REVIEW OF EXISTING MUSEUM STANDARDS- Non- UK
STATUTORY REGULATIONS
WORLD REGULATIONS
· UNESCO (1954) convention and protocol for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict (Hague convention) and the second protocol (1999).
· UNESCO (1970) convention on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property.
· UNESCO (1972) convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage.
· UNESCO (1997) human rights commission principles and guidelines for the protection of the heritage of indigenous peoples.
· UNIDROIT (1995) convention on stolen and illegally exported cultural objects.
· United Nations (1993) declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples (Maatatua declaration).
· United Nation Convention on Biological Diversity - Rio de Janeiro, 1992 and the Cartagena protocol – Montreal, (2000).
· World Archaeological Congress, (1989) the Vermilion accord on human remains.
EU REGULATIONS
· European convention (1973) on the protection of the archaeological heritage.
· EC council directive no. 93/7/EEC on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a member state.
· EU regulations (EEC no 3911/92) on export of cultural goods out of the European community.
· Council regulation (EC) no. 338/97: protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating the trade in these species.
· European commission regulation 939/97 corrigendum to commission regulation (EC) no 939/97 26th may 1997 laying down detailed rules concerning the implementation of council regulation (EC) no 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade there in.
· European Council Directive 1999/22/EC, which deals with the keeping of wild animals in zoos.
· EC directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information.
· Commission regulation (EC) no 349/2003 of 25 february 2003. Suspend the introduction into the community of specimens of certain species of wild fauna and flora.
· Commission regulation (EC) no 1497/2003 of 18 August 2003 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein.
· EU health and safety regulations.
· EU Animal by products regulations.
POLISH REGULATIONS
· Act on museums (OJ of 20 January 1997, No 5, pos. 24).
· Act on the Polish academy of sciences (OJ of 14 July 1997, No 75, pos. 469)
· Regulation on the rules and the method of accounting of cultural goods in museums (OJ of 3 September 1997, No 103, pos. 656)
· Order on conditions of a transfer of museum collections (Polish Gazette of 6 October 1997, No 68, pos. 665)
· Act on fire prevention (OJ of 2002, No 147, pos. 1229).
· Regulation on technical conditions concerning buildings and their situation (lay-out) (OJ of 15 June 2002, No 75, pos. 690).
· Regulation on securing of museums’ collections against the fire, theft and other dangers that could lead to the damage or loss of the collections and on preparation of collections for evacuation in case of danger (OJ of 2003, No 193 pos. 1892).
· Regulation on fire water supply and on fire roads (OJ of 2003, No 121, pos. 1139).
· Regulation on fire prevention in buildings and other constructions and grounds (OJ of 11 July 2003, No 121, pos. 1138)
· Regulation on the general provisions concerning the safety and hygiene of work (OJ of 29 September 2003, No 169, pos. 1650).
SWEDISH REGULATIONS
· National Heritage Act (1988:950).
· Regulations for cultural heritage (1988:1188)
· Regulation (1988:1249) with guidelines for the Swedish museum of natural history
The Swedish museum of natural history is a governmental museum, an authority under the ministry of culture. The operation of the museum is regulated largely by two documents, this one and partly by an annual letter of regulation.
· Code of statues from the National Archives (1990)
This includes instructions for storing and handling of, microfilm (RA-FS 91: 4), electronic data (RS-FS 94:2) and instructions for specific public authorities on disposal and other archival handling from the national archives (RA-FS 1991:1). (Theses statues and instructions are mainly based on international networking such as European archival network and international council on archives).
· Swedish code of statutes - The Libraries Act (sfs 1996:1596).
· Swedish chemicals inspectorate's code of statutes KIFS
Eg - the chemical products and biotechnical organisms regulations (KIFS 1998:8).
· Environmental code (1999).
Consists of 15 central environmental laws.
· KRFS (2001) regulations from Swedish national council for cultural affairs.
· The national property board (SFV)
Responsible for governmental museums buildings, with special instructions and guidelines.
Fire security in governmental buildings (SFV) (2002-06-28)
Management policy for SFV (2002-06-28)
Instruction for maintenance programme (SFV)(2002-06-28)
· Game of act
There are specific legislations where the Swedish museum of natural history is mentioned as authority for example the game of act. The museum is obligated to provide repository for the national wildlife, which are specimens of threatened animals found dead in nature.
ETHICS
WORLD
· CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
The International Council of Museums, 1986, revised 2002
Synopsis
‘The ICOM Code of Ethics …sets minimum standards of conduct and performance to which all museum professional staff throughout the world may reasonably aspire.’
The code is divided into 2 main areas: Institutional Ethics and Professional Conduct, which respectively guide the actions of the organisation and the individual.
