Every museum should have a clear vision of what it aspires to be, but it may never reach its goal if it can't shape and develop its collections as a whole. This AAM guide will help your museum create a collections plan, the first step to gaining intellectual control over the collections and ensuring that you have the appropriate staff and resources for collections care. The authors discuss building an intellectual framework, writing the plan itself, the planning process, and the challenges of museum politics. Also features excerpts from sample collections plans, a glossary, and other resources.