Approved by: Library Board
Approved Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Revised Date: June 21, 2017
Review Schedule: Every 5 years
Next Review Date: 2022
Purpose
The Ramsey County Library Board recognizes that the presence of public art in the Library contributes to the vitality and cultural life of our community. It supports our mission and it enhances the library user’s experience.
All works of art purchased for or donated to the Library become the property of the Ramsey County Library.
This policy applies to donations from the Friends and items purchased with County Library funds.
Committee
The Library Board will maintain a standing Art Committee. The committee will review gifts of art and make recommendations. Recommendations to receive gifts valued at greater than $25,000 will be brought to the Library Board for approval.
The Library Board delegates the authority to work with donors to commission appropriate works of art to the Art Committee. The Library Board will approve donations and scope of work for commissions of over $25,000 at the beginning of the development process.
The standing Art Committee will include the Library Director or designee, the Friends Executive Director or designee, and a Branch Manager.
Ad Hoc members may include the donor or donor’s representative, the branch manager of the library that will receive the gift, outside experts, and community volunteers.
The Art Committee may not give appraisals for any reason. Appraisals for gifts or bequests must be made by an independent person or agency as required by the IRS. The donor is responsible for the costs of the appraisal. In cases of commissioned pieces of art, the artists’ prices at the time of purchase will be the appraised value.
The Art Committee will also make deaccessioning decisions.
Criteria
Donations and purchases for the Ramsey County Library art collection will:
1. Have artistic merit
2. Represent a broad spectrum of artistic expression
3. Be representative of the diverse populations within our community
4. Emphasize local and Minnesota artists
5. Be compatible with the architectural style of the library building
6. Have available, suitable locations
7. Not require costly ongoing care and maintenance
The Library reserves the right to decline any donation.
Deaccessioning
Upon accepting a gift, the Library should attempt to honor and respect the wishes of the donor. The Library reserves the right to move, remove and dispose of art pieces that no longer meet the needs of the Library.
A work of art may be given to other organizations, sold at public auction, or disposed of if the object is damaged or compromised, in compliance with all applicable state laws. Deaccessioned objects will not be given as gifts or sold to any employee of the Library or Friends.
When the Library decides to deaccession a piece of art that was commissioned and funded as a memorial, the Library and the Friends of the Ramsey County Libraries will attempt to contact the donor or his and her immediate family to give them right of first refusal to purchase the memorial piece at its current appraised value.