< Unless you download and maintain a copy of the contents of the entire
wiki
at the time you used it to develop your schedule, then you have nothing
to
fall back on. >

I wouldn't advocate using the data from the wiki in blind faith.  I do
suggest that it is a good starting point, as have others.  We should use
it as we do many other retention resources suggested on this listserve
from time to time.  For example, I go to the site because I don't know
the citations governing accident reports.  The retention listing on the
site for accident reports lists an OSHA citation.  I would then go to
the citation and see if it applies to my circumstances.

As with any collaborative wiki site, the material is not validated or
authenticated. The user should do the authenticating and validating as
part of their research. The few drawbacks I see with the site as it is
currently set up include: 

1. It is categorized in "big buckets" (yes - that snake rears its head
once again).  There needs to be some way of breaking some of the
categories down into sub-categories. (some have them, some don't)
2. There is no place in the table to place comments for a particular
entry.  There is "discuss" function that allows one to "post" comments,
but you may have to wade through a bunch to find the one pertaining to a
particular listing.  (See "construction/real property" where I added
as-built drawings.)  So, if you list a retention based on common
business need rather than legal requirement, there is no cell in the
table to support that retention through narrative.
3. The "big bucket" categories can be confusing.  For example, there is
a description for EPA inspections under "Environment/Health/Safety"
which contains a listing and citation for "Agency Inspection Records"
which cites tax laws.  There is also a category for "Quality
Control/Inspection" where someone may think to find "Agency Inspection
Records."  (By the way, the sub-categories for this main category does
not include "investigation records" so it would be very difficult to
find this item without using "search" function.)

This being said - I still think it is a good resource.  It is up to us
"appropriate professionals" to populate the resource with good data.

Ginny Jones
(Virginia A. Jones, CRM, FAI)
Records Manager
Information Technology Division
Newport News Dept. of Public Utilities
Newport News, VA
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