There should be some threads in the Museum-L Archives on deaccessioning that
might answer this question, but here goes another.

I dealt extensively with the fallout from a predecessor's unethical
deaccession of items at a former place of employment, so have been in the
middle of this question.

Others have covered that all members of the public must have equal
opportunity to acquire or purchase a deaccessioned item. Thus, auctions,
ebay, etc. are appropriate, or any other method by which everyone has an
equal chance.

The rule about staff and other insiders acquiring items can be about
appearances of favoritism, because even if they had an equal opportunity
with other members of the public, it might not be perceived that way by
others and could reflect negatively on your institution. 

The bottom line is that because you are a non-profit, an individual cannot
derive personal benefits through their association with your institution,
whether it's a staff person, a board member or any other member. 

As for your specific question about the volunteer, you'd have to find a way
in which anyone else who is interested could have an equal chance to acquire
it.  If that is done, and if it was an open and transparent transaction in
which it is apparent that he or she had no special advantage, then, in my
humble opinion, it would be o.k.  The monetary value of the item could have
bearing though, thinking again about public perception.

Lucy Sperlin
Butte County Historical Society
Oroville, CA

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Holly Browning
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 1:55 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Deaccessions and volunteers/membership

At the moment, our collections policy states that employees and Board 
members, their families and representatives, cannot acquire items from 
the collections that have been deaccessioned. 

Do any of you include your volunteers and general membership in that 
exclusion? I am facing a potential situation where a volunteer has shown 
interest in a collection piece that is in discussion for possible 
deaccession.

Thank you for you input!
Holly Browning

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