You might start with the Museum Store Association's Code of Ethics, which
discusses the sale of replicas and reproductions, as well as the prohibition
on selling deaccessioned items.   A clear internal policy (perhaps regular
curatorial review of materials) with signage in the Shop that explains the
reasoning for what is being sold (and not sold) is always a Good Thing.
 
We have a similar concern with contemporary Native American art we sell in
our Shop (which we also collect). I review everything that is purchased for
sale in the Shop and on occasion divert a piece to the collection.   
 
 
janice
 
Janice Klein
Director, Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> 
www.mitchellmuseum.org <http://www.mitchellmuseum.org> 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of Jill Harris
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2005 3:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FW: Collections Policies and Gift Shop items


 

  _____  

From: Elizabeth Moore 
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2005 4:26 PM
To: Jill Harris
Subject: Collections Policies and Gift Shop items


Does anyone have anything in their Collections Policies about gift shop
items that may be similar to your collections items?  We have had a question
about whether we should be selling things like amber jewelry, fossils, rock
samples, etc. in our gift shop because we are a natural history museum.  I
don't see a problem with it.  Buying these things at gift shops is how a lot
of children fuel their interest in natural history and start collecting and
learning about them.
 
We could add something so that a curator could look at things as they come
in to see if anything is sent to the gift shop that might have research
value (a piece of amber with a big fat juicy bug in it for example).  I was
interested in how other museums handled this issue and if so, whether you
addressed it through policy or with some kind of review procedure.
 
Thank you.
 
Elizabeth Moore
 
Dr. Elizabeth Moore
Curator of Collections and Archaeology
Virginia Museum of Natural History
1001 Douglas Avenue
Martinsville, VA  24112
[log in to unmask]
276 666-8634 
 
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