A link to guidance from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) on use of 
personal email accounts by Federal officials and a an illustrative example.  

Arian Ravanbakhsh, a NARA manager and expert in Federal records policy, in 2017 
reminded readers of Records Express blog that "Electronic messages, including email, 
created or received in a personal account meeting the definition of a Federal record must be 
forwarded to an official electronic messaging account within 20 days."
Link to his post: 
https://records-express.blogs.archives.gov/2017/01/27/records-management-of-social-
media-and-electronic-records/ or
short link:
https://bit.ly/2LU2NY2

Arian linked to the NARA Bulletin which reflects the statutory guidance on electronic 
messages:
https://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/bulletins/2015/2015-02.html  

An example of why this might occur and how to ensure management of emails about official 
business from my own experience years ago.  At one point in my career, I served as the 
sole historian for a Federal agency (not NARA, elsewhere).  In 2001,.while I held that official 
position, my twin sister, Eva, was diagnosed with late stage cancer, likely terminal.  I 
accompanied her to all her chemo appointments, which took up half a day for a week every 
third week for three months during her last summer alive. Recent post on the governmental 
legacy of my sister, a NARA official whose impact still felt within the agency, here:
https://archivalexplorations.wordpress.com/2018/05/13/welcoming-the-stranger/ 
or short link
https://bit.ly/2Lrllzj

I sometimes had printed copies of unlassified work related materials with me at the medical 
center chemo sessions but no means yet to access my government email via mobile.  I 
didn't receive a government BlackBerry, issued in that agency to executives and to a few 
program officials right below SES rank, for my dot gov account until a few years later.

The last year of my sister's life was very hectic as I physically had to oversee the move of 
voluminous historical research materials in agency storage space while also keeping up with 
my other duties.  I worked into the evening at my office and came in on Saturdays and 
Sundays to move boxes of materials to the new space, too, during the period I was my 
sister's primary caretaker.  But there also were times I needed to contact colleagues while 
at the medical center.  So during 2001-2002, I sometimes sent work related messages to 
my agency colleagues using an AOL Communicator, a pager type "Research in Motion" 
device then available for AOL email.  (No Gmail available yet then, of course.)  In every 
instance, i sent such messages from the medical center with a cc to my dot gov account.  
This ensured the messages were available in the dot gov accounts of recipients and also 
within my own dot gov email account.

After I had a Fed BlackBerry, there were occasions where its battery ran down while I was 
off-site at conferences, assisting my late Mother during medical appointments, etc., but my 
iPhone battery still had a charge.  More often I carried a cable and portable charger for my 
iPhone only, although occasional a micro USB cable for my BB as well. On a few occasions, I 
used my personal email account to send schedule updates or short time-critical messages to 
my colleagues at that agency, always with cc to my dot gov account.  This was due to my 
being the only historian on staff at that agency and having no backup.  I essentially was "on 
duty" 24/7.

There are good reasons why the pertinent records statute and guidance recognize that there 
may be exceptional circumstances why Federal officials use private email accounts at times 
and what they should do to ensure  records management compliance. This should be the 
exception, not the rule, of course. Effective records management depends on practical, 
insight-based policy guidance that incentivizes compliance humanely, thereby centering the 
person within the laws.  Having experienced these situations during my career (now 
retired), I understand the present statutes, regulations, and guidance.  My thanks to those 
who understand this and avoid demagoguery or partisan framing of issues which require 
systemic solutions.  While appreciating the former, I recognize the latter always will be 
present from others, of course.

For reliable, authoritative information about Fedland RM practices and guidacen, follow 
Records Express, where Arian and his colleagues post good, clear language explanations.  

You see me with Arian (left picture, the other shows me with three a-v contractor 
colleagues) on the Portico of at the top of the Constitution Avenue steps of the National 
Archives on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, the day of the Capitals Stanley Cup victory parade.  
Two happy longtime Caps fans!  
https://twitter.com/ArchivesMaarja/status/1006554445524725760 
or short link
https://bit.ly/2HQkwNF  

If you are in Washington between today and the end of the business day on Sunday, June 
17, 2018, stop by the #ALLCAPS pop up exhibit of hockey related patents in the West 
Rotunda Gallery of the National Archives' Museum!  Be aware that although filming for 
Magic Hour (the Wonder Woman sequel) at 9th and Pennsylvania Avenue this weekend 
affects the NARA entrance on the office side of the building, access to our Museum on 
Constitution Avenue will be as normal.

Maarja
[log in to unmask]
Washington, DC
@ArchivesMaarja
Blog:  Archival Explorations
https://archivalexplorations.wordpress.com/

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]