section_path: Types/Legal framework/Public vs. private
section_name: Public vs. private
paragraph_text: Public vs. private
  
  Private museums are organized by individuals and managed by a board and museum officers, but public museums are created and managed by federal, state, or local governments. A government can charter a museum through legislative action but the museum can still be private as it is not part of the government. The distinction regulates the ownership and legal accountability for the care of the collections.