Editing Collections Management Policy (section)

==Delegation of Responsibility==

''A well-run museum needs clear governance, controls, and authority structure. Best practice, whenever possible, is to delegate decision-making authority to one individual or group.''

===Functional Positions===

'''Board of Directors'''

The Board of Directors of the GHM is ultimately responsible for the management of the GHM, its collections and records. The Board shall make final decisions regarding the control of objects in the collection.

'''Board Personnel''': According to the GHM Constitution, the Board of Trustees of the GHM shall elect members to the roles of President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer, following the process described in the Constitution.

'''Director'''

The GHM Constitution states that the Board of Trustees of the GHM may appoint a Director to be the functional representative of the Board in discussions, plans and matters regarding operation of the Museum that do not require Board votes of approval.

'''Curator'''

The Board of Trustees of the GHM should appoint a Curator for the museum. The Curator shall be responsible for the implementation of the Collections Management Policy, collections management activities, and collections development. The Curator shall supervise the Collections Registrar and Collection Staff members and volunteers. The Curator shall serve as Selector for the museum.

'''Registrar'''

The Curator of the GHM should appoint a Collections Registrar for the museum. The Registrar shall be responsible for maintaining muniment, accession and deaccession records, and the Collections Register. The Registrar shall be responsible to the Curator, assist in supervision of the Collections Staff and assist the Curator in the review and proposed revision of the Collections Management Policy.

'''Volunteers'''

Volunteer members of the staff shall be recruited and trained by the Curator and the Registrar to assist in the operation of the museum. These should include:
* '''Docents''', trained guides who are familiar with the Museum, its collections, and local history. They will engage the public in friendly, interesting, compelling dialog.
* '''Collections staff''', trained volunteers who work with the Curator and Registrar on operations of the Museum.
* '''Security staff''', often doubling in one of the duties above, go through a more restrictive selection process and receive extra training.
* '''Combined Functions'''

A Board of Directors and its member roles are required at all times. GHM will function best with different qualified individuals in each of the other positions, but that will not always be possible. In those situations, the functions of Director, Curator, and Registrar may be shared in any combination of individuals.