Hello,

I think using Ebay is an effective way to accomplish the "public sale"
condition in many policies.  I also think that it might be best for
institutions however, to work with a professional broker who can manage the
sale.  Possibly someone who is considered a respectible, experienced dealer
in your region or in the subject area of the items you are selling.  As a
courtsey you might alert other museums about the upcoming sale.  I have seen
manuscript and local history material ( i.e. letters, personal photos) for
sale on ebay and that is where I draw the line.  I think those kinds of
items should stay in the public domain and be offered as donations to
museums or archives that can take care of them and make them accessible, if
they do not fit your collection scope.

Shannon O'Dell, Curator
Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078  

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Todd Bothel
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 7:27 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Using Ebay for "Public Auction" of Deaccessions

Hi all, I wanted to get my fellow museum professionals opinion on whether
using Ebay would qualify as a "public auction" for disposing of
deaccessioned items from museum collections. I think it would be the same as
auctioning of items at Christie's, Sotheby's, etc. but wanted to make sure
that there wasn't something that I wasn't thinking about or considered. As
always, the funds would go back into collections--either for improved
storage, conservation, or new artifacts.

Thanks in advance for everyone's opinion.

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