The Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature has established a Guideline (as opposed
to a Policy or Procedure) dealing with the Teaching Collection (for use
primarily by the School Programs Department).  It reads as follows:

(start)
The objects collected for use in School Programs and in the Discovery Room are
intended to be handled by visitors and are thus expendable.  Due to this
difference from objects in the permanent collection, the following guidelines
have been developed:
- Objects are stored separately from the main Museum collection
- if an object is offered directly to the School Programs collection, contact
is made with the appropriate curator to determine if it is required for the
permanent collection.
- all artifacts and specimens are catalogued by School Programs staff prior to
use in the Discovery Room.  This catalogue will be kept and maintained by
School Programs staff.
(end)

The staff (primarily in the School Programs Department) know what is needed or
usable when offers of donation are made, and can accept or reject such offers.
 All objects are sterilized prior to placement with either collection
(teaching or permanent).  The accession numbering system for the teaching
collection follows the model established for the permanent collection.
Repairs/maintenance are provided by the School Programs staff or staff from
the Conservation Department (depending on the nature of the repair).
Deaccessioning follows the same system as used for the permanent collection.

George Wurtak
Director of Programs
Manitoba Museum of Man  and Nature
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