Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 16 - History, Humanities and Arts
Part 5 - Museum Division
Chapter 1 - Collections Policy
Rule 16-5-1.9 - Risk Management

A. Policy:

The Museum Division will make every attempt to minimize risks to the collections, the building, the staff, and the visitors. The Museum Division director in conjunction with the Office of Capitol Police is responsible for the overall physical safety and security of the collections and the building, staff, and visitors.

B. Procedures:

Procedures for managing and caring for the collections in a proper manner that enhances their preservation and security are included in the collections management manual maintained by the director of collections.

Procedures to be followed for the protection of the collections, the building, the staff, and the visitors in case of emergency are included in the disaster preparedness manual maintained by the director of collections. The Museum Division will maintain material safety data sheets (with guidelines for the safe use and disposal of chemicals) for products used by Museum Division staff in performing such duties as conservation and exhibit fabrication, as well as for cleaning products used by the custodial staff, and for any fumigants used by the pest control company.

C. Insurance:

The Museum Division's collections and its building are insured by the State of Mississippi through the Department of Finance and Administration. The state's insurance policy covers the building and its contents (not including artifacts), and has additional fine arts coverage to insure the historic objects collection (a minimum coverage of $5M per occurrence). Artifacts in transit or on loan to the Museum Division are also covered by this policy.

The Museum Division will routinely provide insurance coverage as appropriate for objects borrowed by the Museum Division for exhibition or research (incoming loans). The Museum Division will not routinely provide insurance coverage for objects or materials temporarily left in the custody of the Museum Division for potential acquisition, identification, photography and/or copying (temporary custody).

The Museum Division will require insurance coverage for any object(s) it places on loan to another museum, with the cost of such insurance coverage to be borne by the borrowing museum.

The Department of Finance and Administration has authority for purchasing and arranging insurance coverage. The director of collections will be responsible for working directly with the Department of Finance and Administration on insurance needs. Procedures for obtaining insurance coverage are included in the collections management manual maintained by the director of collections.