Resolution 1987-200
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September I, 1987
RESOLUTION NO. 87- 200
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A FORMAL COLLECTIONS
MANAGEMENT POLICY FOR THE COLLIER COUNTY
MUSEUM
Whereas, the Collier County Museum serves the County, its
residents and visitors from an historical and informational
standpoint and as a repository of significant historical and/or
archeological materials; and
Whereas, since the Museum's educational programs and
exhibits rely directly upon historical documents, photographs and
objects which are donated, loaned or purchased for its
collection; and
.... ;'Whereas, there is a need and it is desirable for there to be
t.,';'" esfabUshed a collections management policy addressing the
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,f:; ~ acquisition, care and disposal of Museum assets; and
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,'~~ . . , Whereas, such collections management policy for the Collier
):"Ccnmty Museum may describe certain of the purposes and goals of
the Museum, establ~sh procedures for collection and disposal of
objects, including accountability and record keeping, serve as a
guide for Museum staff, and further, provide a pUblic statement
of the Museum's professional standards, including its legal and
ethical responsibilities regarding objects entrusted to its care;
and
Whereas, the adoption of a formal collections policy is
desirable as an essential step in the Museum's efforts to achieve
national recognition through accreditation by the American
Association of Museums, whereby such accreditation signifies a
commitment to excallence and would indicate that the Collier
County Museum meet~ the accepted standards of the profession,
makes the best use. of its resources, and is deserving of the
public's trust and support.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
BOOK 107 PAr;[ 39
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107 FAG[ 40
Any and all prior formal or informal Museum collections
'policies are hereby repealed and superseded by the collections
management policy and appended code of ethics for curators all of
which are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference
,and said collections management policy is hereby established and
-approved as ,the collections management policy for the collier
County Museum.
, This,Resolution adopted after motion; second and roll call
,.vote 'as follows:
BOARD OF COtlNTYCOMMtSSIONERs
COLLIER C UNTY, FLQRIDA,
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By:
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Sept:enber l, 1987
COLLIER COUNTY MUSEUM
COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT POLICY
The Collier County Museum was established with the principal
purposes' of preservation and education, seeking to collect and
preserve historical objects and artifacts from the County's past,
and to provide related historical research, interpretation, and
edUcational activities for the public.
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The goals of t;he museum are:
1. To maintain a collection of historical objects and
artifacts relating to Collier County, and to
undertake basic preservation and conservation of
the collection objects.
2. To collect and preserve archival records of
Collier County, and to provide a non-circulating
research library for the public.
3. To research, reconstruct, and interpret buildings
and objects reflecting the history of Collier
County, and to exhibit on the museum grounds other
aspects of the County's past.
4. To study and interpret:
a. the development of Collier County, from pre-
history to the present, examining change over
time, the relationship between man and the
environment, and the interactions between the
various cultures past and present, in Collier
County.
b. to interpret and present the history of
Collier County through permanent and changing
exhibits, educational programs for adults,
families, and school groups, written educa-
tional materials available to the public, and
through other appropriate forms.
5. To share and exchange knowledge with other educa-
tional and historical institutions and museums.
BOOK 107 PAGE '41
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The Collections Management Policy set forth herein is
intended to establish the methods and procedures by which the
collection objects owned by the museum shall be managed and
maintained for the objective:of contributing to the purposes and
goals of the museum.
General Statement and Definitions'
Collections management refers to the functions and duties of
the museum with respect to the ownership, management, main-
tenance, use and d~sposition of its collections and extends to
the fundamental responsibility of the Collier County Board of
County Commissioners, and the operating staff entrusted with the
maintenance, use and security oithe collections.
Definitions
The following terms are used, with these meanings in this
statement of policy.
1. The collection of the museum consists of objects and
materials accessioned and maintained by the museum, with the
specific purpose of contributing to the goals of the museum.
2. A collection piece or object is an item that"has been
accessioned into the collection of the museum.
3..' Accessioning i~ the formal process of admitting an object
into the museum's collection and to create its status as a
collection piece or object.
4. Deaccessioning or Decessioning is the formal process used
for permanently removing an object from the museum's
collection and terminating its status as a collection piece.
5. 'Acquisition is the legal process by which ownership of an
object to be accessioned into the collection is transferred
to the museum.
