I apologize if this has been covered...

In the small history museum and regional art center that I have recently 
started working in as Collection Manager, I am experiencing a high 
volume of object donations from board members and docents.

Is there a recommended percentage a museum should allow for "insider" 
donations?  Is this typical of a small museum - this experience is new 
to me as I have only worked with state archives before.  It is getting 
interesting as folks that are attached to the museum are attached to 
their objects, and convincing everyone that the collection should follow 
the mission of the museum is becoming a task.  Actually, most often I 
have board members and docents bringing in Suzy Q-from-down-the-street's 
stuff and of course they never want to fill out paperwork and have no 
history on the objects, etc.

Am I overreacting?  Any ideas about how to handle this?
Thank you so much for your help in advance!

-- 
Sara E. Harris Thum, Collections Manager
Montgomery Museum and Lewis Miller Regional Art Center
300 South Pepper Street, Christiansburg, VA 24073
(540) 382-5644
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