Importanceof Deaccessioning
Outline
Topic: Importance of deaccessioning
Objective:To define the concept of deaccessioning and its benefit to museums.
Thesis:The process of deaccessioning is criticized by different stakeholders(including donors and members of the community), but it helps museumsgenerate money and get rid of artifacts that have lost value.
A catalogue is created for easy identification of new items. Museums also engage in deaccessioning in order to assess the origin of new artifacts and determine their worth (Marilena, & Michele, 2014).
Museums maintain their operations by collecting new pieces and disposing those that have lost value (Marilena, & Michele, 2014).
Preview of main points
Definition of deaccessioning
Deaccessioning is a process that involves the disposal of old artifacts, acquisition of new ones, and the destruction of useless pieces (Marilena, & Michele, 2014).
The use of proper records reduces the risk of losing useful artifacts (Marilena, & Michele, 2014).
Principles of deaccessioning
The decision to start the deaccessioning should be based on reasonable grounds, instead of the financial constraints and the need to save on resources as well as the space (Marilena, & Michele, 2014).
Deaccessioning should be considered as a process of reappraisal and retrospective appraisal (Marilena, & Michele, 2014).
The museum should rely on the services of an archival professional in order to enhance the credibility of the deaccessioning process (Marilena, & Michele, 2014).
Frameworks for deaccessioning
The process of creating the foundation involves the description of policies as well as procedures, determination of the value of artifacts, and the development of detailed disposal agreements (Marilena, & Michele, 2014).
The process of collecting reviews involves the assessment of the artifacts’ information against the policies and the detailed acknowledgement of the items (Marilena, & Michele, 2014).
The section of enactment of the deaccessioning process and it involves consultation with all stakeholders and the selection of items that will be disposed (Marilena, & Michele, 2014).
Reasons for deaccessioning
Museums remove artifacts that are not in live with their missions and visions (Marilena, & Michele, 2014).
Museums may relocate or dispose artifacts when they do not have enough space (Marilena, & Michele, 2014).
Benefits of deaccessioning
Deaccessioning is one of the key activities that help museums raise money
Members of the community get the opportunity to buy and take care of the artifacts that are disposed by the museum (Marilena, & Michele, 2014).
Conclusion
Deaccessioning is a significant process that allows museums to eliminate artifacts that no longer create value and have space the installation of new ones.
Deaccessioning enables the museums to generate money and support their operations, including the purchase of new artifacts.
SpeakerNotes
Slide2: Introduction
Museumsmaintain their operations by collecting new pieces and disposingthose that have lost value. A catalogue is created for easyidentification of new items. Museums also engage in deaccessioning inorder to assess the origin of new artifacts and determine their worth(Marilena, & Michele, 2014).
Slide3: Definition of deaccessioning
Deaccessioningis a process that involves the disposal of old artifacts, acquisitionof new ones, and the destruction of useless pieces. An effectiveprocess of deaccessioning requires proper documentation. It shouldalso be guided by established policies. The use of proper recordsreduces the risk of losing useful artifacts (Marilena, & Michele,2014).
Slide4: Definition of deaccessioning (Cont)
Theapplication of policies in the process of deaccessioning facilitatesthe professional judgment, accountability, and the enhancement ofcommunity’s as well as the donors’ support. Therefore, theapplication of proper policies enhances the credibility of the entireprocess of deaccessioning. The establishment of policies is guided bythe laws that exist in each country or state(Marilena,& Michele, 2014).
Slide5: Principles of deaccessioning
Theprocess of deaccessioning is guided by three principles. First, thedecision to start the deaccessioning should be based on reasonablegrounds, instead of the financial constraints and the need to save onresources as well as the space. Secondly, deaccessioning should beconsidered as a process of reappraisal and retrospective appraisal(Marilena, & Michele, 2014). Third, the museum should rely on theservices of an archival professional in order to enhance thecredibility of thedeaccessioningprocess.
Slide6: Frameworks for deaccessioning
Theentire process of deaccessioning can be divided into three sections,including the creation of the foundation, collection review, and theenactment of the actual procedures. The process of creating thefoundation involves the description of policies as well asprocedures, determination of the value of artifacts, and thedevelopment of detailed disposal agreements(Marilena,& Michele, 2014).
Slide7:Frameworksfor deaccessioning (Cont.)
Thedisposal policy should take account of the ethical options available,the reputation of the museum, and its moral responsibility to thecommunity. Some of the key moral responsibilities that a museum hasto the community include the preservation of artifacts that representits culture and historical facts. Museums also have a responsibilityto educate the community (Marilena, & Michele, 2014). Therefore,money is not the only factor that guides the museum’s decisions andactions.
Slide8: Reasons for deaccessioning
Museumsembark on the process of deaccessioning for different reasons. Someof them intend to remove artifacts that are not in line with theirmissions and visions. Museums may also decide to eliminate lowerquality artifacts. The process may also help the museum remove itemsthat have lost value. They may also relocate or dispose artifactswhen they do not have enough space (Marilena, & Michele, 2014).
Slide9: Benefits of deaccessioning
Deaccessioningis one of the key activities that help museums raise money. The moneygenerated through deaccessioning helps museums enhance the process ofcollection, which enables them to acquire new items. The removal ofartifacts that have lost value helps museums reduce the cost ofoperation. They also get the opportunity to create more space(Marilena,& Michele, 2014).
Slide10: Benefits of deaccessioning (Cont.)
Themuseum plays a critical role in enhancing the community’s welfare.Some members of the community get the opportunity to buy and takecare of the artifacts that are disposed by the museum. The process ofdeaccessioning requires less number of records compared to accession(Marilena,& Michele, 2014).
Slide11: Conclusion
Deaccessioningis considered as an unethical process by several stakeholders,including some members of the community and donors. However, it is asignificant process that allows museums to eliminate artifacts thatno longer create value and have space for installation of new ones.Although it discourages some stakeholders, it enables the museums togenerate money and support their operations, including the purchaseof new artifacts.
Reference
Veccoa,M. & Piazzai, M. (2014). Deaccessioningof museum collections: What do we know and where.Journal of Cultural Heritage, 16 (2), 221-227.
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