Granted loans
Upon approval of a loan, the borrowing institution (henceforward ‘borrower’) will be contacted by an academically qualified executive officer at the MCH. The executive officer will organize the work with the storeroom manager, a technical conservator and a photographer. The borrower will be asked to fill in a facility report form, which will constitute a formal part of the agreement on which the contract will be based. The information which is requested in the facility report form concerns physical aspects of the exhibition (such as showcases, climate, environment and safety precautions). The borrower will be informed of written standards for showcases and climate, and the MCH’s assigned technical conservator will be in direct contact with the borrower, in order to ensure that attention is paid to all aspects of the facility report. Before the contract is signed, the MCH will send a confidential letter informing the borrower of the insurance value of the objects. The borrower will document that the objects have been insured accordingly.
Transport
The MCH will decide the way in which the objects will be transported to and from the borrower. The means of transport will depend on the character of the objects and travel distance. All transportation of museum objects related to loans, research and other purposes, will be attended by couriers at all times. The MCH appoints couriers from the staff of the respective departments. The MCH’s Department of Collection Management will always be represented by one courier, and another courier will at all times represent the Department of Archaeology or the Department of Ethnography, Numismatics, Classical Archaeology and University History. For the transport of larger loans, the MCH may require additional couriers. It is also a common practice for a representative from the MCH to be invited to the opening of the exhibition, especially in cases when it is not taking place at the time when the couriers are present at the loan destination. The couriers travel in accordance with the Travel Regulations of the State of Norway. At the time of transport, the couriers will have authority with regard to the handling and safety of the objects. At least one courier will always be present when the object or the transport vehicle is moved. At all stages of transportation, it is of the greatest importance that a close collaboration is exercised between the courier, the forwarding agent and any police guard or other security escort involved.
Terminal and control
The courier(s) and borrower will inspect the objects at the terminal destination and sign a condition report together. Any comments or remarks on the state of the objects must be included in the condition report. When possible, the borrower should provide technical conservators at the time of the arrival of the objects. The MCH’s couriers and/or technical conservators have the authority to refuse the use of showcases or other facilities that do not meet the established parameters and to return the objects to their home institution. The MCH’s technical conservators will evaluate the possible need for safety inspections on the objects during the period of the loan and are responsible for following up in these matters. The borrower will be informed about any planned inspections before the loan is transacted. The borrower will provide all work expenses and travel fares connected with the transport of objects and artefacts. Return packaging and transport will adhere to the same procedures.
Expenses
The MCH has limited resources available for the execution of loans, including the funds that are necessary for the technical conservation assignments connected with these. All costs that exceed this limit will be financed by the borrower. In all cases, expenses related to the transaction of the loans (insurance, transport etc.) will be covered by the borrower. Issues arising from the financing of international loans will be discussed in detail with each borrower.
About Insurance
- The insurance value of the loaned items is determined by the lender and cannot be changed by any other person or entity.
- An insurance specifically applying to the loaned items mentioned in the list must be taken out.
- The insurance must be of the "agreed value" type based on the values determined by the lender
- The insurance must be of the "all risk" type and cover the entire period from when the items leave the lender until they are returned to the lender (nail-to-nail).
- The insurance agreement must contain a provision stating that all loaned items remain the property of the lender in cases of damage or destruction (museum clause).
- In the event of damage, it is solely the lender who has the right to decide if and how the damaged item should be restored and who should carry out this work, which shall be covered by the insurance company.
- The insurance premium is paid by the borrower.
- A copy of the insurance agreement, including the policy, must be received and approved by the lender no later than 10 business days before the items are delivered.
- In the event of a change in ownership of the exhibition premises, a legal change of the borrower or similar, the borrower is obligated to inform the insurance company and ensure that the insurance is updated to reflect the actual circumstances. A copy of the updated agreement shall be provided to the borrower.