-----Original Message----- From: Andrea Kross [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 11:41 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [RM] Managing Resource Material Hello, I have just started working in records management at a local government, and I'm new to both. I'm wondering how other records managers handle resource materials that aren't created by the organization. We have some material that was gathered as background information for projects, for purchasing equipment, etc., such as printouts from webpages, brochures, and books, as well as other resource materials such as magazines and newsletters. This information has often been filed in the corporate record folders, where it inflates the files and is subject to the retention schedule for each file. In many cases, department managers prefer to have the material close at hand for long periods of time, so applying the retention schedule is problematic, and in some cases, inappropriate. We have several departments, and each is responsible for their own files. What is the best way to handle this information - include it in corporate files, put it in separate resource folders with their own retention schedule but interfile them with corporate records (to keep like subjects together), create a separate collection/library, or some other? If you create a separate collection, what tools do you use to organize the materials, some of which would be in file folders? Do you use the same subject classification system that is used to organize the corporate records (ours is based on the Records Management Manual produced by the Local Government Management Association of British Columbia), or do you use some other classification system (if so, what system?). How do you manage retention? What are your criteria for identifying information as resource material? Thank you! Andrea Andrea Kross, MLIS Records Technician Cowichan Valley Regional District 175 Ingram Street, Duncan BC V9L 1N8 [log in to unmask] (250) 746-2505 -- fax (250) 746-2513 List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance