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Joe is the manager of the first floor of the McLean County History Museum. He is in charge of the visitors center and the gift shop and uses technology and literacies every day. I learned about how and what he used by observing and also by asking him some questions.

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Right now, Joe is working on the museum's Route 66 exhibit and visitors center. Currently, the first floor of the museum is dedicated to Route 66. He wants to show the guests the history route, sell them merchandise about the route, and inform visitors traveling on route 66 what they can expect on the journey. the actions he takes to accomplish this include asking visitors to mark where they have come from, displaying merchandise and other historical videos, and presenting maps.

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Again, this is another key piece of Joe's job. By running the visitors center, Joe interacts with guests all of the time. Some guests are from the local area. These interactions are usually routine. These guests have sometimes been there before and know how to sign in, use the information kiosk, and they know the layout of the building. Younger guests use the kiosk easily and they also are able to use the one or two movie kiosks easily as well. When I spoke to Joe about the digital improvements he wanted to make regarding the digital map and sign-in sheet, he told me that older visitors may have a tougher time using the screens. While the interactions between local guests are usually routine, older guests provide a special interaction because they do not always know how to use the provided technology. However, they are great when it comes to the hand-written sign up sheet! Less routine interactions come from international travelers. Because the museum and Bloomington-Normal are right off Route 66, Joe informed me that many European visitors come into the center needing information. This poses new challenges for Joe because he needs to learn how to communicate with these guests and really show them the map of Route 66. Some of these international guests do not know what to expect on the route, so its Joe's responsibility to interact with them in a way so they understand what the route goes through and other details. Joe uses a printed map right now to show these guests the route. Other literature he uses includes brochures and other provided travel guides to give the guests the information they need before they continue on the Route.

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Joe has many objects in his environment. When it comes to literacies and written information, descriptions of some Route 66 artifacts inform guests about the objects they are looking at. While the artifacts are objects alone, the descriptions are key to the literary aspect of the presentation. The sign-in book is another object used in the visitors center, which is used to track where guests are from. The information kiosk in the center not only provides digital information about the museum, but also about the whole Bloomington-Normal area. Guests can use this object to learn more about the area, learn about tourist attractions, or learn bout what the museum has in store for them. Other objects around the first floor include vintage soda coolers to hold beverages for purchase, a seating area where people can take notes or write, (that is where I observed and took notes) and the desk computers where Joe has access to cameras around the floor, employee check-in, and other museum-related programs. Another object on the floor is the volunteer check-in book, which lets the staff know who is working, when they are working and where they are working in the museum. There are artifacts all over the first floor from Route 66 and there are large non-intractable screens describing the objects along with written descriptions of the artifacts, to inform the guests on the history of the Route. Purchasable gifts are more objects intended to enhance the experience and to get the museum funding.

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I had a great time visiting the Museum and learning about what literacies and technology Joe and his guests use everyday! Keeping my discipline in mind, I have learned that artifact description is important no matter if it is physically next to the artifact, or written somewhere else like online or on a kiosk. Joe also allowed me to understand how technology can open so many more doors in understanding. He informed me that there aren't any maps detailing the entire route 66 map with all attractions, towns, restaurants, etc. He believes a new digital kiosk can solve this problems with a zoomable interactive map. I learned that technology can present information in brand new ways in my discipline in a way that written information sometimes cannot. I will keep this in mind going forward.

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Sometimes the Museum does not get a lot of visitors so I did not observe many guests or users interacting with one another and the objects. However, Joe and one other desk worker were there. It seemed like they worked together to check guests in to the museum and to answer any questions they may have had. Joe values convenience and accommodating his guests is a priority no matter where they are from or how old they are. By trying to get new digital kiosks and maps, he is trying to make the information more presentable. When it comes to guests being users, many of them may buy merchandise or use printed material to learn more about the Route. Older people may have a prejudice against technology but all guests, staff, and volunteers value the information and products the visitors center and gist shop can provide through written information or digital presentation.

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Joe's workspace is the key to his responsibilities. The whole first floor is his to manage. His environment is made up of his desk in the middle of the room, a few display cases behind his desk, a sitting area to the left of his desk, and a digital kiosk to the right of his desk. Right now, Joe is in the process of setting up more technology in his environment. He plans on putting a large digital map of route 66 right in front of his desk. He also plans on replacing the written sign up guest sheet with another digital map of the whole world where guests can mark where they are from. There are texts near the display cases to describe what the artifacts inside are and in addition to the desired new digital screens, there is currently a digital kiosk by his desk and a few computers on his desk to monitor security, employee check in, and other museum related things.