This discussion raises a number of excellent points critical
to public trust, collections management/care, ethics, and national museum
standards. For many institutions, the StEPs
self-study program offered by AASLH is a valuable tool for assessing how
your organization is currently handling questions like the one Meghan asked. As
your organization makes its way through the STEPs workbook, paid and unpaid
staff plus members of the governing board gain a much clearer understanding of
these issues. The StEPs program is designed for organizations that do not feel
ready to tackle the Accreditation or MAP programs.