tuesday through Saturday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. ; no longer changing immediately after Labor Day to its 12-hour week winter schedule. Open hours will change again in October when the museum will be open for walk-in visitors on Wednesdays only, with Tuesdays and Thursdays available with advanced scheduling.
    McGowan comments, “It seemed reasonable to increase visitor hours during the warmer weather of early fall and then reduce the visitor hours during the colder winter months. An additional factor is the desire to serve an increase in fall tourism in Maine. We’ve noticed more out-of-state leaf-peepers traveling farther north into Maine to experience the fall foliage colors. Many see the Nylander’s advertisement in the DeLorme tourist maps and then stop by the museum when traveling through Caribou on their way north to the St. John Valley foliage.”
    “Winter Wednesdays from October to June, we’ll be open all day from 9AM to 5PM,” said McGowan. “To save on labor costs, we will not hire a winter hostess. I will be covering the hostess and director’s duties on Wednesdays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I will be in Caribou working at my regular director duties, but unable to offer predictable walk-in hours. I do suggest that people watch for our OPEN signs on those days for an opportunity for an unscheduled visit.”
    The Nylander’s change in schedule addresses three current concerns: 1) the loss of a hostess for the winter season, 2) the increase in costs of heating and utilities, and 3) growing concerns that multiple short work days increase the cost of driving to work. Around the world, five eight-hour work days are changing to four ten-hour days. Some employers are increasing their employees’ work-at-home options. Many people are ride-sharing and opting to walk or bike to work to save money and resources. It seems reasonable that when facing the rise in heating costs and the long winters of northern Maine, we would enact logical conservation options.
    “We think the increase of fall hours is a good idea, and hope that it may be possible to extend the new autumn plan for 2009 to include the month of October, as well. But for this 2008 fall, we can only offer what is already factored into our annual budget,” says the director.
    Changes in the Nylander’s winter schedule are designed to reduce the number of days for heating the building at peak public-serving capacity. McGowan explains the plan. “Three block, mid-week days of operation (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) will require suitable warmth and lighting for the director’s work and for the walk-in public hours on Wednesdays. During the week’s remaining block of four days (Friday to Monday), the museum’s thermostats will be lowered to 58?F and utilities will support essential systems only. We also plan to reduce window space and add insulating curtains which should minimize the building’s heat loss.”
    Anyone wishing to schedule a group visit for Tuesdays or Thursdays should call 493-4209 far enough in advance to make arrangements with the director. Accommodation is subject to the director’s calendar commitments, but every effort will be made to schedule an opportunity for visitors to enjoy the Nylander.   
    September hours at the Nylander: Tuesday through Saturday; 12:30 — 4:30p.m.
Winter hours (October through June) Wednesdays 9 a.m. — 5p.m.
Off hours available only with prearranged scheduling.
    The Nylander mission is to preserve the personal history and collections of Olof O. Nylander and to support local education.