I refer my donors to an article I wrote for my Museums website at BellaOnline.com called "Why Museums Cannot Provide Appraisal Values for Artifacts."  It is brief, but I tried to present a different argument about how people could potentially "shop around" for a better appraisal before deciding to donate something.  The contact info for the big three appraiser organizations is there too.  It seems to help donors understand why I can't help them with an appraisal.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art25692.asp

Kim

Kimberly A. Kenney, Curator 
Wm. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum
800 McKinley Monument Dr. NW 
Canton OH 44708 * 330-455-7043   * NEW KELLER GALLERY EXHIBITS: "Going Out in Style" and "Stories in Stone" on view through October 12
* Visit our NEW WEBSITE at http://www.mckinleymuseum.org
      "Let us ever remember that our interests are in concord, not conflict; and that our real eminence rests in the victories of peace, not those of war."  -- 25th United States President William McKinley


--- On Thu, 5/29/08, Debra Loguda-Summers <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> From: Debra Loguda-Summers <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Question regarding appraisals and Museum
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Thursday, May 29, 2008, 8:58 PM
> Hello,
>  
> I have a question regarding Museums and appraisals. 
>  
> I know were are not to give appraisals on donations but, I
> am having trouble convincing some of the staff that we
> should not be paying for a donors appraisal and then
> letting the donor write the amount off on their taxes.  Am
> I wrong in thinking this??? 
>  
> I am stuck between a rock and a hard place at the moment
> because a staff member told the donor we would have the
> items appraised and let them know.  It isn't the first
> time it has happened and I need hard facts to back up my
> thoughts that this is wrong.  HELP
>  
> You can contact me off line  [log in to unmask] 
> 
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