Bibliography for Old Loans

Buck Rebecca A. , and Gilmore Jean Allman . 2007. Collection Conundrums: Solving Museum Registration Mysteries. Washington, DC: American Association of Museums.

Written by registrars, Buck and Allman detail the mysteries involving old loans, works without record, or objects without identification. The book offers solutions to these issues at hand, and offers suggestions for better recordkeeping. Additionally, sample documents for loan and storage agreements, and deed of gift paperwork is included.

Buck Rebecca A. , and Gilmore Jean Allman , eds. 1998. The New Museum Registration Methods. Washington, DC: American Association of Museums.

This compendium of essays details aspects of museum registration from creating documents, to how to manage files. It also addresses how to pack, crate, ship, and store objects, and how to mitigate for disasters and pests. Tax issues are also addressed.

Buck Rebecca A. , and Gilmore Jean Allman , eds. 2011. Museum Registration Methods, 5th edition. Washington, DC: American Library Association.

This latest edition of Museum Registration Methods contains information for what registrars presently need to know. It also addresses the hurdles that are to come. Ildiko Pogany De Angelis's “Old Loans” article is republished in this edition as well.

Case Mary , ed. 1988. Registrars on Record: Essays on Museum Collections Management. Washington, DC: American Association of Museums.

Thirteen essayists discuss museum registration through roles, management, accountability, and automation. The book is to be used as a “getting acquainted” handbook for the profession.

Dudley D. H. , and Wilkinson I. B. 1979. Museum Registration Methods. 3rd ed. Washington, DC: American Association of Museums.

This book was once seen as the “bible” of the profession when it was first published in 1958. Today its information is slightly antiquated, but the details about procedures and applications of registration for collections still prove to be relevant.

Edson Gary , ed. 1997. Museum Ethics. Routledge, London.

Edson's take on “Ethics for Museums” consists of the first half of the book. The second part contains essays by curators and museum professionals. The topics range from broad to narrow; “Ethics and collecting,” and “Ethics and indigenous peoples,” are among the chapters. Woven throughout the book is the theme of public responsibility toward collecting and maintaining public collections.

Genoways Hugh H. , and Ireland Lynne M. 2003. Museum Administration: An Introduction. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press.

Although Genoways and Ireland do not address the issues of old loans, they do compile a detailed survey of collection management policies. Their case studies and exercises throughout the book would be more helpful as a teaching guide in a classroom, but it could provide practical help for those working in the profession, too.

Malaro Marie C. 1995. “Collection Management Policies.” In Collections Management, edited by Fahy Anne , 11–28. New York: Routledge.

Anne Fahy's book begins with Malaro's chapter, “Collection Management Policies,” which is taken from her book, A Legal Primer on Managing Museum Collections. This chapter provides step-by-step protocol for museum collection. It addresses how to craft a statement of purpose or descriptions of collections, how to acquire objects fit for individual collections, how to deaccession, issues addressing incoming and outgoing loans, how to care for the collection, and how to record the collection's data.

Malaro Marie C. 1997. “Deaccession—The American Perspective.” In A Deaccession Reader, edited by Weil Stephen E. , 39–49. Washington, DC: American Association of Museums.

Malaro's essay defines “deaccession” as the “permanent removal of an object that was once accessioned into a museum collection” (39). Although she does not touch upon the troublesome issue of “Old Loans” in her chapter, she does address the major questions institutions face when addressing the removal of objects. Should this object be removed? What is the legal standard for removal? What is the ethical standard for removal? When old loans have incomplete provenance, or deceased or unfound heirs, Malaro suggests routes museums could take to resolve the ethical deaccessioning of objects, which could help with old loan dilemmas as well.

Malaro Marie C. 1994. Museum Governance: Mission, Ethics, Policy. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press.

This book addresses board members of museums “to encourage more attention, and more informed attention, to core responsibilities and to everyday situations that cumulatively affect the health of the non-profit sector” (viii). By arming boards with this information, Malaro argues that those at the helm can better steer the institution. Her chapter on “Deaccessioning” is republished here as well.

Malaro Marie C. , and De Angelis Ildiko Pogany . 2012. A Legal Primer on Managing Museum Collections, 3rd ed. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press.

Malaro's book broaches legal questions that museums face regarding their collections. The chapter details specific problems that arise with objects, such as stolen property, or current issues, such as copyright laws. The case studies of specific lawsuits involving museums could also prove to be helpful.

Pogany De Angelis Ildiko . 1998. “Old Loans.” In The New Museum Registration Methods, edited by Buck Rebecca A. , and Gilmore Jean Allman , 281–288. Washington, DC: American Association of Museums.

This article is one of the few written solely on the topic of old loans. Pogany De Angelis succinctly maps out the issues regarding old loans, the statutes that explain legislative solutions, and most importantly, how to avoid the problems of old loans in the future. The article ends with an addendum, which includes citations to individual state's Old Loan laws throughout the country.

Reibel Daniel 2008. Registration Methods for the Small Museum, 4th ed. Lanham, MD: AltaMira Press.

Reibel's chapter on “Loans” details policies, procedures, and types of loans. His information is helpful for old loans as well. He pointedly remarks that the museum is responsible for an object as long as it remains in the collection, regardless of who is the owner. He provides suggestions for how to avoid accumulating objects with expired lending dates.

Society of American Archivists www.archivists.org/saagroups/acq-app/abandoned.asp

Put together by the Society of American Archivists, this website contains information for where to look and whom to contact when archivists have abandoned property. According to the website, the Abandoned Property Law Project contains information that helps museums obtain possession of objects that have been previously abandoned.