Laura-  About six years ago, I became the first paid, professional director
of a small history museum.  It sounds like you are encountering of the same
challenges I faced.  I would be happy to share to the collections policy,
long range plan, etc. we developed during my three-year tenure at this
institution.  Please feel free to contact me off list.  Good luck!

Lisa Eriksen
Museum Program Coordinator
California Council for the Humanities
(415) 391-1474
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Laura Bajuk <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, October 29, 1998 4:25 AM
Subject: History Museum Seeks Collections Policy for its 50th Year...


>Hello - I'm a board member of a small history museum in its 50th year -
>without a collections policy. [Let alone financial, etc.]
>
>I've looked at my Museum Studies materials, but they are way beyond this
>group. Do you have a policy you'd be willing to share?
>
>We need a policy that will function well with one part-time [1 day a week]
>curator/registrar who has been in place for over 20 years.
>
>Things need to change, and I have a few supporters if I act quickly and get
a
>reasonable policy in place that will suit the curator.
>
>Currently, we could be robbed blind - or find that we're fronting an
antique
>dealing business - or worse. There is no distinction between historic
objects
>and items donated to sell to benefit the museum in its regular garage
sales.
>The newly formed collections committee found three original, signed
Dorothea
>Lange photos ca. 1920 lying in a metal - thank the gods - drawer... but
nary a
>sheet of acid-free tissue in sight, let alone real conservation materials.
>Only been sitting there for 13 years...
>
>Fun, fun, fun. I won't say more, because it will just turn your museum-
>professional hair as grey as mine is getting... thank goodness for Clairol.
>
>Those interested in how we dealt with an employee tossing off the entire
board
>and replacing them with hand-picked shills should drop me a line... The
best
>thing is, I think I might just finish my thesis after all - much more
>interesting story than curating a women's history exhibit.
>
>Any help would be greatly appreciated. LB
>