Hello all, I'm looking to increase my engagement with our online community by writing a short blog post about indefinite and long-term loans and some of the consequences they manifest for institutions down the line. I am an independent contractor and therefore I don't think the Museum that I work for would want me to present myself in this piece as a representative of the institution, and so I don't feel it would be appropriate for me to write exclusively using cases from my own Museum. I was wondering if maybe anyone would be willing to share some examples from their careers of indefinite loans that have proved challenging in the years since their inception that I could include (properly credited, of course!). This would probably be something like a 1200-word blog post, and I don't expect it would have a very wide reach, I would just be posting it to LinkedIn. I'd like to use this piece to illustrate how long-term loans can turn into quagmires down the line, leaving the Museum with the care and responsibility for an object that requires their physical space and resources, but over which they can exercise no legal or intellectual ownership. If you'd like to share in the discussion but would not like me to use for your anecdote, please feel free to reply and just indicate you would not like to give permission for your example to be used.
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Delia Titzell
Loans Specialist
National Museum of American History
Washington DC
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