5.2: Records Management at the National Archives

Promote accountability, participation, and collaboration by providing the public with information about how the nation’s record keeper is managing its own records

Other Information:

The Records Management staff of the National Archives and Records Administration will promote accountability, participation, and collaboration by providing the public with information about how the nation’s record keeper is managing its own records. For information about our National Records Management Program, which works with the Federal records officers across the Federal Government, please see section 6.1 of this Plan. We serve American democracy by ensuring that the people can discover, use, and learn from how we: * Develop and implement records schedules. * Apply records management policy and guidance to National Archives organizations. * Promote knowledge and skills through training. * Approach the challenges of managing electronic records internally. There is a connection between managing our own records and transparency. The records management staff is currently in the process of modernizing our records management practices and exploring new recordkeeping technologies in partnership with NARA’s National Records Management Program. To help accomplish this, in FY 2010, we are studying our internal program and developing a long-range plan that will include the following types of activities: * Acting as a test bed and leverage “hands-on” experience before NARA promulgates government-wide records management regulations and policies * Using emerging technology to improve the way we manage electronic records * Increasing opportunities for NARA staff involvement through feedback mechanisms * Improving access to web-based training and core services * Implementing a publicly available website that shows how NARA is meeting its existing records management requirements. We have already made an important step in the development of records management requirements of social media projects. Throughout NARA, proposals for social media projects must include proactive planning in regards to the records management requirements of each project from the very start. We believe requiring a records management component in the process of developing the project is a step in strengthening our internal records management. As we develop more expertise with social media tools and projects, we will share internal NARA products and lessons-learned that can be used by Federal agencies and other organizations. In the future, we will share our products, accomplishments, and lessons learned on our new public-facing web site. Today, we are transparently sharing NARA's internal Records Control Schedule, which is available at http://www.archives.gov/about/records-schedule.

Stakeholder(s):

• The Public


• Federal Agencies


• Other Organizations

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

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