Using the Museum Acquisition Profile
The Acquisition Profile is used to document items that are owned by your institution but are not intended to be part of the permanent collection.
This profile is useful for tracking objects that the museum acquires as institutional property rather than artifacts. While these items may be used in programming, education, or operations, they are not subject to the same preservation or collections management requirements as objects in the permanent collection.
Common examples include:
- Teaching collections
- Handling objects used in educational programs
- Demonstration items for public interaction
- Other institutional property that can be handled, used, or replaced if damaged
Because these objects are not accessioned artifacts, they typically do not require the same level of conservation oversight or risk management as permanent collection items.
Using the Acquisition Profile allows institutions to document ownership and track these materials while keeping them clearly distinguished from objects in the permanent collection.