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Hold collections in trust on behalf of society
1.0 Museums behave as ethical guardians as well as owners of collections. They never relinquish the trust invested in them, without public consent.
All those who work for or govern museums should ensure that they:
1.1 Uphold public trust responsibilities. View the museum as the guardian of its collections.
1.2 Retain items in the public domain at whichever location provides the best balance of care, context and access.
1.3 Avoid behaviour that could be construed as asserting personal ownership or control of collections or any part of them.
1.4 Treat collections as non-negotiable assets in financial affairs. Refuse to mortgage collections or offer them as security for a loan. Sustain the financial viability of the museum irrespective of any valuation placed on items in its collections.
1.5 Fulfil all the museum’s guardianship responsibilities in respect not only of the collections but also of all other resources (for example, premises, land and information), which, in explicit or moral terms, it holds in trust for the benefit of the public.
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