6. Disposition is the legal process by which ownership of
deaccessioned objects is transferred by the museum to
another.
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A loan is the temporary transfer of a collection piece, or
pieces, to or from the custody of the museum 'tlithout
involving a change of ownership, or a change in the status
of the object as a collection piece, undertaken by both the
lending and the borrowing institutions for specifically
stated museum or educational purposes, for a limited period
of time.
8.c. The museum shall refer to the Collier County Museum.
9. The Board of County Commissioners shall refer to the Collier
County Board of County Commissioners.
10. Objects in custody are neither owned nor borrowea by the
museum, but which are temporarily transferred to it for
other than museum or educational purposes, such as for
identificatio~, examination or gift or purchase
consideration.
11. The Collections Manual provides the guidelines and formats
. for' the administration and management of the museum IS
collection.
The Collections Plan is an inventory and analysis of the
collection; and indicates areas which need expansion within
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~tCollection~Objectives
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:,',~i.;P" An)'object or artifact 'must' be" relevant to the- purpose and
goals of'the museum before it will be accessioned and maintained
a8:!part .of the museum's collection. Acquisitions' to the collec-
tion; whether by purchase, ~ift', loan, bequest, excavation, or'}
other means, must De relevant to the history of Collier County,
spanning the pre-history period, through the present, and shall
be" appropriate for research, comparison and exhibit. In the
acquisition of a collection piece, the interest of the public for
vhi~hthecollection is held in trust, and the capability of the
museum;to,mept the financial and other obligationscrented by the
acquisition, must be considered.
Acquisitions will be accepted
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according to the needs and;directions stated in the Collections
Plan, and the collection will not exceed the survey level, except
'with the approval of the director.
; ";:i :' ,'Maintenance of records is critical and will follow the
f~,guidelines of the Collections Manual. To meet the educational
:objectives of the museum, the collection will be accessible to
'!.:the "public' for viewing and study through exhibi tion, normal
-programs and events, or by pre-arranged visit.
The museum ha~ an ethical duty to preserve a material record
'of human culture in Collier County and is obligated to maintain
the. integrity of the collection, to physically care for the
.objects, and provide adequate security. Periodic evaluation of
the condition of the collection and provision for appropriate
'care, conservation and safekeeping are essential.
Governance: The Board of County Commissioners and Staff
Responsibilities
The Board of County Commissioners holds the ultimate
fiduciary responsibility for the protection of i~s assets and
properties, including the c<?llection of the museum, and for
ensurinq'assets and properties are properly and effectively ~sed
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for :~~" p':tblic purposes for whieh they were acquired and
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maintained.
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'. 'The:'Board of County Commissioners shall be advised when
accessioning or deaccessioning an important collection piece
which ',may reasonably be expected to attract unusual public
attention, or when the balance and integrity of the collection
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may ~,~ :'significantly changed.
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Septenber 1, 1987
Approval of the Board of County Commissioners shall be
collection piece valued in excess of
.$2,000 or deaccessioning a collection piece valued in excess of
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Collections Staff Responsibilities
The museum archivist is responsible for collections manage-
ment recommendations and actions, and is charged with the orderly
increase of the collections as ou~lined in the collections plan,
and the cataloging~ care and use, and deaccessioning of collec-
tion objects, with the final approval of the museum director.
The museum archivist is also responsible for maintaining
prOper muniment files and is charged with accessioning collection
objects; inventorying the collection, and establishing and
" milhtaining other collection records as established in the
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'~{ the';.'procedures of deaccesSioning, subject to' the director's
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approval. '
'e'" '''The staff is obligated to the public and the museum to act
in accordance with accepted ~thical principles as' established by
the American Assoc'iation of Museum's "Code of :::thics for
. CUrators.- (Attached) Staff members shall scrupulously avoid uny
ac~ivity which may be perceived as an ubuse of their official
pOsitions with the museum. Specifically, staff members shull not
acquire objects owned or controlled by the museum, unl~ss ~uch
transactions have been subjected to a formal ui~posal procedure
tOtally public in nature.
