| |
The report addresses the Society’s ability to improve its collection management
practices, the status of the newest museum’s completion, the adequacy of the
Board’s oversight for the Society, and the adequacy of the Society’s accounting
practices. First, we found that the Society has made little progress in addressing most of
the major collections care deficiencies that were documented in the 1995 Auditor General
report (Report No.95-7). In response to the prior audit, the Society developed
recommendations for corrective measures to improve collection management practices and
addressed some minor deficiencies, such as repairing the roof and improving collections
inventory and recordkeeping in one museum. However, the Society is still faced with more
substantial problems, such as the lack of humidity and climate control in collection
storage areas and improper storage. The Society estimates it will cost at least $4.8
million over the next several years to address these types of deficiencies; yet there is
currently little funding available to substantially improve overall collection management.
The report also discusses the Society’s progress in opening its newest museum, the
Marley Center Museum. Although five of the ten originally planned exhibits have been
available to the public since January 1996, the Society has experienced exhibit production
delays and needs an estimated $5.5 million to complete them. Also, the report finds that
although the Society has made some efforts to address criticisms of its oversight
activities, it has taken little responsibility for key elements to ensure Society goals
are achieved in a timely manner. Finally, certain accounting practices place the
Society’s monies at risk for loss or theft and hinder its fiscal accountability.
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
