"National Standards and Best Practices for U.S. Museums" is First Comprehensive Guide for Museums of All Types, Sizes
Washington, DC, 4/25/2008 -

Museums regularly encounter situations that may be new to their experience or expertise. Or an institution may be confronted with an issue for which they wish to call on the collective wisdom of their colleagues in the field.

National Standards and Best Practices for U.S. Museums, the latest book from the American Association of Museums (AAM), serves as an invaluable reference for museums of all sizes and types. Available now through the AAM Bookstore, this volume presents ─ for the first time in one publication ─ guidelines on the best and most responsible way to operate and manage a museum. Topics range from public accountability to collections stewardship to ethics to facilities and risk management.

“This guide is an essential reference work for the museum community, presenting the ideals that should be upheld by every museum striving to maintain excellence in its operations,” said Ford Bell, president of AAM.

An introductory section reveals how virtually anyone associated with museums will find the book valuable, from trustees to staff to funders and the media. The book’s core outlines the seven areas of standards, including the overarching Characteristics of Excellence that each of these principles address, accompanied by running commentary by Elizabeth E. Merritt, former director of AAM's Museum Advancement and Excellence Department and founding director of AAM's Center for the Future of Museums. Merritt lends practical advice and perspective on how museums can best subscribe to these standards. Museum professionals who reviewed the work in advance have been extremely positive.

“Insightful commentary by Elizabeth Merritt rings loud and clear and accompanies a concise compilation of policies, practices and plans for managing museums in the 21st century,” said Tim White, assistant director for collections and operations, Yale Peabody Museum; president, Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections. “Every museum professional should look to National Standards and Best Practices for U.S. Museums for direction in museum administration and collection stewardship, education programs and exhibitions.”

AAM’s Accreditation Program, Museum Assessment Program, Ethics Task Forces, nine-member Accreditation Commission and its network of hundreds of active peer reviewers combined to develop and refine the standards and best practices in all the major areas of museum operations.

To order or for more information, please visit www.aam-us.org/bookstore, e-mail bookstore@aam-us.org or call 877-226-3034.

Format: Paper

Number of pages: 92

Date published: 2008

ISBN: 978-1-933253-11-4

AAM Member price: $14.95

Non-member price: $22.95

About AAM

The American Association of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. With more than 15,000 individual, 3,000 institutional and 300 corporate members, AAM is dedicated to ensuring that museums remain a vital part of the American landscape, connecting people with the greatest achievements of the human experience, past, present and future. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.

Press Contact:
Dewey Blanton
202-218-7704
dblanton@aam-us.org

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