Code of Ethics Policy

Governance

Museum Governance is a trust given by the institution for the purpose of ensuring consistency in the finances, volunteers, and mission of the museum.

Thus, the governing authority ensures that:

• Support the public good over personal gain
• Develop, articulate, and oversee new policies to benefit the museum and their mission
• Ensure that all staff and volunteers understand and support the mission of the museum
• Maintain and monitor the collection of the museum
• Develop relationships with the community and seek the public's interests in museum operations

Collections

The collection of a museum is the ultimate showing of public trust. As such, it is imperative to maintain and develop this collection to it’s fullest potential. The job of a museum is to maintain rightful ownership, make meaningful exhibits and displays, and protect the artifacts the public has entrusted to it.

Thus, the museum ensures that:

• Collection as a whole supports the museums mission and purpose
• Collection is rightfully owned, accessioned, and recorded by the museum
• Any ownership disputes are handled quickly, publicly, and in the best way possible
• Collection should not be used for selling, trading, or events unless it is in the best interest of the museum and its mission.
• Collection should be cared for in the best way possible to preserve and display the artifacts entrusted to the museum
• Collection should be made available to the public for viewing and research under safe conditions.

Programs

The Greer Heritage Museum will serve the community around it through exhibits, events, programs, scholarly articles, and research availability. To ensure that all of these are done appropriately and in accordance with the mission of the museum is of utmost importance.

Thus, the museum ensures that:

• Programs support the museum's goals and the best interests of the public at large.
• Programs are backed by scholarly research and intellectual integrity.
• Programs are not for personal financial gain, but public good.
• Any outside parties brought in who share the revenue gained from an event are in accordance with the mission of the program and museum.
• Programs are run and developed to reach the largest group of people and touch on topics of interest.

Code of Ethics

As the adopters of this code of ethics, the museum, its board, and its staff have a responsibility to uphold and maintain the principles contained in this document. If it is discovered that any part of this document is insufficient for the needs of the museum, the director or board may make modifications to this code to uphold the mission and progress of the museum.