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  • 1.  policy or procedure question

    Posted 02-28-2018 08:44 AM

    Does anyone have a policy or procedure, for a non-profit museum, that they would like to share when it come to a museum guest requesting to see a special artifact that is not on display?  Is there a charge? What if the artifact is delicate or in poor condition?

     

    Thank you for your help

     

    Lisa Petitta

    Collections Manager

    Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Trust, Inc.

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    4141 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA  15213

    412-621-4253, Ext. 214

    Lisa@soldiersandsailorshall.org

    www.soldiersandsailorshall.org

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  • 2.  RE: policy or procedure question

    Posted 03-01-2018 09:23 AM
    We will usually make appointments (at no charge) if people call ahead but we also accommodate walk-in visitors at our discretion and on a case-by-case basis. We'd give extra consideration to scholars, and to people related to the object, like the family of the donor or artist, and maybe also to people who have traveled farther. But we have certainly turned people away, mostly because of poor timing (i.e. no one can get away at the moment to show them into storage). I don't think we have turned anyone away because of the condition of the object, although we might forewarn the visitor of those circumstances. I think it depends on your staffing and flexibility. If you don't have anyone to spare to take drop-in visitors into storage, you're not in a position to accommodate them, and you can politely suggest they make an appointment.

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    Kerry Schauber
    Research Assistant
    Memorial Art Gallery
    Rochester NY
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: policy or procedure question

    Posted 03-01-2018 09:34 AM
    Lisa,

    Our response to such a request would be to schedule a viewing of the object with collections staff. You could create an access request form with requestor contact info, specifying the object, accession number, reason for access, number of individuals viewing, etc. Walk-ins aren't accomodated.

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    Jeffrey Carr
    Exhibitions and Collections Manager
    Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University
    Athens OH
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: policy or procedure question

    Posted 03-01-2018 10:20 AM
    I likely varies, but my personal philosophy has always been "Why" they want to see it?  Is it a family donation?  Are they a researcher? What is their "Need" to see the object or is it just "Want?"  So if it is just curiosity, I have usually said that we have a policy against such requests.  A better approach is to have a special Members Only behind the scenes tour with plenty of staff and volunteers on hand to control any unauthorized touching.

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    David Beard
    Executive Director
    USS KIDD Veterans Memorial Museum
    Baton Rouge LA
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: policy or procedure question

    Posted 03-02-2018 10:31 AM

    Provided there are no stipulations or sensitivities about use for the piece (e.g. repatriation, etc), I would ask them to make a research appointment and then would be happy to show it to them. Our collections are held in the public trust, but that doesn't mean that they are best served being hidden away. As cultural and natural heritage institutions, we need to keep those channels of communication open with our communities, and that means inviting them in. Perhaps the visitor may have some information or knowledge to share about the piece.

     

    You can always inform the visitor that the piece is in poor condition, but I personally don't think that should be a reason for saying no. It should be a demonstration that your institution is doing all it can to preserve the piece. They might end up supporting that, as well.


    Dawn

     

    Dawn Roberts | Director of Collections

    The Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

    2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614 | www.naturemuseum.org

     

    Collections Facility and Office

    4001 N Ravenswood Avenue, suite 201, Chicago, IL 60613 | 773-755-5125

     

    The Urban Gateway to Nature and Science

     




    Original Message


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