Collections objects shull be used only
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SeptaIber l, 1987
for official museum purposes. and shall not leave the museum
property except in the case of approved loans, with the specific
approval of the museum director. No object may be moved from its
'recorded location without completing a change of location form,
as established in the Collections Manual, and notifying the
'archivist of the change. At all times, staff members should be
"aware of their responsibilities to preserve and protect the
~Accessioning of Ob~ec~s
~:; ~-'ObJects and materials may be added to the collection by'
means of gifts, bequests, purchases, exchanges, or any other
proper transaction by which full and absolute title to the
"objects is given to the museum.
The previous owner must provide documentary evidence or
warranty of ownership and its effective transfer to the museum.
The muniment shall be of a form that proveS' the museum's
~unqUalified, legal ownership of the object or materials. All
records shall be properly maintained as outlined in the
Collections Manual.
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The museum shall not accept items encumbered by donor
'ri~trictions, except in rare instances, with the approval of the
director. Ownership by the museum shall normally be unrestricted
as to"the 'use of an object.
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c~'r ~,' No 'Object may be acquired on behalf of the museum ~'lithout
""f~e(specific prior approval of the director.
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The Collections Plan will be the guideline in determining
w~ether an object or materials should be acquired. Accessioning
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o~ ;~y object must be consistent with the purposes and goals of
Acquisitions shall be promptly accessioned upon
,receipt and, acceptance, following the system described in the
Collections Manual.
>",No acquisition shall be appraised by a staff member, or any
~~~9n ~losely associated with the museum, but staff members may
r!nd~r~partial ,\ssistance to donors seeking independent,
{"~'<iu~lified appraisers. Gifts will be acknowledged promptly, in
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.< writing, by the museum.
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:tr.:r...;,.,1;n determining whether an object or materials should be
a~gu~ed ~or accessioning as,a collection piece, the following
criteria should be met, with the approval of the director:
; ,,' 1.
Accessioning of the object is consistent with the
collection goals of the museum.
2.
The authenticity and provenance of the object or
materials is satisfactory to the collect~ons staff.
Re~pmmendations for' new acquisitions should also include the
following information:
...,.. 1. The name and address qf the object's present owner, the
-means of the acquisition, by purchase, gift, exchange,
or by some other means, the present location of the
object, and the prospective time and manner oi trunsfer
of title and possession to the museum.
2. The appraised value of the object by a certified
independent source not associated with the museum, if
available or appropriate, and the name oi the
appraiser.
3. The recom!nended purchase price of the object, or its
value if the object is a gift.
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4. The manner in which::full and absolute t.itle of the
object may be effectively transferred to the museum.
5. A description of any limitations on ownership, use or
future disposition of the object by the museum.
6. A description of how the object will be used and
eXhibited, and a statement concerning the object I s
relevance to the museum's collection.
7. A statement describing the immediate conservation
requirements of the object, and the approximate cost of
the care and maintenance of the object.
Deaccessioninq of Collection Pieces
'Deaccessionin~ of collection pieces shall be undertaken with
~pecial sensitivity and discretion.
In general, objects
retaining their physical integrity, their authenticity and
usefulness to the purposes of the museum, should remain part of
the COllection.
J'. ~ ,:t;~Howev!3r,. the museum remains free to improve the collection,
,,~. ,the, public interest, through selective deaccessioning of
objects. .
i;,. ;,:~ ,:To deaccession an object, the museum must determine it has
;.tbe!1egal right to do so. If an object was accessioned with
,,:J:'e,strictions, the museum must recognize and observe any
limitatio.ns, unless' such adherence is impossible or substantially
detrimental to the museum. If adherence to any restriction is
,impossible or detrimental to the museum, the object may be
deaccessioned if it meets any of the criteria below.
,,' "Deaccessioned objects and materials shall not be acquired by
'o~nY;Jmusewn employee, or by, any individual closel~' associated
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If an object is not restricted and if one of the following
are met, the object may be deaccessioned and removed
from the collection in accordance with the collections policy.
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1. The object is no longer relevant to the purpose and
goals of the museum.
2. The object has deteriorated beyond any useful function,
or the museum cannot preserve the object properly.
3. The use of the object for exhibit, research, or
comparison is doubtful or highly unlikely.
,4. The object is one of art excessive number of same or
similar 9bjects, and thus is not of significant
importance to the purpose or goals of the museum.
