Our general museum (art, history, and science) is currently undergoing
strategic planning in an effort to formulate a long-range plan.  My title
is Curator of Collections, and my role in this is to create a long range
plan for the Collections Department and the Exhibits Department and to help
with the Education Department.

My question is this.  We already have an “Education Collection” which is
part of the Collections Department.  The Education department also has
items that are used similarly but are not part of a “formalized
collection”.  Many of the items in both Departments are in essence the same
type of items.  In my mind these items can be used in a variety of ways…

1) Hands-on items in Exhibits
2) Lab Rats for trying various “Conservation methods”
3) Theatrical Props in museum Educational programs
4) Interior decorating items for Foyers, lobby, hall ways, bathroom
walls, board room, dining room, research library, etc.)
5)      Furniture

We have a Prospective donation form that we fill out when a donor wants to
give us an item(s) for our collection.  Currently we give donors the option
of 1) only for the permanent collection, 2) any collection we see fit
(includes Education and permanent), 3)  only for the Education collection,
and we do not record antying that goes to the Education Dept items.  Would
you all give the donor this option?

What name do you think is appropriate to call these items?  Education,
Prop, Study, Research, Conservation Collection?  Should all of the items be
put in one collection or various collections dependent on the intended use
of the item?

One of our staff is against recording any background information for these
objects, as they contend that the object will be used up and the outcome
does not warrant the effort.  Another staff member is for recording donor
info, brief description of the object and registering the object with an
identification number.  The former staff member thinks this is
unnecessary.  How much information do you folks record for these types f
artifacts?

Thank you in advance for all of your reactions!
Steven Stewart
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ps more info for people who wish to contact me off the list.

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