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Creator:
American Association of Museums
Title(s):
National Standards & best practices for U.S. museums / the American Association of Museums ; commentary by Elizabeth E. Merritt.
Additional Title(s):
National standards and best practices for United States museums
Published/Created:
Washington, DC : American Association of Museums, [2010]
©2008
Physical Description:
90 pages ; 26 cm
Holdings:
Reference Library
AM11 .A63 2010 (LC)
Accessible in the Reference Library [Hours]
Note: Please contact the Reference Library to schedule an appointment [Email ycba.reference@yale.edu]

Related Content:
Table of contents
Table of contents
Classification:
Books
Notes:
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.
Subject Terms:
Museum techniques -- United States -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Museum techniques.
Museums -- Management.
Museums -- Standards -- United States -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Museums -- Standards.
Museums -- United States -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Museums -- United States -- Management -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Museums.
United States.
Form/Genre:
Handbooks and manuals.
Handbooks and manuals.
Contributors:
Merritt, Elizabeth E.
Export:
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  • Preface / Ford W. Bell
  • 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
  • Appendix: Dates of approval of standards and best practices.