"for as long as it is valuable"..., and that is the basis for the
Operational/Administrative retention value in the retention policy
development matrix; it is for evaluation and definition upfront when the
policy is developed, and NOT waiting for somebody to attempt to redefine
according to whim at a later date.  Here is the retention policy
development matrix, by the way (as Patrick Cunningham CRM noted that a
number of listserv clients apparently do not know how to develop
retention policy):

Operational/Administrative - the organization's proven REFERENCE need
for the info.

Fiscal, if any  (accountancy, internal audit, etc. needs, if any)

Regulatory, if any  (PUBLISHED federal, state/province, local
regulatory agency requirements, if any)

Legal, if any  (Corporate Attorney, City Attorney, etc input, if any)

Historic, if any  (here is the historian or archivist input, if any)

The retention for any record series will be the LONGEST of the above
researched and evaluated retention factors.  Most records committees
(key stakeholders) will represent the above matrix.  That is why we
develop these support and representative committees.

Before anyone makes an assumption that solid and fundamental business
practices rule my life..., I love history and read a lot...; on many
different topics.  I even watch some TV; documentaries and the history
channel are my favorites.  Nevertheless, RIM is a business process, and
we retain information for researched and evaluated BUSINESS need; and
for no other reason.  In case anybody has pre-conceived notions...;
Archival is one business need and...., guess what...; it is included in
the retention policy development matrix...; and has been for fifty or
more years!  If any professional archivists or historians do not
recognize the above, then I must conclude that they have not been
diligent in learning all aspects of their profession.


I intensely dislike (hate) the paper media...


Best regards, Steve
Steven D. Whitaker, CRM
Records Systems Manager; City of Reno

>>> [log in to unmask] 04/06/05 09:27AM >>>
Speaking of public sector sensibilities, I found
http://www.archives.gov/records_management/initiatives/rm_redesign.html#appd


very interesting, especially the part in Appendix D about the change
in
NARA's view of mandatory destruction.  This notes under "discussion"
that "Information is now considered an asset, not merely a byproduct
of
agency work. As such, agencies should be encouraged, not discouraged,
to
use corporate knowledge for as long as it is valuable."

Maarja

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