Art Prints and Art Collections

Library Policies

Elkader Public Library

Art prints:

1. Art Prints maybe checked out for a four-week period.

2. There is a limit of one print per household in any four week period.

3. There is a limit of two prints per household for each group of prints available.

4. A fine of S1.00 per day overdue will be charged for prints not returned on time. Persons consistently neglecting to return prints on time will be denied further borrowing privileges.

1. Art Print Rental.
   1. Art prints are available to qualified borrowers for loan periods of four, eight, and twelve weeks. The loan may be extended for up to twelve additional week. provided another patron has not requested this particular art print for future loan.

   2. A rental fee of $1.00 for each four week period i. charged for each art print. Rental fees must be paid at the time of loan.

2. Original Art.
   1. Work. of original art are available to qualified borrowers for loan periods of four, eight or twelve weeks. The loan may be extended for up to twelve additional weeks provided another patron has not requested this particular work for future loan.

   2. A rental fee of $2.00 for each four week period is charged for each original art work. Rental fees must be paid at the time of loan.

   3. Framed photographs will be rented for $1.00 per four week period.

Guidelines and Procedures

1. Charge
   1. The role of the Arts Advisory Committee will be to advise the Board of Trustees and the Director of the Library on the purchase, or the acceptance as gifts, of works of art (paintings, print, drawings, sculpture, and fiber and fabric) for the permanent, non-circulating collection of the Ames Public Library. The purview of the Arts Advisory Committee i. not intended to include materials selected and purchased by the Library as a part of its regular audio-visual acquisitions program.

   2. Objects of the above nature acquired through articles of the Library Board of Trustees pursuant to Items 5, 8, and 9 of Section 15.7 of the Ames City Code would be henceforth referred to as the AMES PUBLIC LIBRARY ART COLLECTION, and would include all works of a similar nature and purpose previously acquired by the Library.

2. STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES
   1. To review all items falling under the definition stated above offered a. gifts to the Ames Public Library by groups, organizations, or individuals

   2. To review all items falling under the definition stated above considered for purchase by the Ames Public Library, whatever the source of purchase funds.

   3. To represent the Board of Trustees in preliminary negotiations with potential donors of objects or funds for objects. (See Item 7)

      To seek professional advice on worth, artistic value, and appropriateness of considered or proffered item. when in so doing it is in the best interests of the Ames Public Library.

   4. To serve as liaison between potential donors, the Board of Trustees, and the Director of the Library.

   5. To present all pertinent information regarding proposed gifts and purchases to the Board of Trustees for final action.

   6. The Arts Advisory Committee is not empowered to finalize proposals or decisions regarding acceptance unless specifically authorized by action of the Board of Trustees.

3. ACQUISITION GUIDELINES
   1. Objects may be added to the collection by means of gifts, bequests, purchases, or exchange or any other transactions by which title to objects passes to the Ames Public Library.

   2. The Ames Public Library must be able to provide proper care, including conservation, maintenance and storage, for all accessioned objects.

   3. The provenance of the object must be satisfactory to the Arts Advisory Committee and the Board of Trustees. Outside counseling and expertise should be used if necessary.

   4. The November 14, 1970, UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property shall be observed.

   5. All objects acquired by the Ames Public Library shall become the sole property of the Ames Public Library and shall not be encumbered or restricted.

4. ACQUISITION PROCEDURES
   1. Following the Arts Advisory Committee recommendation, all objects must be approved for acceptance by action of the Library Board of Trustees. To facilitate the determination of which art objects to be approved a. gifts or purchase, the Arts Advisory Committee will select the art objects to be presented to the Trustees and provide the Trustees with a statement describing the provenance, quality and desirability of accepting the gift or making a purchase.

   2. Approved objects which are gifts or bequests allow for a tax deduction on the part of the donor. The Ames Public Library will not provide formal appraisals on donated objects.

   3. If Library monies are used to acquire an object, the Ames Public Library, in accordance with City purchasing procedures, will purchase the object from the seller, after receiving approval from the Board of Trustees.

   4. If private monies are used to acquire an object, the donor shall directly purchase the object from the seller, after receiving approval from the Board of Trustee".

   5. In the event that due consultation with the Arts Advisory Committee is unfeasible, the Director of the Library shall have authority to negotiate with the potential donor and advise the Board of Trustees as to a course of action. In such cases, the Director "hall communicate as soon as possible to the Chairperson of the Arts Advisory Committee the nature of the circumstances for accepting the gift.

   6. Immediately upon receipt of a work by the Ames Public Library the object will be listed in a Registration Book established for that purpose, given a registration number consisting of the year donated and item number in order of receipt. This number will be marked permanently on the object for identification. The work will then be photographed for purposes of record and identification.

   7. An appropriate, permanent plaque or similar appropriate device will be affixed on or near the object, listing donor/e and other pertinent information.

5. STAFF RESPONSIBILITY
   1. The Ames Public Library is responsible for maintaining all records of an accessioned object, to include: a copy of the Deed of Gift, registration, cataloging and condition reports.

   2. If necessary, the Ames Public Library makes arrangements to ship the object to the Library and supervise the preparation for display.

   3. The Ames Public Library provides the donor/e with a Deed of Gift which is signed by the President of the Board of Trustees and the Library Director. The President and the Director also acknowledge by letter all gifts and bequests.

   4. When deemed appropriate the Board of Trustees shall direct the staff to attain appraisals of works that have been acquired.

Click here for a sample Deed of Gift for Ames Public Library Art Collection.

© 1987

posted April 5, 1999