Museums and the Disposals Debate

With collecting for perpetuity no longer necessarily the norm, and active disposals as much a part of collections management as accessioning, Museums and the Disposals Debate brings together international guidance, opinion, best practice and case studies in deaccessioning and disposal policies and practice. How museums react to their changing role - from public collector to effective manager - and how they review the purpose and role of their collections, will shape the future of the museum sector. What are the issues in relation to disposals, and how can the benefits be weighed against the challenges and pitfalls? This major book, over 600 pages, is a timely addition to current deaccessioning and disposals policies and programmes. Its intention is to be a valuable advocate, critical friend and information source for museum managers and collection specialists across the sector. This comprehensive volume is an indispensible resource for museum professionals grappling with deaccession issues and for museum and heritage studies students preparing to do so. Informed by diverse international perspectives on policy and practice, the essays offer frank analysis on a topic too long mired in media hype. Contributors scrutinize the complexities and contradictions of disposal to support museums in making ethically informed, transparent and participatory decisions about the long-term sustainability of collections. The scholarship is certain to lead to more informed and productive conversations on responsible collections management. Janet Marstine, Lecturer and Programme Director, School of Museum Studies, University of Leicester. This volume provides a very timely and internationally wide-ranging series of contributions to the disposals debate -essential reading for professionals and students interested in this important issue. Nick Merriman, Director, Manchester Museum.