Why a Collections Policy Set the purpose of a museum’s collection Guide the staff in adding to the collection Guide the staff in future use of collection artifacts Help explain the purpose of the museum and its collections to those looking to donate

National Model Aviation Museum Education Collection

Mission Statement: The education collection of the National Model Aviation Museum provides the visitor with hands-on, interactive, interesting ways to learn about model aviation, as well as aviation in general.

Scope of the Collection: Artifacts that demonstrate the history of model aviation, the history of flight, or the technical aspects of flight may be placed in the education collection. This may include hands-on exhibits, model airplanes, flight demonstration models, radio equipment, tools, and other objects, as well as artifacts that supplement gallery exhibits but do not fit into the scope of the permanent collection. The artifacts in the education collection may be original or reproductions, but they may not be of lasting historical value to the National Model Aviation Museum.

Uses of the Collection: The education collection will be used to create interactive exhibits, supplement general exhibits, demonstrate models in flight, and allow visitors to handle models and equipment.

Authority over the Collection: Artifacts in the education collection will be solely under the authority of Museum staff (director, registrar, archivist, and educator). The Museum staff will make decisions relating to accepting donations to the education collection, accessioning purchased or made-for-museum artifacts into the education collection, or deaccessioning artifacts from the education collection.

Acquiring: Artifacts will be accepted into the Museum’s education collection based on whether or not they fit the scope of the education collection and whether or not they are likely to be used in the future. The decision to accept an artifact into the education collection will be made by the Museum staff. Artifacts may be received into the education collection through a number of different sources:

Artifacts may be donated directly to the education collection. This occurs either when the donor specifies donating an artifact to the education collection or when the Museum staff decide to place a donation in the education collection, with the knowledge of the donor. Artifacts may be deaccessioned from the permanent collection into the education collection. This occurs either when Museum staff decide that an artifact in the permanent collection better fits the scope and purpose of the education collection than the permanent collection, or when an artifact which is being deaccessioned from the permanent collection for regular reasons happens to fit the scope and purpose of the education collection. Items that are found in the museum’s care with no provenance may be placed in the education collection. Items that are collected by Academy of Model Aeronautics staff and approved by Museum staff may be placed in the education collection. Museum staff may purchase artifacts for the education collection. This should only be done if Museum staff have compelling reasons why the purchase of new artifacts is necessary and in the best interests of the collection and the Museum. Museum staff may make artifacts for the education collection. This should be done if Museum staff have compelling reasons why the manufacturing of new artifacts is necessary and in the best interests of the collection and the Museum. Items that the AMA has created (posters, trophies, patches) may be placed in the collection.

Record Keeping: Museum staff will make every effort to keep careful records of the artifacts in the education collection, and will record donations and artifacts in a computerized database. Donations will be tracked together as accessions, and each individual artifact will be catalogued separately with its own collection number. Careful note should be made in the computerized database (and anywhere else that makes sense) of each artifact’s condition and where it is stored, and this should be updated when the artifact moves location. Deeds of gift and other important documents should be carefully saved.

Loans: Exhibits made up of education collection artifacts may be loaned out to other institutions; such cases must follow all of the policies and procedures followed for loans of artifacts in the permanent collection.

Preservation: Because artifacts in the education collection are intentionally set apart for handling and use, they are expected to deteriorate or break down over time. Nevertheless, this is not an excuse for intentionally shoddy handling or care, misuse, or abuse of artifacts; rather, artifacts in the education collection should receive an appropriately high level of care.

Access: The education collection may be accessed by Museum staff as well as approved volunteers. The artifacts may be removed from their storage locations for use with visitors as needed. Artifacts in the education collection have little research value, and will most likely not need to be accessed for research purposes. If such a case does arise, see permanent collection policy and procedures.

Deaccessioning: Artifacts may be deaccessioned from the education collection when they no longer serve the purpose of the education collection because of the following reasons: The artifact has experienced too much wear or degradation to be useful. The artifact, for one reason or another, will very likely not be used in the future. The decision to deaccession an artifact in the education collection will be made by the Museum Staff. Museum staff may seek to replace deaccessioned artifacts if they feel that that is in the best interests of the collection.

Disposal: Artifacts that have been deaccessioned from the education collection will be sold at public auctions (with the proceedings going into the collections fund) or disposed of completely. Under no circumstances will any Academy of Model Aeronautics staff benefit from the deaccessioning of disposal of any education collection artifact.

Changes to the Policy: All policy changes must be initiated by Museum staff and approved by the Museum Steering Committee.

