A good source would be the Deaccession Reader edited by Steve Weil and
available from AAM.   The report of the Registrars Committee Deaccessioning
Task Force is printed as an appendix and will give you an idea of how other
museums (by type) look at these issues.

Janice Klein
Director
The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Kendall College
[log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: Glyn Balkwill <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2000 10:43 PM
Subject: Deaccessioning policy


>Hi! museum folk
>
>Its time to ask for help again.
>
>Our museum has recently amalgamated with a natural history museum and a
>military history museum.
>
>We are therefor rewriting all our policies. The latest is the deaccession
>policy. I have been to the museum-l archive but can't find any direct
>opinions on the following:
>
>1.      Final approval for deaccesioning / alienation can be given by the
>CEO. No Board ratification needed.
>
>2.      No attempt need be made to contact donors or their descendants
>
>3.      Deaccessioned items can be sold, not necessarily to other museum
but
>on the open market
>
>Coming form the cultural history side we have an almost instinctive horror
>of these suggestions. The natural historians seem not to be perturbed.
Since
>the drafter of the policy and the CEO are natural historians the policy is
>likely to go to the board with these in.
>
>I would appreciate any opinions for or against, horror stories, etc.
>
>Thanks in advance for the help.
>
>Glyn
>
>******************************************************************
>* Glyn Balkwill                     Tel (w)  : 27 (0)12 341-1320 *
>* Deputy Director                   Tel (h)  : 27 (0)12 664-1973 *
>* Collections Management            Cell     : 27 (0)82 770-7826 *
>* National Cultural History Museum  Fax      : 27 (0)12 341-6146 *
>* PO Box 28088                      Email    : [log in to unmask]   *
>* SUNNYSIDE                                                      *
>* 0132  RSA                                                      *
>* Any opinions expressed are strictly my own                     *
>******************************************************************
>
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