I've probably written about this before, but it might be well to
repeat it anyway.  Museums are not always the best place to put your
collections.  Donated items are often not given the consideration that
purchased items are, very simply because the purchased items are what
the museum directors wished to purchase.

Donated items will often find their way into the museum's warehouse,
often a large off-site storage shed that may or may not be
appropriately heated, cooled, and roofed.  They're repeatedly moved
around to make room for other stuff.  There is a lot of dust.  And,
possibly, mice.

So _sell_ your collections if you possibly can.  Items that people
purchase are cared for and valued; this is demonstrated by the fact
that they paid money for the items.  It is far better for a collection
to be broken up than to have it destroyed through neglect or rough
handling by bored museum or library employees.

I've learned all this since I have worked for a big science museum that
doesn't have much storage space.

Mark Kinsler
Lancaster, Ohio USA
http://www.mkinsler.com/