Collections Policy National Model Aviation Museum Education Collection Mission Statement: The education collection of the National Model Aviation Museum provides the visitor with hands-on, interactive, interesting ways to learn about model aviation, as well as aviation in general. Scope of the Collection: Artifacts that demonstrate the history of model aviation, the history of flight, or the technical aspects of flight may be placed in the education collection. This may include hands-on exhibits, model airplanes, flight demonstration models, radio equipment, tools, and other objects, as well as artifacts that supplement gallery exhibits but do not fit into the scope of the permanent collection. The artifacts in the education collection may be original or reproductions, but they may not be of lasting historical value to the National Model Aviation Museum. Uses of the Collection: The education collection will be used to create interactive exhibits, supplement general exhibits, demonstrate models in flight, and allow visitors to handle models and equipment. Authority over the Collection: Artifacts in the education collection will be solely under the authority of Museum staff (director, registrar, archivist, and educator). The Museum staff will make decisions relating to accepting donations to the education collection, accessioning purchased or made-for-museum artifacts into the education collection, or deaccessioning artifacts from the education collection. Acquiring: Artifacts will be accepted into the Museum’s education collection based on whether or not they fit the scope of the education collection and whether or not they are likely to be used in the future. The decision to accept an artifact into the education collection will be made by the Museum staff. Artifacts may be received into the education collection through a number of different sources: Artifacts may be donated directly to the education collection. This occurs either when the donor specifies donating an artifact to the education collection or when the Museum staff decide to place a donation in the education collection, with the knowledge of the donor. Artifacts may be deaccessioned from the permanent collection into the education collection. This occurs either when Museum staff decide that an artifact in the permanent collection better fits the scope and purpose of the education collection than the permanent collection, or when an artifact which is being deaccessioned from the permanent collection for regular reasons happens to fit the scope and purpose of the education collection. Items that are found in the museum’s care with no provenance may be placed in the education collection. Items that are collected by Academy of Model Aeronautics staff and approved by Museum staff may be placed in the education collection. Museum staff may purchase artifacts for the education collection. This should only be done if Museum staff have compelling reasons why the purchase of new artifacts is necessary and in the best interests of the collection and the Museum. Museum staff may make artifacts for the education collection. This should be done if Museum staff have compelling reasons why the manufacturing of new artifacts is necessary and in the best interests of the collection and the Museum. Items that the AMA has created (posters, trophies, patches) may be placed in the collection. Record Keeping: Museum staff will make every effort to keep careful records of the artifacts in the education collection, and will record donations and artifacts in a computerized database. Donations will be tracked together as accessions, and each individual artifact will be catalogued separately with its own collection number. Careful note should be made in the computerized database (and anywhere else that makes sense) of each artifact’s condition and where it is stored, and this should be updated when the artifact moves location. Deeds of gift and other important documents should be carefully saved. Loans: Exhibits made up of education collection artifacts may be loaned out to other institutions; such cases must follow all of the policies and procedures followed for loans of artifacts in the permanent collection. Preservation: Because artifacts in the education collection are intentionally set apart for handling and use, they are expected to deteriorate or break down over time. Nevertheless, this is not an excuse for intentionally shoddy handling or care, misuse, or abuse of artifacts; rather, artifacts in the education collection should receive an appropriately high level of care. Access: The education collection may be accessed by Museum staff as well as approved volunteers. The artifacts may be removed from their storage locations for use with visitors as needed. Artifacts in the education collection have little research value, and will most likely not need to be accessed for research purposes. If such a case does arise, see permanent collection policy and procedures. Deaccessioning: Artifacts may be deaccessioned from the education collection when they no longer serve the purpose of the education collection because of the following reasons: The artifact has experienced too much wear or degradation to be useful. The artifact, for one reason or another, will very likely not be used in the future. The decision to deaccession an artifact in the education collection will be made by the Museum Staff. Museum staff may seek to replace deaccessioned artifacts if they feel that that is in the best interests of the collection. Disposal: Artifacts that have been deaccessioned from the education collection will be sold at public auctions (with the proceedings going into the collections fund) or disposed of completely. Under no circumstances will any Academy of Model Aeronautics staff benefit from the deaccessioning of disposal of any education collection artifact. Changes to the Policy: All policy changes must be initiated by Museum staff and approved by the Museum Steering Committee. For additional information, see the written Procedures for the National Model Aviation Museum’s Education Collection.

National Model Aviation Museum Education Collection (A seven page document)

Accessioning Accession Numbers Donations solely to the Education Collection Donations to the Education Collection as part of larger donations Artifacts deaccessioned from Permanent to Education Collection Artifacts that were: Found in the Museum’s care Collected by AMA staff Purchased by the Museum Made by the Museum Originally created for the AMA Filing All Accessions

Cataloguing Catalogue Numbers Cataloguing Artifacts

Handling of Objects Tours and Programs Access to Artifacts Care of Artifacts Location of Artifacts

Tours and Programs: Artifacts in the edu collection may be used in tours and programs, as well as as parts of exhibits. When artifacts are to be used for tours or programs, they may be removed from their storage locations. If it is helpful, the artifacts may be brought to one centralized location beforehand. Artifacts may be placed on top of display cases and elsewhere around the Museum for hands-on use in tours. These artifacts should be removed from the Museum as soon as possible after a tour. After a tour or program, the artifacts should be returned to their storage location within a reasonable amount of time. If the artifacts are going to be another tour or program in the relatively near future, they may be kept at a centralized location rather than immediately returned to their storage locations.

Deaccessioning The Process of Deaccessioning How to Deaccession Disposal of Artifacts Changes to the Procedures Any changes of these procedures must be discussed and decided upon by Museum staff.

Collections Policy Collections Procedures