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Collections Planning

Taking time to plan out future collection acquisitions and to go through the process of analyzing the current collection is an important task. The Alliance has compiled this set of collections planning resources from amongst its own offerings as well as those throughout the nonprofit and museum sector.

Alliance Resources

Sample Documents

The Alliance provides Tier 3 museum members with sample collections plans from accredited museums.

Welcoming Guidelines for Museums

The American Alliance of Museums, LGBTQ Alliance (Professional Network) shares guidelines intended to provide institutions and members of the museum community with a series of parameters, which they may consider when assessing how to provide the LGBTQ community—staff, visitors, management, and allies from all fields—with a welcoming experience. (PDF, 64 pages)


Other Resources

The following resources were compiled from organizations throughout the nonprofit and museum sector. AAM reviewed and approved each one based on the organization’s authority and expertise and the resource’s usefulness related to the topic. Clicking the links below will take you off the AAM website.

Alternative Basic Library Education Program

The Idaho State Library offers 4 online courses on collection development. The courses provide guidance on writing a collection development policy, collection assessment, materials selection, and weeding. The courses cover basic issues and each takes about two hours to complete.

Collections Development Plan

The New Bedford Whaling Museum shares its 2015 Collections Development Plan online. It covers art, clothing, toys, library collections, and other general collections.

History Nebraska Collection Development Plan

The History Nebraska collection development plan is meant to help guide the state’s historical society in making decisions relating to collection development and refinement.

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