Emergency Preparedness for Local Governments

It is that time of the year again: hurricane season started on June 1 and runs through November 30. Historically, the peak threat for the Texas coast is in August and September. However, hurricanes have struck the Texas coast during every month of hurricane season. Additionally, due to COVID-19, your agency may be reevaluating your…

Documenting the Premature Destruction of Local Government Records

We live in Texas – the state that can rightfully boast of being susceptible to nearly every kind of extreme weather scenario. In this young century, we’ve endured hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, earthquakes, wildfires, blistering droughts, flooding: you name it – we’ve experienced it. Texas is also not immune from human errors like electrical fires, accidental…

Customizing Your Local Government Retention Schedule

Post for state agencies coming soon. Local governments are afforded a lot of leeway when adopting TSLAC’s Local Government Schedules. It may seem daunting at first to familiarize yourself with, and meet the mandatory minimums, of 100 or even 1000 record series, but it doesn’t have to be. Customization is still king Before September 1,…

FAQ: Are We In Compliance?

Updated: November 13, 2020 If you work for a local government and have interacted with us, there’s a good chance you’ve heard us talk about whether or not you’re “in compliance.” We can make it sound more fun and call it the paperwork polka, the due diligence dance, or the Texas 3-step! But regardless of…

COVID-19 Records and How Long to Keep Them

by Erica Rice [Updated 7/6/2020]: On July 2, 2020, the U.S. Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued guidance requiring that all Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grant documentation be retained for 5 years. Visit the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s website for more information about CARES funds. The analysts here at TSLAC…

Telecommunication and Records

These days, the word “telecommunication” or, as it’s more commonly referred, “telecommuting” is something everyone is hearing. But what is telecommuting anyway, and how does it apply to records management? Telecommunication means communication over a distance by telephone, cable, or broadcasting.  For most people, this means working from home on a desktop or laptop computer.…

I Got a New Job in Records Management, Now What?

As a person who recently earned a job as a Government Information Analyst with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC), I had no idea how complex records management would be.  As a former educator and law student, I created tons of records while underestimating the amount of time and skill that managing those…