I would never release an accessioned item to anyone for any purpose unless it has been cleared by our Board of Directors, covered by the borrowers insurance, and exhibited by another reputable museum. Period.
If you commence loaning accessioned objects or even other museum assets (equipment), be sure that you are prepared to lose it. Best policy is not to loan museum assets of any kind. It saves a lot of potential problems.
All of this goes back to the importance of ensuring that donation forms – deeds of gift – are reviewed by a lawyer and are clearly explained to the donor. Some donors are perfectly happy to give something to a museum so that it could raise money with it. Others expect their object to be preserved in perpetuity. In each case, the deed of gift form should explain that the museum owns it outright and that they have no claim to it after they sign the form. They must be sure that they no longer want it before it is given.
Donors or their relations do follow up on their objects. Be prepared for this with proper documentation – what is it – where is it? Copies or photographs of the object may be shared with the donor, but that is as far as I would be prepared to go.
I would be happy to discuss this subject further.
Sincerely,
Ware Petznick
Ware Petznick, PhD
Director of Education & Administration
Shaker Historical Society
16740 South Park Boulevard
Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120
216-921-1201
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www.shakerhistory.org<http://www.shakerhistory.org/>
“You may not live longer, but you’ll live better”
NOW on EXHIBIT from the Tregoning Art Gallery “The Myers’ House Salute: Cleveland School Art 1910-1969” in the Jack and Linda Lissauer Gallery until September 1st, 2013 and CURRENTLY in our main exhibition gallery until August 23rd, RE imagine + RE vitalize + RE invent: Transforming Shaker’s houses and buildings for modern living, working, playing. COMING UP! Yoga at the SHS July 13th at 1030am; Lego Club July 16th and 23rd, 3-5pm; Jim Karlovec’s lecture about Transforming Shaker’s Houses July 21st at 3pm. See our Facebook page and www.shakerhistory.org<http://www.shakerhistory.org> for details & updates.
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kate McCarthy
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2013 4:03 PM
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] protocol for patrons wanting to borrow museum artifacts for personal use?
That depends. Are the items accessioned or loaned? Loans, yes, absolutely. Accessioned? No. I'm sorry. At my current job we are very clear that once an item is donated to the museum's collection it belongs to the museum. I believe this is the current standard and best practice.
However the political climate of an institution has been known to affect this policy. Influential board members, wealthy donors, public relations, etc. Can play a role in the decision.
(I'd like to be clear that I don't support the above idea of affluence having influence. It is just an observation)
Mary McCarthy
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 11, 2013, at 2:47 PM, Meghan Molloy <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
Hello All,
My museum has recently received several requests from patrons who have donated items to borrow the items back from the museum for personal use. Are there existing guidelines or common best practices for handling this kind of request?
Thanks in advance for your input,
Meghan
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