Folks -

The chasm between RIMs and Archivists that has developed over the past
half century or more is bad enough anywhere, but especially destructive
in the public sector.

The preservation and accessibility of local government archives is an
important public sector records management issue that I (as a Records
Analyst for the State of Virginia) look forward to seeing solved.

It is among the most basic of RIM problems - storage, failure to
implement existing schedules, lack of adequate facilities and so on.

It is also among the most basic of political problems - territorial
organizations wanting local history close at hand, local government
resisting unfunded mandates that they see as imposed by state
government...and the list goes on.

To think that RIM has had no input into CoSA's project, or that "Records
Managers need not apply" is to ignore the fact that 76% of state records
programs (38/50) have Archives and Records Management programs combined
in one agency.  Of that number, 31 states or 62% provide records
management services for BOTH state AND local governments.

Two other points.  The constant dragging up of percentages does not
serve any purpose - because that 3-5% creates more local government
storage problems over what will soon be 400 years for Virginia than the
100% created this year, or last or over the past 5 or 10 years.  Last
point.  Yes, NHPRC funded this project, and good for CoSA for getting
the financial support.  The NHPRC exists in part to deal with archival
quality records.  It is not responsible for projects relating to the
management of current recorded information.  The organization, state,
agency or locality has that responsibility.

Still, it is necessary to move information management forward into
archival endeavors.  The management of the information contained in
local government archival records is an important concept that needs to
be part of the project.  So here's my suggestion:  encourage the RIM
staff associated with your state's records program to get active with
this project.  If you know of a RIM consultant with a sound
understanding of things archival, encourage that person to put their
name in as one of the consultants for the project.  For those who are
displeased by the chasm between the two groups, my suggestion would be
to spend less time chronicling problems and more time building bridges.

Cheers!

Mark


G. Mark Walsh, C.A.
Records & Information Analyst
Archival & Records Management Services
Library of Virginia
(804) 692-3650

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