>Allen E. Feldman wrote :
 
>As an outsider to such things, I am curious as to how "the well run"
>museum disposes of items/material which it no either longer wishes to own
>or display?  It has been my experience that many museums have "mountains"
>of items in the "back room" which they either cannot or - will not - ever
>use/display, etc.  Surely the museum community must have some sort of
>process to "get rid" of these spurned items other than tossing them into
>a trash can . . . .
>
>Comments?  Enlightenment?   Please?
 
The deaccessioning of an object is often defined as the removing of the
object from the listing of permanent collection objects. Once deaccessioned
the object may be used in other parts of the museum as a reosurce or
educational object.
 
Deacquisition would mean the object would leave the museum's ownership. As
objects often represent a legally tax deductible contribution to the public
trust or common good, the value of the donation should ethically remain
with the museum. As a public trust institution, the museum should not be
used for personal or private gain. The object is often first offered to
other museums so that the donation is kept within its original trust. If a
home is not found in that manner then the museum may seek to trade the
object with another museum. The last resort is to sell the object. This
should most ethically be done at public auction and the proceeds should be
used by the museum to purchase another object for the collection.
 
Paul Apodaca
Bowers Museum
Santa Ana, CA
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