Taking Deaccessioning Public

Through some exchanges on the RC listserv a few weeks ago, some registrars submitted blogs and websites from museums and museum employees across the country that are trying new tactics to make their collections more accessible to the public. Many are making their registration processes more transparent by describing what they do: how they pack & store collections, prepare an object for transport, or diagnose pest management problems. The idea is that visitors -- maybe not all, but some -- are genuinely interested in the nuts and bolts of collections management. And registrars are getting better at sharing their vast knowledge, as social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, and Blogs spread like wildfire.

Now, one example of this transparency caught my eye -- the Indianapolis Museum of Art. This museum began a systematic review of their holdings in 2007 and has since moved forward with the laborious process of deaccessioning items. Although the museum is required to publicize proposed deaccessions in the newspaper (according to state law), IMA has taken this a step further and created a portion on their homepage dedicated to this process. The site provides the basics of this process & a searchable database of items proposed for deaccession, as well as those that have already been transfered (and fills you in on "where they are now").

My questions start with this: Is this the kind of transparency that more institutions need to adopt? And beyond that, is this an engagement technique which builds greater relationships with the public -- do visitors feel more connected through the exposure of this process? What kind of response has the museum had to this initiative? I'm curious -- so i'm looking to read more about this - but would love to know what others think....