Hi all,
The process of applying for accreditation with AAM is a valuable tool for a
critical self-evaluation of the institution. It is a lot of work, and it
requires some careful honesty about museum mission, function, and operations. We
appreciated the important feedback from AAM during our process several years
ago. AAM accreditation is not a process to uncover "bad" museums, rather, it is
a process that helps us all evaluate ourselves and challenge our institutions to
achieve goals and grow along with changing museum standards. Even if an
institution chooses not to continue seeking AAM accreditation for any
reason, the process of self-review against some standard is important.
Sharon Duane Koomler
Director of the Museum
Shaker Museum and Library
Old Chatham and New Lebanon, NY