Answers to our most frequently asked questions.
How many duplicates of a record must a government keep for the full retention period? In terms of records management laws and rules, one copy of a record must be kept for the full retention period, and we call this the “official record copy.” Any identical copies of the official record copy are considered “convenience…
Here at TSLAC we spend a lot of time teaching Texas governments about the benefits of timely disposition. It’s equally important for governments to understand when records should not be destroyed. These situations are called: destruction holds. Normally, records may be destroyed when they have met their full retention period as described on each government’s…
It’s April, and that means spring is here! With spring, comes spring cleaning! Out with the old and in with the new. In the Records Management (RM) world that means it’s time to tidy up our records management systems, make sure the team is involved, make sure retention periods are up to date, or start…
By Michelle Johnson Sometimes as a state agency records management officer (RMO), you may find that your certified state agency records retention schedule needs to be updated before the next recertification is due. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) has a process for this called a schedule amendment. It is similar to the…
by Brianna Cochran For state agency Records Management Officers or liaisons tasked with recertifying their agency’s records retention schedule, the process can seem a bit overwhelming. This article will help break the process down into more manageable steps. Note: This article only applies to state agencies. For local governments looking to customize their local retention…
(Author: Rebecca Hanna, Coauthor: Erica Siegrist) In April 2020, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) released answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Records Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic. This article will answer the same questions to provide Texas-specific guidance for state agencies and local governments. Records Management Related to Teleworking How should Texas…
A records management program or question can quickly transform from a minor and simple thought to an overwhelming and large-scale issue. Can this record be destroyed? Does our office comply with the records management rules and laws? How do we implement our records management program? We’re here to assist with those issues. The Records Management…
Of all the FAQs we get, this might be the most FAQiest of them all! Both local governments and state agencies want to know if they ‘go paperless’—if they digitize their essential records—can they get rid of the original paper or film copies? Yes! Records management laws and rules applicable to state agencies and local…