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Museum Store Association Code of Ethics
Adopted 1984, Revised 2000
MSA was established in 1955 to promote professional standards and
to foster a climate of integrity within the museum store profession.
Because the diversity of museums makes it impractical to address
specific ethical issues that may arise for each museum store, this
document is intended as a guide for store personnel.
The museum store is primarily an extension of the educational aspect
of the museum and can be an important source of income. It is, therefore,
the responsibility of the museum administration and the museum store
manager to collaborate on a policy that will reflect their community
of interest and purpose.
The use of the term “museum store” has specific meaning
and carries with it important obligations to the public to ensure
quality and authenticity. Improper use of the term is not condoned
by MSA.
Management and Personnel
Since public perception of the museum store is closely tied to
the parent institution, it is the responsibility of museum store
personnel to be fully aware of the source, quality, authenticity
and educational worth of all items sold in the store. Misrepresentations,
whether intentional or not, reflect upon the reputation of the museum
as well as the museum store. All museum store personnel, whether
paid or volunteer, are representatives of the museum.
Volunteer managers are ethically obligated to ensure that their
volunteer status is not used as an excuse to exploit the commercial
role of the museum store at the expense of its educational function.
It is unethical for museum store personnel to use their museum affiliation
for personal profit or to engage in any activity that may compromise
the integrity of the institution or undermine the confidence of
the museum staff and the public.
Reproductions, Replicas and Derived Products
The policy regarding the propriety of manufacturing reproductions,
replicas and derived products varies from museum to museum. Their
sale in museum stores must be carefully regulated because of the
ease with which they can be misconstrued by the public. All reproductions
and replicas must be clearly and indelibly identified as such. Museum
store managers are obligated to learn and observe applicable copyright
laws.
Advertising implying that reproductions are original works is unethical,
misleading and in some instances, illegal. Any representation suggesting
that the value of a reproduction appreciates is also unacceptable.
Deaccessioned Materials and the Museum Store
The sale of any deaccessioned materials through the museum store
is unethical. Even though the item may have been officially deaccessioned,
the public may perceive the transaction as the museum store participating
in the liquidation of the museum’s collection.
Information Fair Use Policy
Museum store Web sites are an extension of traditional museum stores.
Museum stores have an ethical responsibility to post in an easy-to-find
and clearly written manner a policy detailing how they collect,
track, use and disclose information gathered about Web site visitors.
Visitors to museum store Web sites should be assured that information
collected for one purpose is not shared or sold to a third party
without their consent. Visitors should also be assured that by providing
personal information they will not receive unwanted solicitations.
Audience Diversity and the Museum Store
The museum store enjoys a unique opportunity to serve a diverse
clientele. For that reason, the store is obligated to offer items
that are educational, safe and of the highest quality.
Endangered Cultural and Natural Heritage
The sale of any object or merchandise that is manufactured from
or incorporates parts of any endangered species is a grievous offense
against the moral principles upon which museums are established.
Sale of illicitly acquired antiquities is offensive to the affected
cultures and destructive to archaeological sites. MSA fully supports
existing laws and recognizes the need for their rigid enforcement
in order to preserve and protect our dwindling cultural and natural
resources from wanton commercial exploitation.
To Learn More
For more detailed information on endangered natural heritage and
consumer buying tips, click on the following documents.
Buy Responsibly: The
Consumer Connection
Ethics Policies for
Archaeological and Ethnological Resources
Ethics Policies for
Endangered Natural Heritage
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