Hi Kelsey, Depending on your state, there may also be abandoned property laws that would help your museum resolve this question and formulate a policy. Best regards, Katherine E. Lewis MSF <http://www.meisterseelig.com/> Meister Seelig & Fein LLP *Katherine E. Lewis* 125 Park Avenue *|* 7th Floor *|* New York, NY *| * 10017 Direct (646) 539-3730 *| * Firm (212) 655-3500 *| *[log in to unmask] | Profile <https://www.meisterseelig.com/people/katherine-e-lewis/> New York <http://www.meisterseelig.com/contact-us> *| * New Jersey <http://www.meisterseelig.com/contact-us> *|* Connecticut <http://www.meisterseelig.com/contact-us> *|* California <http://www.meisterseelig.com/contact-us> *|* Website <http://www.meisterseelig.com/> On Wed, Jun 27, 2018 at 11:13 AM, William Shepherd < [log in to unmask]> wrote: > Hello Kelsy, > > > > Short of locking the door and having no space outside to > leave a box I don’t think you’ll be able to get away from people popping > up, especially if the Museum is closer than the dump. It’s something most > or all of us deal with. We have a very similar 30 day stipulation in out > temporary deposit form but I’ve yet to really test it. One thing I’ve added > over the years is an additional checkbox to add an extra layer of > protection if we dispose of something. It reads, “If items are not > accepted:”, and then has two check boxes. One reads, “Please contact, the > ‘Owner(s)’, to return the items.”, and the other reads “Please dispose of > as seen fit by the Museum, including destruction.” When someone drops > something off I specifically read out this section. The ones that check the > second box are explicitly stating we can dispose of items and covers all > those people that don’t have an interest in having the items returned. > Should they change their mind down the road I can show them the form where > they said agreed we could dispose of the item. If the potential donor > checks the first box it falls back on the 30 day stipulation which kind of > brings you back to square one but they are more likely to pick up the items > anyway and not have it get to that. Informally my rule is 6 months to > disposal, despite saying 30 days, I’ll usually send two or three letters > before disposing of it. > > > > Hopefully that helps! > > > > William Shepherd > > Collections Officer > > Swift Current Museum > > 44 Robert Street West > <https://maps.google.com/?q=44+Robert+Street+West+%0D%0A+Swift+Current,+Saskatchewan+%0D%0A+S9H+4M9&entry=gmail&source=g> > > Swift Current, Saskatchewan > <https://maps.google.com/?q=44+Robert+Street+West+%0D%0A+Swift+Current,+Saskatchewan+%0D%0A+S9H+4M9&entry=gmail&source=g> > > S9H 4M9 > <https://maps.google.com/?q=44+Robert+Street+West+%0D%0A+Swift+Current,+Saskatchewan+%0D%0A+S9H+4M9&entry=gmail&source=g> > > Phone: 306-778-4815 > > Fax: 306-778-4818 > > > > Archives: http://sain.scaa.sk.ca/collections/swift-current-museum > > Library: https://www.librarything.com/profile/SwiftCurrentMuseum > > Website: http://www.swiftcurrent.ca > > > > *From:* Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]> *On Behalf > Of *Kelsy Sinelnikov > *Sent:* June 27, 2018 8:48 AM > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* [MUSEUM-L] Unsolicited Object Donations > > > > Hello, > > > > I work for a small history museum and we often have people drop by with > items they wish to donate. We have a temporary deposit form that we have > them fill out and this states that they are required to pick up the item > within 30 days if it is not accepted into the collection. However, they > often state "if you don't want them that's fine, but I don't want them > back," and that they will not return even if we notify them. This creates > an issue of storage and disposal for us. We would like to discourage people > dropping off donations without prior contact with a staff member. > > > > I was wondering about other museums approach to people dropping by with > items unannounced. I am working on a website page regarding donation, but > would love to hear other ideas for discouraging this and policies regarding > drop offs. > > > > Thank you! > > > > Kelsy > > > ------------------------------ > > To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: > http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 > > ------------------------------ > > To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: > http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.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] . 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