Speaking personally, but from both archives and museums experience, I would
absolutely agree with Leonard Will's assessment of the utility of
"permanent" ("indefinite") loans, which really are to be avoided at all
costs. However, I would suggest that a loan period as short as five years
is highly unlikely to repay any real investment in the collections
management processes.
While gifts and bequests are by far the best solution, they can also come
with strings, if they are allowed to. In the case of loans, though, I would
suggest that a minimum loan period of some 25-30 years should be aimed at.
In any case where there is the possibility of "losing" the item back to the
depositor or his/her successors, I would aim to build in some sort of
reasonable repayment of investment clause, amortised in proportion to the
loan duration.
These sorts of issues do really need to be addressed, so that we become as
professional in their management as we are (thankfully) aspiring to be in
other areas of collections management and cataloguing.
Paul Sillitoe
***************************************************************************
Disclaimer:
Unless stated to the contrary in the body of the above email,
The Waterways Trust does not assume legal responsibility
for the accuracy of any information contained in this document.
Reference to any product, process or service does not constitute
or imply any endorsement by The Waterways Trust.
Views or opinions contained in this document, which is confidential
and intended solely for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is
addressed,
are those of the author and may not represent those of The Waterways Trust.
If you are
not the intended recipient please inform the sender immediately and be
advised that any use of this document is strictly prohibited.
----- Original Message -----
From: Leonard Will <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 5:45 PM
Subject: Re: Permanent Loan Agreements
> In message <[log in to unmask]> on Mon, 1 Oct 2001,
> EleanorRoberts <[log in to unmask]> wrote
> >Dear All,
> >I am trying to redraft the Permanent Loan Agreement for use by John
> >Rylands Special Collections and would be grateful for specimens of
> >'best practice'.
>
> My understanding is that best practice is to avoid "permanent loans"
> altogether. The term is a contradiction, for "loan" implies that the
> lender (or their heirs or successors) can ask for the item back at some
> time, so that it is not "permanent". You have no guarantee that the
> resources you put into arranging, cataloguing, conserving and storing
> the item will not be lost to your institution when someone discovers
> that the item is saleable, disagrees with how you are using it, or just
> wants it back.
>
> If you possibly can, you should try to obtain the item as an
> unconditional gift. You could agree that if you wish to dispose of the
> item you would first offer it back to the donor, but this becomes
> problematical if the donor is dead or cannot be traced.
>
> Alternatively, agree on a loan for a fixed period of no more than five
> years or so. You can judge the resources that it is reasonable to put
> into the item over this period and decide whether these make the loan
> worthwhile. At the end of this time you and the lender can decide
> whether to renew the loan. This gives you a much better chance of
> keeping in touch with the lender.
>
> My experience is more in the field of museums and libraries than
> archives, but I don't think that the principles and problems are
> significantly different, are they?
>
> Leonard Will
>
> --
> Willpower Information (Partners: Dr Leonard D Will, Sheena E Will)
> Information Management Consultants Tel: +44 (0)20 8372 0092
> 27 Calshot Way, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 7BQ, UK. Fax: +44 (0)20 8372 0094
> [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask]
> ---------------- <URL:http://www.willpowerinfo.co.uk/> -----------------
>
|