Overview

Collection ethics – the third rail of the museum profession. What are the encompassing issues museum face regarding how they acquire, keep and work with their collections? Museum Collection Ethics discusses the complexities inherent in preserving and interpreting the extraordinary range of culturally significant objects entrusted to museums. The book presents an encompassing look at every aspect of the intellectual and stewardship duties museums by definition assume. The differences between ethics, laws, customs, and expectations are discussed. They are not synonymous. Ethics vary widely and are fluid. Essential factors include: ·Defining a museum as an ethical pursuit ·The role of museum governing authorities regarding ethics ·The ethics of collection authority: who is responsible for collection truths ·How museums collect and how ethics influences that activity ·The ethics of assuring collection authenticity ·The ethical access to collections, be it physical or digital ·Ethics and conservation ·Exhibition ethics ·The ethics of collection removals be they voluntary or involuntary This is the first book devoted solely to the ethical concerns museums face regarding their collections.

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9781538135204

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Reviews

Collections are the very soul of every museum and for the first time, a comprehensive exploration of the myriad ethics issues are explored in a single volume. Every aspect of collections stewardship is considered with thoughtful analysis and relevant case studies. A must read for any member of a museum family.--Bruce Katsiff, Director/CEO, James A. Michener Art Museum - Retired The museum world is increasingly the subject of public protest - donors, governance, collecting practices and so much more are catching the public eye in the 21st century. Miller's book offers a practical and thorough look a collections concerns and reminds us all of our purpose as collections caregivers and our ethical duties. This is a must read for anyone looking to work in or serve museums, and a helpful reminder to the mid-career and seasoned professional who is looking for guidance when issues arise.--Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko, director, Illinois State Museum

Collections are the very soul of every museum and for the first time, a comprehensive exploration of the myriad ethics issues are explored in a single volume. Every aspect of collections stewardship is considered with thoughtful analysis and relevant case studies. A must read for any member of a museum family. The museum world is increasingly the subject of public protest - donors, governance, collecting practices and so much more are catching the public eye in the 21st century. Miller's book offers a practical and thorough look a collections concerns and reminds us all of our purpose as collections caregivers and our ethical duties. This is a must read for anyone looking to work in or serve museums, and a helpful reminder to the mid-career and seasoned professional who is looking for guidance when issues arise. I found this volume to be useful, current, readily readable and highly relevant to any archivist, or indeed any employee responsible for collections of any kind and how ethics can impact on professional practice. Miller motivated me throughout to examine how I myself approach collection ethics within my own career and workplaces, and that of colleagues and institutions elsewhere. If this is the first volume dedicated to museum collection ethics, then I look forward to reading the next. Museum Collection Ethics discusses the complexities inherent in acquiring, preserving, and, making accessible to the public the extraordinary range of culturally significant objects entrusted to museums. The book provides an encompassing look at the intellectual, practical and stewardship duties museums by definition assume. Differences between ethics and laws, customs and expectations, practices and potentials are reviewed in the context of museum operations. These considerations are not synonymous. Each has its own characteristics. All infuse how museums treat collections.

Author Information

Steven Miller has been in the museum field for nearly fifty years. During that time he has been a curator, administrator, director, trustee, writer, consultant, and museum studies educator. He has served with six major museums in the northeastern United States. He holds a BA in sculpture (with honors) from Bard College and an international graduate certificate in the Principles of Conservation Science from the International Centre for the Study of the Conservation and Preservation of Cultural Property, Rome, Italy.

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