The authors have attempted to outline the major responsibilities of museum trustees and to relate those duties to the potential for legal liability if they are neglected. We have sought not to dwell on liabilities, for trusteeship should be a satisfying and fulfilling service, performed with confidence and optimism. Our objective has been to offer some guidance for the protection of trustees in those areas that can become a cause for concern.

The text is intended for trustees rather than lawyers and purposely avoids technical legal terminology. This approach has been possible because of the efforts of Patricia Ullberg, a writer, to state plainly the essence of complex legal concepts propounded by Alan Ullberg, a museum attorney. For the authors, the handbook represents a culmination of years of collaborative writing on museum topics. (Preface, p. xi).

CONTENTS
Foreword.
Preface.

1. Introduction to trusteeship.

Museums.
Trustees.
Historical precedents.

2. Responsibilities of museum trustees.

General policy making.
Policy and administration.
Policy statements.
Specific policy making.
Long-range planning.
Attention to the tax exemption.
Compliance with regulatory laws.
Collections management.
Acquisitions.
Loans.
Conservation.
Insurance.
Deaccessioning.
The physical plant.
Use of collections and related activities.
Financial responsibilities.
Planning and budgeting.
Fund raising.
Investment and cash management.
Accounting and audit.
Financial support for the government museum.
The Board and the staff.
The Director.
Personnel policies.
Legal rights.
Grievance procedures.
Assessing museum operations.
Self-management.

3. Structure and operation of the Board.

Size.
Composition of the Board and selection of trustees.
Orientation for new board members.
Bylaws and records.
Calls to meetings and attendance.
Minutes and records.
Executive sessions.
Disclosure.
Indemnification.
Election procedures.
Selection of chairman and other officers.
Committee structure and service.
Amending the bylaws.
Committee structure.
Executive committee.
Finance committee.
Collections management committee.
Buildings and grounds committee.
Nominating committee.
Other committees.
The chairman of the board.
The board and the director.
Selecting the director.
Working with the director.
Evaluating the director.
The Board and the staff.

4. Accountability of museum trustees.

Accountability.
To fellow trustees.
To members.
To staff.
To donors.
To artists.
To groups with an interest in museums.
To groups claiming cultural patrimony.
To the public at large.
To the state and the courts.
To the federal government.
Special accountability of the government museum.
Responding to inquiries.

5. Liabilities of museum trustees.

Liability of collections management.
Liability for acquisitions.
Liability for conflicts of interest.
Collecting objects related to the museum's collections.
Selling products and services to the museum.
Other conflicts of interest.
Protection from liability for conflict of interest.
Fiscal liabilities.
Liability for non-management.
Constitutional liabilities.
Liabilities of pension fund trustees.
Indemnification and insurance protection.

Further readings [bibliography].
Index.

The authors have attempted to outline the major responsibilities of museum trustees and to relate those duties to the potential for legal liability if they are neglected. We have sought not to dwell on liabilities, for trusteeship should be a satisfying and fulfilling service, performed with confidence and optimism. Our objective has been to offer some guidance for the protection of trustees in those areas that can become a cause for concern.