A few weeks ago Megan Carey and I were lucky enough to travel to attend the Joint Annual Meeting of Council of State Archivists (COSA), National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (NAGARA), and Society of American Archivists (SAA). Every four years, these organizations come together and host a large joint conference in Washington,…
Tune in monthly for a curated collection of articles we found interesting on a broad range of topics; some which are directly related to records management and others which might share common themes. No, we didn’t write these articles —hence the name of this series, “Off the Record”— but fortunately, we didn’t need to in…
Emoji Records Retention Schedule At some point in the introduction to records management training courses for both local governments and state agencies we discuss what the different retention codes on the retention schedules mean. Normally it looks and goes something like this: We say it’s time for a little update. Better…
We are pleased to announce the State Records Management Education Materials have been updated and are available on the Records Management Interagency Coordinating Council (RMICC) website. In 2014, RMICC identified a need to broadly disseminate information about records management requirements at state agencies and universities. Also, the council determined a need for a second document…
Given the fast-paced nature of technology and how quickly systems and formats can reach obsolescence, inevitably state agencies need to migrate agency information, data, and records to newer systems and devices. Whenever TSLAC receives inquiries on this topic, it’s a Catch-22; the analysts exist to help and guide state agencies on records management, however the…
At their best, networked shared drives cut down on filing cabinets, multiple copies and versions of documents, and frantic conversations about where a record copy is. Shared drives can provide a communal space that increases efficiency and collaboration. They also help with version control, access control, and keeping records backed up to a server. However,…
Last year, a Confederate Muster Roll from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission reached an audience of 175. Normally, historical artifacts like this list of officers and soldiers are viewed by researchers or visitors to the library, who often do so individually. Through the power of Instagram, TSLAC is able to extend its holdings…