Steve says: The response keeps coming back that it's like the free world vs the communist state and that I shouldn't care until it's a record what's done with it and how it's managed. In some instances such as nonbusiness related information this is true BUT the instant something is considered a business document or business related it's to our advantage to bring it into our process. Yes, the old conundrum between documents and records and how it's managed. At one time, we as RM's could hide our head in the sand and not have to deal with documents. But those days are long past and many of us have become managers of information as well. It was much easier back then because a record is a record is a record. All that other "stuff" was not our responsibility. I would suggest though that we as RM's, step up to the plate, and help our organizations manage information across the organization irregardless of whether it's information, documents, records or stuff. If anything, it will increase your profile within the company and will no doubt fatten your paycheque which is always an incentive to take on new challenges. My question would be.....How, when and who determines whether a business document becomes important to the organization. Is it you, or perhaps the CIO or perhaps the user. Once that determination is made, what do you do with it? When we were setting up our EDRMS, I had many comments from this list on determining the difference between documents and records. Some said treat everything as a record. Others said treat them separately. The comments were all over the place.. My advise would be to take these documents, information or stuff, whatever you want to call it, and bring it under the auspices of the record group. That way you can determine how it will be managed and you will have control over what happens to it. Good luck with this. John Annunziello Manager, Records and Information Toronto and Region Conservation Authority [log in to unmask] "Information is a corporate, strategic asset that needs to be managed" List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance