Well, coming from a natural history museum we have...
1. Final approval for deaccessioning is to the Board on the argument that
they have ultimate fiduciary (and other) responsibility for the museum
therefore they should have the ultimate authority. Deaccessions run through
our Executive Director in the process of approval, but do not end there.
2. We do not contact donors prior to deaccessioning. Our primary reasons
for deaccessioning are either that things (like library books or equipment)
were mistakenly accessioned in the past or an object has been damaged beyond
repair or use and will be destroyed. In both of those cases we have not
felt that there was any need to contact the original donors, nor is it
required in our collections policy.
3. We sell nothing that has ever been a part of the permanent collection.
It is explicitly forbidden in our collections policy to sell any specimen
that has been deaccessioned. This eliminates the temptation of
deaccessioning specimens to sell and raise money, should fiscal times get
tough. When specimens are deaccessioned, they are offered as a donation to
other museums, universities, educational centers, etc. We also feel that it
sends a conflicting message about the reasons we collect, our efforts to
discourage a market for specimens/artifacts, and the value of the specimens.
After all, if we were to collect objects for resale, how could we discourage
others from doing the same? Even a <lot> of explaining to John Q. Public
that the specimen that you are selling was originally donated years ago, no
longer has a place in the permanent collection, and can benefit the museum
by generating revenue would not necessarily address that potential conflict.
None of our curators (all natural historians), Board members, or Director
have objected to these procedures.
Dr. Elizabeth A. Moore, Curator of Collections
Virginia Museum of Natural History
1001 Douglas Avenue
Martinsville, VA 24112
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Glyn Balkwill <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2000 11:48 PM
Subject: Deaccessioning policy
>Hi! museum folk
>
>Its time to ask for help again.
>
>Our museum has recently amalgamated with a natural history museum and a
>military history museum.
>
>We are therefor rewriting all our policies. The latest is the deaccession
>policy. I have been to the museum-l archive but can't find any direct
>opinions on the following:
>
>1. Final approval for deaccesioning / alienation can be given by the
>CEO. No Board ratification needed.
>
>2. No attempt need be made to contact donors or their descendants
>
>3. Deaccessioned items can be sold, not necessarily to other museum
but
>on the open market
>
>Coming form the cultural history side we have an almost instinctive horror
>of these suggestions. The natural historians seem not to be perturbed.
Since
>the drafter of the policy and the CEO are natural historians the policy is
>likely to go to the board with these in.
>
>I would appreciate any opinions for or against, horror stories, etc.
>
>Thanks in advance for the help.
>
>Glyn
>
>******************************************************************
>* Glyn Balkwill Tel (w) : 27 (0)12 341-1320 *
>* Deputy Director Tel (h) : 27 (0)12 664-1973 *
>* Collections Management Cell : 27 (0)82 770-7826 *
>* National Cultural History Museum Fax : 27 (0)12 341-6146 *
>* PO Box 28088 Email : [log in to unmask] *
>* SUNNYSIDE *
>* 0132 RSA *
>* Any opinions expressed are strictly my own *
>******************************************************************
>
>=========================================================
>Important Subscriber Information:
>
>The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message
to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help"
(without the quotes).
>
>If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
[log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff
Museum-L" (without the quotes).
>
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
|
