Wow, when you wrote: "Has anyone delt with this type of pitfall and if so, how have you responded?" -- it sounds like you're asking for advice (excuses) on how to turn this offer down, rather than an honest opinion if this "is this a good idea?" I'd ask, why WOULDN'T you accept this offer? Is there something we don't know about? If the hesitation caused by the fact that it is "several board members" meddling in the museum staff's business? Loans and collaborations are in my mind almost always a great ideas in and of themselves. They allow museums to share - exchange all manor or things! (ideas, staff expertise, even visitors!) . . . . Presumably this object wouldn't undergo conservation at it's home institution, and so at the very least this loan would stabilize a deteriorating artifact. . . . and lastly, (putting on my "educator hat") don't we have some obligation to show off (present/interpret) the treasures in our collections. If we keep everything squirreled-away indefinitely in locked-storage rooms is that legally and morally serving the good of the public, (and our role as an “educational institution") as our non-profit status/mission/charters intended? Of course I would want some assurances that the borrowing museum has the proper staff and facilities to handle this object in the same (or better) care than if it was in your own institution. I'd also set some limits (you the home museum) have the right to choose the conservator, what can and can't be done, the duration of the loan, etc.. - David - David Lewis, Curator Aurora Regional Fire Museum www.AuroraRegionalFireMuseum.org -----Original Message----- From: Michael Reuter <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Wed, Jun 29, 2011 2:17 pm Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Collegue who needs help! Hi all, A colleague of mine who works for a small historical society in the Dakotas asked for my advice on the following matter and I am looking to any of you out there for the same. Several board members who are associated with this historical society are requesting that an artifact be loaned or sold to another musuem who is doing an exhibit that the artifact would fit well into. The artifact is in dire need of conservation and the musem who would potentially be borrowing it would pay for the conservation in exchange for the object. Has anyone delt with this type of pitfall and if so, how have you responded? Thanks, Michael Reuter Curator of Collections/Registrar Milwaukee County Historical Society 910 N. Old World 3rd St. Milwaukee, WI 53203 414-273-8288 To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 ========================================================= 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).