Hi, folks -

I need your help on a situation - purely hypothetical, mind you!  ; )

There are some items in a collection that do not fit the institution's
mission and that are taking up sorely needed storage space. The curator of
the collection is planning on deaccessioning these items. In the course of
trying to find a new home for them, he has come in contact with a person
who has a private company that provides goods and services that could be of
great value to the institution, specifically to the collection in question.
        The person who can provide these goods and services owns and runs a
private museum that is open to the public. This person would be interested
in acquiring the deaccessioned items from the institution for display in
the museum.
In return this person would provide goods and services to the institution
for a portion of the appraised value of the items.
        The institution's collections policy forbids deaccessioning items for the
specific purpose of acquiring other items. It does allow exchanges to be
made between institutions, but there is concern because the museum in
question is a private for-profit. The curator would like to see an
exception made based on what he sees as an opportunity that could not
otherwise be available to the institution. The possibility of exceptions is
written into the policy, but there is concern that this would set a bad
precedent.
        I know this is a thin ice situation, and I'm not looking for wrung hands,
slapped wrists or cries of "Quel horreur!!!" I would appreciate anyone's
taking a little time to present reasoned arguments for or against. I have
had reason before to appreciate the cumulative wisdom of those on this list
with far more experience and education than I. TIA,
Anne

Anne T. Lane, Collections Manager
Museum of York County
4621 Mount Gallant Road,
Rock Hill, SC 29732-9905
803-329-2121, ext. 104
FAX 803-329-5249

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