Some years ago I advised the stakeholders' committee for a start-up museum. They had a wonderful space and a clear vision of the museum's mission--but no collection and very little money to build one (or to hire professional staff). I was pretty sure that the volunteer group could not guarantee proper storage, conservation, or record-keeping and that the museum would be deluged with stuff that did not fit its mission. I urged them to take only outright donations--no conditions, no loans--and to make it clear on the donation forms that the museum was not obliged to exhibit or to keep any piece of donated material. As you think about the collection policy for the immediate future, it would help to identify, say, 5 major audiences in the community for the museum and to plan 5 years worth of temporary exhibits around themes that apply to all of those groups. Then, when you're offered material, you'll be able to spot items that would be helpful in the research, exhibitions, and programs in the short-term. Karen Reeds Independent museum consultant and exhibit curator From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Caroline Harben Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 8:58 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Developing a Collection Policy Prior to Having a Collection Hi everyone I am helping a community group establish a collection policy to guide establishment of a suitable collection that will interpret their small community. This is being done prior to any collecting happens!. As you can imagine its an unusual scenario and one that offers potential for clear guidelines and avoiding the duplications that exist in small collections that have not benefitted from established policies. Its also a real opportunity to think outside the square in terms of what mechanisms are appropriate for small communities with little funding or designated venues to still capture and tell their stories. If you know of something similar or have some words of wisdom it would be much appreciated. Regards Caroline Harben -- Karen Reeds, PhD, FLS Guest Curator Come into a New World: Linnaeus & America American Swedish Historical Museum, Philadelphia, February 15-July 1, 2007 Now showing at New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, NJ , May-December, 2008 http://www.americanswedish.org/ http://www.americanswedish.org/linnaeus.htm http://www.newjerseystatemuseum.org/ [log in to unmask] 609--279-9420 ========================================================= 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).