Historical Commission Agenda and Packet 2022 07 20

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Louisville Historical Museum Collections Management Policy Found in Collection: Uncataloged historic items found with other items at the Museum are considered to be "Found in Collection." These are assumed to have been legitimately donated earlier in the history of the Museum, but the gift may not have been documented at the time. e. Abandoned property: Colorado Revised Statutes 38-14 governs abandoned property at museums. Under its provisions and under certain circumstances, property left at the Museum and not claimed by the owner is abandoned property that may be added to the collections after seven years. Unsolicited property that arrives at the Museum without staff knowledge of the identity of the owner does not have to be accepted by the Museum. If the item is accepted for the collection, Museum staff should note the possibility that the owner could reclaim the property within seven years. Exchange: Items acquired as part of an exchange can be added to the collections. An example is when the Museum acquires publications as a result of the provisions of the Museum's photo reproduction policy. 3.2 Criteria for Acceptance Every item should be considered carefully before acceptance into any of the collections. Consideration must be given to the following: a. Whether the item would help the Museum fulfill its mission; b. Whether the item falls within the Museum's scope of collections; c. The item's condition; d. Whether the item duplicates items already in the collections, and e. Whether the Museum can adequately care for and store the item. 3.3 Conditions of Acceptance a. Conditions: Items will not be accepted with conditions attached by the donor. Title to all items acquired by the Museum must be free and clear, without restrictions or limitations as to use or future disposition. Donated items may be exhibited, stored, loaned, maintained, or disposed of at the sole discretion of the Museum. However, the Museum will attempt to accommodate, if possible, reasonable requests such as requests by donors for anonymity, requests by an oral history narrator to delay the public dissemination of an oral history interview until after the narrator's death, or requests by donors of photos to delay putting the digitized photos online. b. Compliance with Laws: An item will not be accepted for acquisition if it was acquired by violating or potentially violating any local, state, federal, or international law. c. Acquisition of Rights: The Museum acquires all rights of reproduction, publication, and copyright with respect to donated items if permitted by applicable laws and regulations. 3.4 Valuation of Gifts Gifts to the Museum may be tax deductible. Museum staff and volunteers may not provide appraisals for gifts. 5