Carl Hartman [Associated Press] - WASHINGTON - Museums have new ethics guidelines for accepting contributions to ensure that the institutions maintain their integrity and donors don't benefit by giving.

The guidelines, released yesterday by the American Association of Museums, say it is essential for museums to carefully examine and control what they put into programs, exhibitions and other activities.

"A museum's governing authority and staff must ensure that no individual benefits at the expense of the museum's mission, reputation or the community it serves," the guidelines say.

Museums are dependent on donations and need to develop individual policies for accepting them, according to the guidelines. They also must be ready for prompt, full and frank discussion of questions about individual donors, including questions about unethical behavior.

"Policies provide a consistent position that can be articulated by trustees and understood by the public, and are vital to a museum's public accountability," the guidelines say.

The federally owned Smithsonian Institution, the largest U.S. museum group, was recently the center of controversy when it agreed to take $38 million from the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation.

The Foundation withdrew the offer amid charges that its founder would have too much influence in choosing people to be honored in a hall of fame at the National Museum of American History.

In past years, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York was criticized for accepting money from Tiffany's for a show of silver and jewlery, and the Guggenheim Museum in New York was criticized for mounting a show of Giorgio Armani fashions soon after a pledge of a contribtion.

Edward H. Able, president of the Association, said no specific incident prompted the guidelines. A year ago the Association put out guidelines for relations between museums and corporate donors. The Association has about 3,000 member museums.

Susan Jaros, deputy director of development and external affairs at the Cleveland Museum of Art, applaueed the new guidelines. "These are issues that need to be discussed and need to be in the public's consciousness," she said. Jaros said the museum is developing new ethical guidelines before embarking on a campaign to raise more than $170 million for an upcoming expansion and renovation that is being designed by New York architect Rafael Vinoly. Jaros said the museum is already consistent with suggestions made by the association.

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