Ethics

After graduating in palaeontology I did a postgraduate museum studies course and now work as an education officer at a museum where I have, as a sideline, developed expertise relating to particular types of fossils.

I am increasingly being called upon to deliver guest lectures on aspects of what I know. My lecturing activities provide a good opportunity both to further my knowledge by meeting other scholars in the field and to contribute to public understanding of palaentology beyond the museum.

I have always obtained clearance to spend time away for this purpose but if I accepted all the invitations I now get, the time and preparation involved would eat into time I should really be spending at the museum as a member of the full time staff.

I would still like to develop the lecturing side of my career and perhaps drop to part time at the museum. Could you clarify the MA's position on the ethics of private work and lecture fees?


Have you referred first of all to your employer's clear, written policy on outside work, especially paid work, that staff do either in their own time or during what are normal hours of work at the museum?

Of course your museum may not yet have one! If it does have a policy, does it need revision in the light of the changing patterns of work, particularly the shift towards 'portfolio careers' that is taking place in society at large?

It is, of course, only right that you continue to seek clearance and substantiate the benefits that you claim for the lecture trips that you make.

Museum staff should not allow outside work to compromise the quality of their museum work or the conscientiousness with which it is performed. You should never allow a conflict of interest to develop between boosting your outside income or reputation and working, as all museum staff should, for the public good.

It is particularly important that you do not use the museum's reputation or resources to market your services. You seek clearance for use of one of the museum's resources, the time that you are contracted to give it, but make sure also that you obtain permission to use slides, handling collections and other material that belong to the museum service.

You make a fair point in saying that outside lecturing can benefit the museum and thereby the public through exchange and dissemination of ideas. Lecturing is good for your career development and the MA strongly promotes the Continuing Professional Development of all museum staff.

This is on the premise, though, that development activities enrich not just the individual but also the institution, and, ultimately, society. The next time you lecture consider whether you are really advancing knowledge and reaching the public or just engaged in introspection with 'other scholars in the field'.

It may well be the case that if you can afford to drop hours at the museum you could 'jobshare' and create an opening for a new member of staff to develop their career through public service. On the question of fees, the museum should again have a clear, regularly reviewed policy.

Section 2.13 of the code notes that museums should 'consider the current needs of the museum in deciding the proportion of any fees that may be retained by employees engaged in private work'.