Are your storage facilities clogged with unidentified or undocumented objects?

In A Deaccession Reader, museum ethics and legal issues writer Stephen Weil argues that when carefully applied, deaccessioning can provide institutions with an important opportunity to chart institutional priorities, control expenses, renew collecting policies, and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of existing collections.

Common reasons why objects should be considered for deaccession include:

• The object does not contribute to the institution's mission

• The object lacks authenticity or documentation, making it valueless for scholarly or educational purposes

• The presence of duplications or substantially similar objects in the collection

• Poor condition or inability of the institution to provide proper care

Because much of the book focuses on the concerns of art museums and high profile sales, the authors frequently warn readers that deaccessioning collections in order to raise funds for operating expenses is not an ethical or effective way to achieve institutional stability.

Readers will also find helpful advice in dealing with donor relations, legal considerations, and disposition procedures.

Particularly helpful, are the sample collections management policies presented in the appendix.

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