Carolyn,

​Scientific data is created, used and retained within the context of a
scientific project which may go on for "decades and decades".  Yes, the
data is a record and yes it can be scheduled.  This data is more similar to
records created within a project or case (i.e. construction project/legal
case) where the retention is generally assigned a period of time after the
project/case is closed; and sometimes that retention is permanent.

Your biggest consideration with this is addressing the long-term
preservation issues which Charles Dollar and Lori Ashley have been working
on for quite some time (if you google their names you will find information
related to this).  Although long-term preservation efforts are much more
complex than this, the key is to establish a routine update or refresh of
the data to keep it currently available/accessible.

I remember working with a scientist at Argonne National Laboratory in the
1990's who showed me disks of data that he couldn't access because the
tools had changed.  It was with this scientist (and others at ANL) who
taught me the differences between creation/use/retention of business
records and research records.  I recommend that you focus on establishing
the retention (which may be permanent-don't fight it); and develop a
procedure for helping the scientists maintain access to their data.

Remember the NASA tapes that deteriorated while hanging in storage?  It is
easy to forget these records - even when the project is closed:)

Others on this list have much more experience with these long-term records
and I'm sure they can shed some light on the subject for you.

Mary

Mary W. Haider, MBA, CRM
Records & Information Manager and Consultant
[log in to unmask]
865-983-1371

List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance
To unsubscribe from this list, click the below link. If not already present, place UNSUBSCRIBE RECMGMT-L or UNSUB RECMGMT-L in the body of the message.
mailto:[log in to unmask]