De-accession
De-accession is the formal process by which a museum, library, archive, or similar institution permanently removes an item from its collection. This involves thorough documentation, often including reasons for removal, and adhering to strict ethical and legal guidelines. It's a critical practice for collection management, allowing institutions to refine their focus, address space constraints, generate funds for acquisitions or conservation, or comply with changing legal or ethical standards. The process often requires approval from governing boards and public notification.
De-accession meaning with examples
- The museum decided to de-accession several sculptures deemed redundant to their core collection on ancient Rome. Funds from the sale of these pieces will directly support the acquisition of a recently discovered mosaic. This allows the museum to refresh the relevance of its exhibition and better serve its mission to the local community and beyond.
- Facing severe overcrowding, the historical society had to de-accession duplicate documents and less relevant artifacts. These items were either sold at auction, donated to smaller regional museums, or offered to research institutions specializing in the same area, streamlining space limitations and resource allocations.
- Due to a change in focus towards local artists, the art gallery had to de-accession works that did not fit the refined artistic vision of the board. This process enabled them to showcase a more cohesive and representative exhibition, improving visitor experience and overall funding allocation, whilst upholding high quality work.
- Ethical concerns and an outdated catalog led the library to de-accession a collection of books. Some of the books contained offensive and hate-filled material or were deemed to be forged, whilst some of them were not being read by members for decades. They were permanently removed and disposed of, modernising content and moral standards.
