When we talk about records management on this blog, we often use the “R.I.M.” or “RIM” acronym as a shorthand way to refer to the “records and information management” field. Records management (RM) is no longer a siloed discipline; RIM practitioners need to manage records within the entire information landscape of their organizations. Beyond the…
Data is everywhere—when we click, swipe, type, or Skype, data is created and stored into various databases. What happens when that data is breached, identities are stolen, privacy is lost, or loss of property occurs? For public agencies, data breaches can result in loss of confidential or valuable information. What does this have to do…
Each April, we like to celebrate Records and Information Management (RIM) Month. To kick it off this year, we are featuring an interview with John H. Slate, City Archivist for Dallas, Texas. As he is an Austin native and an active participant in the conference circles that we also attend, we felt a kind of…
Are you in a similar situation to one or more of the cases presented below? ❑ Case 1: Our records management compliance files are from the 1990s or earlier. ❑ Case 2: We have several ordinances and/or letters from different periods instead of one document that has all our records management policy information. ❑ Case…
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 order…
In late September, we lost an iconic figure in the library and archives field. TSLAC Director Mark Smith shared his thoughts on the Director’s Report blog, but we wanted to add a little more context on how Dr. David Gracy impacted our work in the records management unit. Andrew’s Thoughts: The legacy that Dr. Gracy…
The local government schedules or your state agency’s retention schedule should list all of the types of records your local government or state agency creates or receives since the disposition of a record cannot be carried out if it is not included on a retention schedule. Even so, a time may come when you will…
Overhauling a records management system can be a daunting task. Understanding what worked previously, what didn’t work, and what new programs to implement are all elements in an office records management overhaul. There are a range of things to consider when revamping your records management program, including inventory, security, and disposition projects. Overhauling a records…