Why We Aren’t Selling Yearbooks

The Knox County Museum of Education has ceased selling duplicate yearbooks to align with good museum ethics and ensure the responsible stewardship of its collections. This decision reflects the principles outlined by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) in developing and adhering to an institutional code of ethics, which the museum is in the process of establishing.

Ethical Considerations and Public Accountability

  1. Public Accountability and Trust: Museums operate under the principle of serving the public trust. By ceasing the sale of duplicate yearbooks, the Knox County Museum of Education demonstrates its commitment to public accountability and ethical practices. Selling these items could be perceived as prioritizing financial gain over the museum's mission to preserve and protect its collections for public benefit​​.

  2. Transparency and Consistency in Operations: The decision to stop selling yearbooks ensures transparency in the museum's operations and consistency in its decision-making processes. This is critical for building and maintaining trust with stakeholders and the community, which is a fundamental aspect of museum ethics​​.

Preservation of Unique and Rare Collections

  1. Recognition of Unique Value: Even multiple copies of the same yearbook can be unique due to personal signatures, notations, and other individual markings. Recognizing the unique historical and cultural value of each yearbook aligns with the ethical duty to preserve and protect such items​​.

  2. Rarity and Limited Editions: Each yearbook volume is rare, often printed in limited quantities corresponding to the number of students. Selling these items diminishes the museum's ability to maintain a comprehensive and representative collection, which is crucial for fulfilling its educational and preservation mission​​.

Ethical Stewardship of Collections

  1. Preventing Personal Gain: Ensuring that no individual associated with the museum personally benefits from the sale of yearbooks upholds the ethical standard that museums must avoid conflicts of interest and act solely in the public interest​​.

  2. Responsible Storage and Care: The museum has a duty to provide responsible storage and care for its collections. By keeping the yearbooks within the museum, they are preserved under appropriate conditions, ensuring their long-term availability for research, education, and public enjoyment​​.

In summary, the decision to stop selling duplicate yearbooks is grounded in the commitment to ethical practices, the preservation of unique and rare items, and the responsible stewardship of the museum's collections. This approach aligns with the core principles of museum ethics as outlined by the AAM and supports the museum's mission to serve the public trust and maintain its integrity.