Policy Frameworks for Museums Butterflies in the WA Museum Entomology collection. Photo Jessica Scholle. Image copyright WA Museum Image from 'A behind-the-scenes look at out butterfly collection'. Policies are set to provide long-term frameworks and guidelines for decision making and to help to ensure that, consistent with the International Council of Museums (ICOM) definition, museums remain permanent institutions in the service of society. Above all else they are established to foster the longevity of collections that are exposed to sufficient challenges due to the forces of decay without being further compromised by human whim. What sorts of policies are essential? Each museum needs to develop its own policies - there are no universal templates that can be applied to all museums. All policies need to be developed to be consistent with the museum’s mission and organisational environment. In the case of museums that are operating units within a parent organisation the policies adopted also need to be consistent with the mission, vision and objectives of the parent body. There are three broad groups of policies that should be included in any museum policy framework: Collection policy Conservation policy Interpretation policy Museum policies need to be tailored for specific institutions and should not just be copied from those of another organisation.