How do I love the records management implications of romantic comedies? Let me count the ways.

Here in the Records Management Assistance Unit, Records and Information Management (RIM) often lingers in our minds, driving us to distraction—specifically, when we’re trying to relax and enjoy some pop culture. As Valentine’s Day approaches, here are two movies that sparked that special feeling which we call RIM-brain.

Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)

Not only is this film based on a classic, but it also highlights some classic information security follies government employees should avoid. The movie begins with Bridget, a single woman in her early 30s, engaging in some very irresponsible emailing with her handsome boss. Bridget’s personal emails would not be considered government records if she worked at a government entity in Texas since they do not document government business, but her use of a work email account for flirtation purposes is still inadvisable. We’ve written previously about the dangers of mixing work and private emails and if Bridget and her boss were government employees, they would be wise to keep in mind that the emails on their work accounts may get caught up in litigation discovery, audits, or Public Information Act requests. How embarrassing!

Later in the film, Bridget accidentally leaves her private diary on a table where it is easily seen by Mark Darcy, the man she previously hated but is now in love with. Mark picks up the diary only to discover that Bridget had written some unflattering things about him when they first met a year prior. Though Mark forgives Bridget and buys her a new diary so they can start fresh, this scene is a good reminder to take information security seriously. For local governments, Bulletins F and B outline minimum security standards for paper and electronic records, respectively. The Department of Information Resources (DIR) is another great resource for learning about information security. Don’t be like Bridget and leave your sensitive information out in the open for anyone to find!

27 Dresses (2008)

While Bridget Jones would not make my short list if I was hiring a records management officer, Jane Nichols, the main character in 27 Dresses, would be a great asset to any records management team. She’s a highly organized person who is capable of juggling multiple responsibilities and wearing many hats (or in this case, dresses). As such, government records managers will likely find Jane’s character arc in the film quite relatable.

Jane is the go-to person for all her friends when they need help with their weddings—so much so that she’s been a bridesmaid at 27 weddings and counting! Kevin, a local reporter, befriends Jane with the hope of writing an article about her. One day when Kevin is interviewing Jane at her apartment, she lets slip that she kept all her bridesmaid dresses and has them stuffed into a closet that’s now so full that she can barely shut the door. After a fun montage of Jane trying on all the dresses, each one goofier than the last, Kevin questions the wisdom of retaining them all. But Jane is adamant that the dresses are meaningful to her and she’s not ready to give them up. Jane’s reluctance to let go brings to mind the ever-present challenge of determining administrative and historical value in government records. Like Jane, many employees find it difficult to get rid of records long after their purpose has been served and their minimum retention period has passed. However, when your file cabinets and shared drives are as full as Jane’s closet, it might be time to get some outside perspective on whether it’s time for disposition.

Toward the end of the movie, Jane comes to terms with the fact that she’s been taking care of everyone in her life at the expense of herself. Seeing this, Kevin proves a worthy contender for her heart when he buys her a PalmPilot to replace her old-school Filofax datebook with the hope that it will help her find the balance she’s looking for. What records manager hasn’t swooned over the prospect of going digital? One of our most frequently asked questions is whether a paper record can be destroyed after it’s been scanned. Like Jane ultimately says to Kevin when he asks her to marry him, the answer is yes (but read our FAQ on the topic for more details).

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Have you ever experienced a crazy little thing called RIM-brain? If so, feel free to drop a line to your analyst. We promise to keep all your notes forever… well, actually for two years as general correspondence (GR1000-26 / 1.1.008).