Adrienne-
As the nation's largest children's museum (with a very large permanent
collection), we are constantly faced with the dilemma of post-accession
use of objects.
One crucial way we control non-curatorial use of objects is by our "A, B,
C" designation system:
"A" objects can only be handled by collections
staff--with gloves where appropriate--displayed and stored in
environmentally correct conditions.  These objects are important to the
museum and our constituents for any number of reasons; usually they
are valuable or hard to replace.
"B" objects are more readily replaceable, and may be handled by
non-collections staff--with gloves--among our visitors.
"C" objects comprise our educational handling collection, and may be
handled by our visitors in supervised situtations.
Designating collections might work for other types of museums as
well as it has worked for children's museums!
Thanks for launching the juicy topic!

Robin Lipp
Collections Manager
The Children's Museum of Indianpolis

 On Thu, 16 Nov 1995, Adrienne DeArmas wrote:

> Hey everyone!! I would like some imput on a potential problem we may be
> facing at our museum. I am the assistant curator of collections at the
> National Firearms Museum and as our name would suggest, we have guns. Next
> week, a VIP will be coming to the museum to be interviewed as part of an oral
> history project. In the 1980's he donated his Pan American Games medal and
> the gun he used to not only break the world record but hold it until even
> today. Now in his 60's, the VIP is a shooting coach. It has been suggested by
> non-museum staff that he fire the gun he donated to us into a target and the
> target be saved as archival documentation of the whole event. I think this is
> a unique situation, but maybe it is not. It somewhat reminds me of the
> problem with "feeding" Zuni masks in the Smithsonian's collection. Any
> thoughts? I have not responded to the request yet in hopes it will be
> forgotten, but I am inclined to say no.  What say ye all?
>
> - Adrienne
>