The State of Montana demands Museum of Rockies put dollar value on fossils

Krauss said the auditors also want the museum to put a dollar value on collections so they can be placed on the state’s balance sheet, which raises the possibility that someone may try to cash in someday.

While that may sound far-fetched, he pointed to the city of Detroit, which proposed during bankruptcy to sell paintings from the Detroit Institute of Arts, creating an uproar. DIA officials said it would destroy their standing in the museum world. The Detroit museum instead pledged $100 million to help the city pay its debts, rather than be forced to sell Van Goghs or other paintings from its collection.

"That is one thing that makes museum people nervous," Krauss said, adding that someday someone may say, "’Let’s sell one of the Sues off.’ It sends shivers down the spines of curators and museum professionals."

By Gail Schontzler Chronicle Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/montana_state_university/state-demands-museum-of-rockies-put-dollar-value-on-fossils/article_84eaea84-cd6a-5879-aabd-f598de146dd3.html