Stacey,
 
Regarding your statement about not having the auction item on ebay affiliated with your institution...
 
Would you think that, for the party that acquires the de-accessioned item, there should be a written stipulation that the item not be referred to etc., as having once belonged to the museum - particularly if the item may be sold (in case the new owner wanting to sell it on ebay)? Can/should we do this?
 
Though not often - a few times I have seen artifacts for sale at flea markets and antique shops that have inventory #'s and/or even an 'original' tag with a museum's name on it. Having once been a part of a museum's collection -seemingly may add to the value of the item.
 
During my volunteer work with a local historical society museum...we've been asked, on occasion if any of the books we sell during our annual used book sale fundraiser -are from the museum's collection. Our response is always that the books have been donated for our fundraiser, but occasionally there may be books from the museum collection or reference library that has been replaced by a better copy.
 
We have also added a few books to the museum collection or reference library that had been donated for the fundraiser. And some books that were donated, if not sold during the booksale - I intend to list some of these on ebay. So after reading what you wrote - reminds me to make sure that I list these books as anonymous donations for the fundraiser and not the museum's collection, etc. I'd want to make sure there was no confusion what so ever.
 
Interesting issue.    Pam
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 9/18/2005 4:12:52 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes:
Our deaccession policy does not directly address eBay...but then it's a few years old!  :)  But before we even considered such a thing, we would look at other avenues first.   Once having determined an item was inappropriate for our collections and having gotten approval from our Board, we would first consider approaching the donor(s) of the item, or their descendents, if possible.  Next option would be to consider transferring it to another museum, if that made sense. The idea being to try to honor the intention of the donor by placing it with us in the first place.  Only if these things didn't make sense--given the type, condition or quality of the item--would we consider auctioning in some fashion.
 
And I would absolutely not want that auction item on eBay to be associated with my institution.  It could be a public relations disaster to have your museum thought of as selling their collections off on eBay. No amount of money can buy your museum public trust...and where are we without it?
 
Stacey Otte
Executive Director
Catalina Island Museum
 
Pamela Silvestri, Museum Assistant
Northeast States Civilian Conservation Corps Museum
Shenipsit State Forest
166 Chestnut Hill Road
Stafford Springs, Connecticut 06076
(860) 684-3430
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