Dear Melinda,

I don't know your situation, but at many Universities the collections belong 
to the University or to the Board of Regents. If you have a good assessment of 
the value of your collections, then it might be worth having a meeting with 
your University lawyer to discuss potential liability issues. It could also be 
helpfull to have documentation that you have assured/promised donors that the 
Gallery/University will care for their donated works. A letter from the lawyer 
might help to shake things loose and get the special attention you are 
seeking.

All the Best!

Stefan



Dr. Stefan Sommer, Vice President
Association of College and University Museums and Galleries
www.acumg.org




>===== Original Message From Museum discussion list 
<[log in to unmask]> =====
>Hello,
>
>I am the Collections Manager for a small University Gallery/Museum and
>am in the process of writing a security/access policy for the Museum.
>Our facility is managed by the University’s Physical Plant which means
>that all Physical Plant staff have keys and access
>to the Museum and Collections Storage areas and all contract work goes
>through them. This presents a huge problem and I am trying to
>change this policy. Physical changes such as new locks, swipe card
>entry, etc. are in the works, but the larger obstacle is getting the
>Physical Plant and University to see that we are a unique entity with
>unique needs and that restricted access is standard practice and that
>we need to change the existing policy. Are there any University Museum
>staff out there in a similar situation and do you have sample policies
>you could share in regards to internal access?
>
>Thanks for your assistance,
>Melinda McPeek
>
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Dr. Stefan Sommer, Director of Education
Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research
Northern Arizona University
Campus Box 5640
Flagstaff, AZ 86011

MNA Office: (928) 774-5211  ext. 204
NAU Office: (928) 523-4463
Home Office: (928) 214-6324

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