Institutional Ethics
Basic Principles for Museum Governance
Acquisitions to Museum Collections
Disposal of Collections
Professional Conduct
General principles
Personal responsibility to the collections
Personal responsibility to the public
Personal responsibility to colleagues and the profession
Available online www.icom.org/ethics_rev_engl.html
· CODE OF ETHICS OF THE ICOM COMMITTEE
International Council of Museums, 1986
Synopsis
The document is concerned with professional ethics and standards for the objects being treated. It aims to define the profession of conservator-restorer to distinguish it from other professions and to establish proper training requirements.
The code sets out the activities of the conservator-restorer; the impact of their work; their distinction from related professions and outlines training for conservator-restorers.
Available online www.icom-cc.org/Site
· ICA CODE OF ETHICS
International Council on Archives, 1996
Synopsis
The ICA Code of Ethics for archivists aims to establish high standards of conduct for the archival profession by providing an ethical framework for the guidance of the profession. Employing institutions and archive services are encouraged to adopt policies and practices that facilitate the implementation of the code.
Available online:: http://www.ica.org/biblio/spa/code_ethics_eng.html
EURPEAN
· ECCO PROFESSIONAL GUIDELINES: CODE OF ETHICS
European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers’ Organisation (ECCO), 1973, updated 2002 (Parts 1 & II), 2003 (Part III)
Synopsis
‘The Code of Ethics embodies the principles, obligations and behaviour which every Conservator-Restorer belonging to a member Organisation of ECCO should strive for in the practice of the profession’. all members of ECCO must officially recognise the adopted Professional Guidelines.
The code is divided into four sections:
General Principles for the Application of the Code
Obligations towards Cultural Property
Obligations to the Owner or Legal Custodian
Obligations to Colleagues and the Profession
Available online www.ecco-eu.org
DOCUMENTATION
WORLD
· ISO STANDARDS
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Various
Synopsis
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies from more than 140 countries, one from each country.
A number of its standards apply to paper, printing and records management. These include
ISO 11800:1998 Requirements for binding materials and methods used in the manufacture of books
ISO 11108:1996 Archival paper -- Requirements for permanence and durability
ISO11798:1999 Permanence and durability of writing, printing and copying on paper - Requirements and test methods
ISO 15489-1:2001 Records management -- Part 1: General
ISO 15489-2:2001 Records management -- Part 2: Guidelines
ISO standards can be purchased online at
http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/iso9000-14000/iso9000/selection_use/iso9000family.html
· EUROPEAN CULTURAL HERITAGE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CO-OPERATION – COLLECTED TEXTS
Council of Europe, 2002
Synopsis
This compendium contains the Council of Europe reference texts developed in the field of cultural heritage, covering a range of subjects including: identification and inventory, scientific research, legal protection, physical conservation, dissemination, awareness-raising and teaching, heritage management, organisation and training. The index and bibliography help readers to find topics quickly and to explore issues further.
This publication is designed to be useful both to people working in the field of cultural heritage, students and academics, lawyers and those interested in discovering more about the role of heritage in everyday life.
ELECTRONIC/DIGITAL RESOURCES
WORLD
· GUIDELINES FOR DIGITISATION PROJECTS FOR COLLECTIONS AND HOLDINGS IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, 2002
Synopsis
These Guidelines were produced by a working group representing IFLA and the ICA and commissioned by UNESCO to establish guidelines for digitisation programmes for collections and holdings in the public domain. The contract specified that the guidelines should so far as possible be particularly applicable to institutions in the countries of the developing world. The aim was to produce a synthesis of available information, drawing upon both published sources and on the operations of specific projects, illuminated by the personal experience. It is a summary of the best existing knowledge and practice drawn from around the world. These guidelines therefore identify and discuss the key issues involved in the conceptualisation, planning and implementation of a digitisation project, with recommendations for ‘best practice’ to be followed at each stage of the process. Coverage is concerned only with the paper-based documentary heritage, that is with manuscripts, printed books and photographs.
Available online http://www.ifla.org/VII/s19/pubs/digit-guide.pdf and http://www.ifla.org/VII/s19/pubs/digit-guide-app.pdf (appendices)
· WEB CONTENT ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES
World Wide Web Consortium, 1999
Synopsis
These guidelines explain how to make Web content accessible to people with disabilities. The guidelines are intended for all Web content developers (page authors and site designers) and for developers of authoirng tools. While their primary goal is to promote accessibility, following them will also make Web content more available to all users, whatever user agent they are using (e.g., desktop browser, voice browser, mobile phone, automobile-based personal computer, etc.) or constraints they may be operating under (e.g., noisy surroundings, under- or over-illuminated rooms, in a hands-free environment, etc.).
Available online: http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/
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