Elizabeth- I have a question regarding your permanent/hands-on collections policies. If an object is left for potential donation into the permanent collection and you decide it would be better in the hands-on collection, how do you document the transfer of title? You said that the hands-on items are not accessioned, but are deeds-of-gift still issued? And do you have to ask the potential donor if they want to donate items "to be touched?" Thanks in advance, Kiersten >Here at the Virginia Museum of Natural History, we have a section in our >collections policies that discusses that very issue. Any object that enters >the museum is first reviewed by the appropriate curator. If they decide >that the specimen is appropriate for the permanent research collection, then >they forward it for accession. We have two levels of permanent collections, >the "never touch" stuff (type specimens, rare or unique, etc.) and the "can >be touched." We then have a education/exhibit collection of non-accessioned >material. So, if an object is not accessioned, it is then offered to the >education/exhibit staff for programs. > >This process occurs no matter how an object enters the museum. Even if the >original intent of the acquisition was not for accessioning (purchase, >donation, etc.), the curators can still request that it be accessioned if >the specimen merits it. This prevents us from inadvertently placing an >object at risk (say, in a hands-on program) that should be protected from >harm. > > >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: Jenny Yearous <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> >Date: Thursday, February 17, 2000 5:50 PM >Subject: Collections Rating systems > > >>The State Historical Society of North Dakota is about to consider >>designating artifacts and specimens in its permanent and educational >>collections into categories such as "Permanently Preserve - approved >>research projects only" to "Touchy-Feelies" and things in between such as >>loan objects; docent use, etc.... Does anyone do anything similar and, if >>so, do you have procedures / policies? >> >>Most museums probably have a permanent collection and a "hands-on" >>educational collection (SHSND's is uncataloged and not part of the "museum" >>collections at all). Does anyone have written / standardized procedures or >>polices to determine what potential acquisitions are accessioned into the >>permanent collection as opposed to the educational collections???? Thanks. >> >>Len Thorson, Registrar >>State Historical Society of North Dakota >>North Dakota Heritage Center >>612 East Boulevard Avenue >>Bismarck, ND 58505-0830 >> >>[log in to unmask] >>tel: (701)328-2666 >>fax: (701)328-3710 >> >>http://www.state.nd.us/hist >> >>========================================================= >>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). > > ========================================================= 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).