National Standards and Best Practices for U.S. Museums
Distributed for American Alliance of Museums Press
92 pages
|
7 x 10
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© 2008
For the first time, the U.S. museum profession's current operating standards in areas from public accountability to facilities and risk management are available in a single publication. This guide is an essential reference work for the museum community, presenting the ideals that should be upheld by every museum striving to maintain excellence in its operations. An introductory section explains how virtually anyone associated with museums will find the book valuable, from trustees to staff to funders and the media. It is followed by a full outline of the standards, including the overarching Characteristics of Excellence and the seven areas of performance they address. Throughout the book is commentary by Elizabeth E. Merritt, former director of AAM's Museum Advancement and Excellence Department and founding director of AAM's Center for the Future of Museums.
Contents
Preface: Ford W. Bell, AAM President
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
Section 1: Introduction
Who Should Use This Book and How
What Is a Museum?
Why Standards?
What Are “Standards and Best Practices”?
Where Do Standards Come From?
How Can Museums Use the Standards?
Who Else Uses the Standards, and How?
Section 2: Standards and Best Practices
Core Questions
Commentary
Characteristics of Excellence for U.S. Museums
Characteristics of Excellence for U.S. Museums “in Translation”
I. Public Trust and Accountability
Standards Regarding Public Trust and Accountability
Commentary
Standards Regarding Ethics
Commentary
The AAM Code of Ethics for Museums
Standards Regarding an Institutional Code of Ethics
Commentary
II. Mission and Planning
Standards Regarding Institutional Mission Statements
Commentary
Standards Regarding Institutional Planning
Commentary
III. Leadership and Organizational Structure
Standards Regarding Governance
Commentary
Standards Regarding Delegation of Authority
Commentary
IV. Collections Stewardship
Standards Regarding Collections Stewardship
Commentary
Best Practices Regarding Loaning Collections to Non-Museum Entities
Commentary
Standards Regarding the Unlawful Appropriation of Objects During the Nazi Era
Best Practices Regarding the Unlawful Appropriation of Objects During the Nazi Era
Commentary
V. Education and Interpretation
Standards Regarding Education and Interpretation
Commentary
Standards Regarding Exhibiting Borrowed Objects
Commentary
VI. Financial Stability
Standards Regarding Financial Stability
Commentary
Standards Regarding Developing and Managing Business and Individual Donor Support
Commentary
Standards Regarding Retrenchment or Downsizing
VII. Facilities and Risk Management
Standards Regarding Facilities and Risk Management
Commentary
Section 3: Completing the Picture
The Universe of Museum Standards and Best Practices
Other Major Sources of Standards Relevant to Museums
AAM Standing Professional Committees and Standards
Trends and Potential Future Standards
Troubleshooting
Standards Regarding the Unlawful Appropriation of Objects During the Nazi Era
Best Practices Regarding the Unlawful Appropriation of Objects During the Nazi Era
Commentary
V. Education and Interpretation
Standards Regarding Education and Interpretation
Commentary
Standards Regarding Exhibiting Borrowed Objects
Commentary
VI. Financial Stability
Standards Regarding Financial Stability
Commentary
Standards Regarding Developing and Managing Business and Individual Donor Support
Commentary
Standards Regarding Retrenchment or Downsizing
VII. Facilities and Risk Management
Standards Regarding Facilities and Risk Management
Commentary
Section 3: Completing the Picture
The Universe of Museum Standards and Best Practices
Other Major Sources of Standards Relevant to Museums
AAM Standing Professional Committees and Standards
Trends and Potential Future Standards
Troubleshooting
Appendix: Dates of Approval of Standards and Best Practices
Glossary
For more information, or to order this book, please visit http://www.press.uchicago.edu
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