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.