As the past president of the Association of College and University
Museums and Galleries (ACUMG) I have spoken with many colleagues who
share this same predicament. Though there is a justifiable tendency to
give in and not bite the hand that feeds you, educating the president
about our profession's standards and practices will often do the trick.
You could mention to him/her that to loan artworks to their home would
be much the same as if your librarian were asked to loan a rare book to
be put on display for guests in the president's home to page through.
(Or a moon rock from the Astronomy Dept. or a rare dinosaur fossil,
etc.)

Many of us have found that when we alert the president to the extra care
we must give to the works under our protection they understand our
plight.  That said, some academic colleagues have found that there are
always some pieces in the collection that can be loaned, if the
conditions are right. (Security in the president's mansion is usually
not an issue-- but humidity can be.) Many have recognized that what the
president is really borrowing is prestige. You could make a special loan
for a special fund-raising occasion and ask to be invited. You could
even give the president and his/her guests a behind the scenes tour of
the museum and vault. There are no pat answers to this timeless
quandary. After all, we do want the boss to be happy--and raise money.

LES REKER, Executive Director
ART MUSEUM OF GREATER LAFAYETTE





-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Dr. Elizabeth A. Moore
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 4:10 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: university museum office loans standards?

I swear, why does nearly every new President/Executive
Director/Secretary/etc. have to do this?  Can't there be a manual
written
for them with things NOT to do your first time on the job?

Elizabth


----- Original Message -----
From: Bonni-Dara Michaels <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 7:21 AM
Subject: FW: university museum office loans standards?


The University with which we are affiliated has a new President who
would
like to decorate his office (and possibly his home) with works from the
collection. Our practice has always been to refuse such requests.  Are
there
any official published guidelines - AAM or ACUMG - we can quote in
support
of our position?

Bonni-Dara Michaels
Collections Curator
Yeshiva University Museum
15 West 16th Street
New York, New York 10011
Tel: 212-294-8330 x 8815

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