POLICIES
1.0 OPERATIONS AGREEMENT
The Tishomingo County Historical & Genealogical Society (TCHGS) will
operate the Tishomingo County Archives & History Museum (TCAHM) and the John
Marshall Stone Research Library as divisions of said organization. The purpose
of the archives and history museum and the library housed in the museum are
approved within the attached bylaws and are in agreement with the
organizational bylaws of TCHGS.
2.0 SOCIETY MISSION AND BYLAWS
The Tishomingo County Historical & Genealogical Society (hereafter referred
to as the "Society") is organized exclusively for educational purposes within
the meaning of Section 501 [a] and Section 501 [c] [3] of the Internal Revenue
Code. The Society was established in 1996 with a mission of promoting the
collection and preservation of the history of Tishomingo County. To assist in
this endeavor, the Society established a genealogical research library to
collect, preserve, index, and provide access to the archival resources of
Tishomingo County, Mississippi.
Link to Bylaws
3.0 MUSEUM MISSION AND BYLAWS
The mission of the Tishomingo County Archives & History Museum (hereafter
referred to as the "Museum") is dedicated to the collection, preservation,
exhibition, and interpretation of artifacts that relate to the life and
accomplishments of Tishomingo County with emphasis on the period from 1888 to
1971.
Link to Bylaws
4.0 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The Society shall provide organizational and fiscal support (planning,
facilities, and funding) needed to perpetuate and enhance educational programs
in Tishomingo County history, research, and artifact collection and
preservation.
The Society shall establish, perpetuate, and maintain a not-for-profit
museum (Tishomingo County Archives & History Museum) in and for the greater
Tishomingo County area, State of Mississippi, and nation that will serve as a
vehicle to enhance and promote research, artifact collection and preservation,
and will include displays, and exhibits open to the general public. A
genealogical research library shall include archival materials and published
works concerning the history of Tishomingo County and its citizenry. The
library will serve as an archival resource for the greater Tishomingo County
area, State of Mississippi, and nation as a vehicle to enhance and promote
historical and genealogical research.
The Museum’s purpose is to use the collection and exhibits as a learning
vehicle to explore the importance of Tishomingo County and the impact
Tishomingo County has had on the lives of the people it represents.
Since the Society’s bylaws could not foresee the present nature of the
organization or the evolving condition of the collections, this policy
supersedes all previous policies by the Society; to provide an integrated,
professional system of collections management and become the operating
document for all Museum and Library collections.
5.0 RESTRICTIONS
The Society shall be nonpolitical, nonpartisan, and shall not engage in
collective bargaining on behalf of its members or others.
6.0 ETHICS
All actions of Society members, volunteers, and Museum and Library staff
shall be such that they avoid apparent and actual conflict of interest with
all aspects of Museum and Library operations and collections. The Museum
staff, Library staff, and Society members are required to:
Act ethically and legally in collecting, acquiring, reproducing,
lending, and disposing of artifacts and/or archival resources.
Discourage and eliminate unethical, illegal, and destructive
practices with respect to collecting acquiring, storing, reproducing,
displaying, transporting, and trafficking of artifacts and library
material.
As pertaining to the collections and collections management, the Society,
Museum, and Library shall follow the ethical guidelines set forth in the AAM’s
Code of Ethics for Museums (Washington, D.C., 2000) and the ASSLH’s Statement
of Professional Ethics (Nashville, 2002).
2008-2009 STRATEGIC GOALS
Goal: Identify, collect, preserve, and exhibit the superlative
historical resources of Tishomingo County and its surrounding communities.
Identify—Research and select area industries, events, and people that
have influenced present Tishomingo County and its surrounding communities.
Collect—Proactively solicit historical artifacts from community contacts.
Preserve—Optimize preservation for future generations.
Exhibit—Develop educational display methods.
Goal : Adhere to the highest standards of museum administration.
Identify—Utilizing AAM best practices, select those which pertain to our
museum requirements and implement optimizing our resources.
Goal : Adhere to the highest access standards of library
administration.
Access—Provide and support access to information resources, in all
appropriate formats, in support of the present and future historical
research and genealogical service needs of patrons.
Goal: Acquire, organize, evaluate, and manage library collections in
a variety of formats that support the present and emerging programs of the
research library.
Goal: Foster the pursuit of knowledge by providing an educational
center that reflects a rich cross-cultural heritage.
Interact—Work with other museums, educators, curators, and museum
specialties in program development.
Exhibit—Develop interactive historical learning tools and exhibits.
Goal: Provide a leadership role in the community by promoting
economic development and instilling civic pride.
Interface—Actively communicate with other public and private
organizations.
Promote—Support tourism and increase tax revenues by drawing tourism to
Tishomingo County through marketing.
Increase—Augment public awareness of our historical past and future
potential.
Involve—Engage local residents in Museum activities.
Goal: Develop the assets and resources essential to a strong future
for the archives and museum.
Develop—Initiate a fundraising strategy.
Attract—Appeal to private and corporate funding.
Increase—Augment membership.
Identify—Categorize income and expense levels for budgeting.
Update—Periodically update the Strategic Plan; updates must be annually
at least.
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