Dear Lori,
Before you make any decision, do you have an
inventory of these artifacts? I think that you could just as easily sell
the material at public auction.
Perhaps you could have a day when your local
historical societies come to your storage units and choose what they
want. Whatever they don't take goes to auction.
I'm not thrilled with the idea of giving the
collections to that organization you mention.
Candace Perry
Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage
Center
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2001 6:28
PM
Subject: Collections Dilemma
Hello all.
I am
seeking your advice. I am the director of a small history/natural
history museum. I have finally convinced my board that we need to
make our
collections management a top priority. The collections have
been neglected
for years... improperly accessioned (or not accessioned at
all), improperly
stored, many items having no relation to our mission.
Most are kept in
off-site in two storage units, for which we pay
monthly rent.
I have been approached by an emerging non-profit
organization (historical
exhibit producers; official non profit status is
pending) to take the bulk of
the non-related items from us as a donation.
In turn, they will donate the
items to other organizations, trade
for other artifacts, or sell outright to
anyone willing to buy. I am
afraid that this organization will not follow
AAM standards in all their
transactions (such as using the proceeds from
artifact sales to purchase
more artifacts, or to care for their current
collections). Knowing
this, do we take the easy way out, saving countless
hours trying to find
takers for the items ourselves, or take the time to
distribute items
ourselves, making every possible effort to ensure as many
items as
possible are kept in the public trust? Note that we have a small
staff (4) and that much of the work to distribute artifacts would fall to
myself and any board members I can get to help. Also, we are working
toward
AAM accreditation in the next 4 - 5 years.
A Frazzled
Director