Evolution of the AIC Code of Ethics/Guidelines for Practice

From the Ethics and Standards Committee

This document was scanned from AIC Newsletter, Vol 18, Number 6, November 1993.

Proposed Commentaries
to the Code of Ethics & Guidelines for Practice:
Description & Procedures

Introduction

Among the changes immediately apparent in the draft Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice published in the September AIC News is the last section, "Commentaries." The Ethics and Standards Committee (ESC) believes this new feature of the Code and Guidelines to be the most effective method of addressing the many specific requirements, which may vary according to specialty that each individual must follow to achieve a professional level of practice. As the committee envisages commentaries, they will be created by specialty groups, task forces, committees, or the AIC Board.

As an adjunct to the Code and Guidelines, the Commentaries are intended to serve AIC members in two ways:

1. by providing a more detailed description of practices appropriate to the various areas of professional specialization; and
2. by providing additional information that can aid in fulfilling the more general requirements of the Code and Guidelines, such as information concerning health and safety legislation.

Procedure for the Creation of Commentaries

The procedure for creating, changing, approving, and publishing Commentaries has been designed to accommodate continuing developments in the profession. It is hoped that through the use of the Commentaries, our Code and Guidelines will keep pace with growth and change in the profession.

1. New Commentaries or changes to existing Commentaries will originate only from the following groups, with the process of production and approval decided by the group:
   1. AIC specialty groups;
   2. Task forces created by the AIC Board or at the recommendation of the Ethics and Standards Committee to the board;
   3. Ad hoc committees or standing committees created by the AIC Board; and
   4. the AIC Board.
2. Proposed Commentaries or changes to existing commentaries (approved by one of the above groups and submitted by its chairperson) will be accepted by the ESC for further action. The ESC will review all Commentaries with respect to their conformity to the spirit of the Code. After the ESC approves a proposed Commentary, the ESC will forward it to the AIC Board with a recommendation for the board's approval. If the ESC determines that there are conflicts with the Code or Guidelines, it will work with the submitting group to rectify the problem. As stated in the Code and Guidelines, final approval by the AIC Board of Directors is required for all Commentaries. When appropriate, the Ethics and Standards Committee will compile Commentaries consisting of sections submitted by various specialty groups. This process is discussed in more detail below.
3. To ensure that the most recent versions of the Commentaries will be readily accessible, the ESC proposes that, at least initially, Commentaries will be published in the annual AIC Directory following the Code and Guidelines. As the documents grow in length, they may need to be issued as separate publications.

Preliminary List of Commentary Topics

The ESC has looked at various methods of linking Commentaries directly to relevant sections of the Code and Guidelines. The committee believes that Commentaries will be most useful if they are organized by the general topics presented in the Guidelines for Practice and referenced to them. Each area of specialization would be given the opportunity to prepare a section of a Commentary for a given issue, which would provide specific information unique or appropriate to that specialty or which might further clarify the section. Organization by topic has the added benefit of giving those in one specialty ready access to the approach of other specialties regarding the same area of practice.

The preliminary subject areas, identified through discussion with the AIC membership, include those areas of practice that vary most greatly in their specifics among areas of specialization. It is expected that this list will grow over time. The preliminary subject areas, referenced by sections in the Guidelines for Practice, are:

1. DOCUMENTATION, secs. 24-28, including:
   1. Specific practices (photographic documentation, reports, etc.): to be addressed by the various specialty groups, each providing an individual statement.
   2. Archival issues (storage, accessibility and confidentiality, records management, ownership, etc.): to be addressed by a special task force.
2. COMPENSATION, sec. 23: to be addressed by distinct statements prepared by specialty groups.
3. SAMPLING AND TESTING, sec. 17: to be addressed by the Research and Technical Studies group in conjunction with other specialty groups.
4. BUSINESS PRACTICES, under Professional Conduct, where appropriate: to be addressed by the Conservators in Private Practice group in consultation with other specialty groups.
5. INSTITUTIONAL PRACTICES, under Professional Conduct, where appropriate: to be addressed by a task force to be named.
6. HEALTH AND SAFETY, sec. 4a: to be addressed by the Health and Safety Committee, which will compile relevant regulations and information to assist in accessing them.

In the coming months, the ESC will formally request that specialty groups begin to discuss the preparation of their individual sections for the Commentaries noted above. Groups will be expected to fulfill the request as quickly as possible, for the benefit of the entire AIC.

Your comments and questions are requested on this and other issues regarding the revision of the draft Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Please write to Donna Strahan, Conservation Dept., Walters Art Gallery, 600 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201. The committee plans to respond to the most often asked questions concerning the draft in a final newsletter supplement in the early spring. To help us make the newsletter deadline, send your comments to the committee before December.--Carol Aiken and Donna Strahan, Co-Chairs, Nancy Ash, Robert Espinosa, Dan Kushel

The article submitted by the Ethics and Standards Committee was not presented in its entirety in the September AIC News. The cover story should have concluded with the following reference to on-line services:

The members of AIC are encouraged to learn more about,
the Conservation DistList, and to become active participants in this on-line computer service. An "everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know" article about the Internet and its range of services, including the Conservation DistList and other of interest to conservation provides the necessary practical details for first time user. "Islands in the Net: A Guide to Internet" was written by Walter Henry, Assistant Conservator, Stanford University Libraries, and published in the WAAC Newsletter (Western Association for Art Conservation, ISSN 1052-0066), vol. 14, no. 3, p. 19-27, September 1992. Back issues of the Newsletter are available for $5 by placing a prepaid order with the WAAC secretary/treasurer, Mary Piper Hough, 12110 Mitchell Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90066. If you need the article quickly, please send a check for $5, payable to WAAC, to the editor rather than to the secretary/treasurer and she will send a copy by first class mail the same day. Editor, Elizabeth C. Welsh, 1213 W. San Miguel Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85013, AAPHW@asuacad.bitnet.

Additional information concerning the Conservation DistList was published on page 26 of the September AIC News.

This information was provided to the AIC membership to make a wider circle of conservators aware of a unique method of responding to the Ethics and Standards Committee's request for comments on the draft document that was published in the September AIC News. Beyond this specific activity, the DistList is a valuable opportunity for conservation specialists to engage in an active international dialogue.

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