5. The transfer of the object to the care and custody of
another institution is clearly more appropriate and in
the public' interest than its retention by the museum.
6. After careful research, the object is determined to be
inappropriate for the museum's collection, in terms of
origin, or in any other way.
accepted into the collection with specific or implied
conditions may be deaccessioned if, after subsequent research, it
is discovered that the origin, prevenance, or quality of the
object is different than was believed at the time of acceptance.
The object must be deaccessioned according to the restrictions
under which the gi~t was made.
No' collection piece may be deaccessioned '....ithout the prior
" approv.al'of the director.
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':;:.A' deaccession. recommendation shall include the following
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j,i, information:
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':~ .' 1. Az description of 'how the object \...a5 acquired 'and the'
date of acquisition. '." ..','
2. How the object was used by the museum.
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107 PA'jE 4.9
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3. The reason, as ~bited lin this policy, for deacces-
sioning the object.'
4. A description of any restrictions associated with the
',object.
5. iThe amount for which the object is currently valued by
the'museum and the current fair market value of the
object.
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6.
A description of the method of disposition of the
object.
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'~he disposition of deaccessioned objects may be accomplished by:
1. Auction, with an agreement in writing with the
organiza~ion conducting the auctxon stating the terms,
minimum bid, time and place of che auction, conditions
relating to the identity of the museum as the owner.
2. Sale, trade, or donation, accompanied with an
independent evaluation by a certified appraiser of the
current market value of the deaccessioned object, as
well as the object to be acquired if by trade.
'Other museums and institutions shall be considered a preferred
;method of disposition for deaccessioned objects. As a cour~esy,
if donors of items to be deaccessioned are alive, the museum will
notify the donor of the intent to deaccession.
Any funds received as a result of deaccessioning an object
from the collection shall be placed in an accessions reserve and
will be used for t~e purpose'of purchasing and accessioning other
objects into the museum's coll~ction.
Loans of Objects
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Loans of collection pieces may be made to other institutions
when determined to be in the best interest of the public and not
materially detrimental to the museum. Objects may be loaned or
borrowed to further, the goals of the mU!icum. No collection piece
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be loaned to another institution without prior approval of
the director, and the following criteria must be met:
1. The borrowing institution is an established institution
with purposes and goals similar to the Collier County
Museum's goals.
2. The borrowing institution has successfully demonstrated
its ability to provide appropriate care, security, and
safekeeping of the borrowed object(s), and has
acknowledged its financial responsibility to the museum
for any damage or loss.
terms and conditions of the loan must include any
restrictions or unu~ual requirements, and will include how the
~objects will be used by the borrowing institution. The duration
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';,of 'euch loan will be predetermined and will be included in the
.~'terms and conditions of the loan. Satisfactory arrangements must
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~:"be made for the transportation of the object (s) to the borrmdng
;;:. iJistitution and the return of the object (s) to the Collier County
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The director will appoint a staff member to monitor the
loan and oversee the packing, shipping, and all related details.
The director must approve all incoming loans and assure the
lending person or institution compliance with any restrictions.
Loaned objects will be recorded as outlined in the Collections
in Temporary Custody
f--! ~The museum is responsible for documenting the receipt of
objects received temporarily for the purposes of identification,
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authentication, examination for purchase consi.deration, or
. related activities, and \rlill follow the .::orm included in the
Coiiections Manual. The museum will provide proper carl.! of the
objects in temporary custody, but will not insure :.uch objects.
IODIC 107 PAGl 51
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The length of time an object may stay ,within the museum as an
': object in temporary custody will be pre-determined by the
":cU.rector and the owner of the object, and \-lill not exceed 6
:. 'JI1oilths .
~S~curitv and Insurance
"'The museum's collection is its most important asset and must
be protected. The museum must provide adequate security for all
"collection objects and is responsible for proper storage and
;-eXhibit techniques" appropriate detection' equipment, crowd
; control, and careful inventory and record-keeping procedures.
'The collections staff and the museum director will work
directly with the County's Risk Management Department to deter-
mine appropriate insurance coverage for the property and contents
of the Collier County Museum, with certain objects itemized for
'special coverage, as appropriate.
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Outgoing and incoming loans will be insurea as deemed appro-
'priate by curatorial/collections staff and the County's Risk
" ManagemElO t Department.
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