By investigating on the characteristics and modes of the current operation in Science and Technology Museums (STMs), and taking into consideration the positive and negative effects and the potential risks of making the museums free to the public, management strategies are proposed for opening STMs free of charge. First of all, based on our survey on the main reasons why people don't like visiting the museums and the effects of the free of charge policy on the museums, it is proposed that STMs should be imprudent in making them free to the public. Based on the characteristics of the STMs, the potential visitor groups and their localities, the STMs should be classified and adopt different policies. The government should play its role in regulating the STMs, help the STMs improve their own capability-building, and create an environment conducive to their overall development in terms of the museum faculty, infrastructure, service, operations and management, so the STMs could get ready to open to the general public free of charge.

science and technology museums  /  free of charge  /  management strategy