Transcript Slide 1
Public Records Management
Advanced Real Property Seminar
September 15, 2010 Presented by: Tom Vincent, NCDCR Local Records Management Analyst
Overview
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Importance of Records Management Public Records Law Records Retention and Disposition Schedules Electronic Records Management Summary
Importance of Records Management
Essential records protection Compliance with legal requirements Transparency Preservation of records with enduring value Controlled records growth Fewer copies, planned documentation Cost savings Storage equipment, supplies Improved office efficiency Reduced searching and faster retrieval Better use of office resources
Public Records Law
Public Records Law
NCGS 121 Archives and History Act NCGS 132 Public Records Law
G.S. 121 Archives and History Act
121-4(2) Assigns records management responsibility 121-5(b) Regulates the destruction of public records 121-5(c) Directs DCR to assist governments and agencies
G.S. 132
Public Records Law
132-1 Defines “Public records”: “Public record” or “public records” shall mean all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data-processing records, artifacts, or other documentary material,
regardless of physical form or characteristics
, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of public business by any agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions.
132-3(a) Class III misdemeanor to destroy records without the permission of DCR
Records Retention and Disposition Schedules
Records Retention Schedule
Public records require a Retention and Disposition Schedule Binding legal agreement Lists common types of records (record series) found in government offices
Records Retention Schedule, Cont.
Provides instructions for the retention and disposition of the records series Identifies permanent, confidential, or restricted records Helps offices improve records retrieval, save money and space
Records Retention Schedule, Cont.
County Tax Administration Schedule, April 1, 2004 County Tax Administration Amendment, July 31, 2008
www.records.ncdcr.gov/local/default.htm#co
Records Retention Schedule, Cont.
Schedule needs to be approved in an open meeting of your governing board.
Signed by Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners and the Tax Assessor Collector Please send copy of completed signature page to our office.
Schedule Item
EMPLOYEE DIRECTORIES, ROSTERS OR INDEXES
Description: Includes records listing employees, their job titles, work locations, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and similar information.
Disposition Instructions: Destroy in office when superseded or obsolete.
Schedule Item
TAX SCROLLS AND BOOKS: FOR YEARS ENDING IN 0 AFTER 1900
Description: Includes property valuations and amount of taxes due. These records may be prepared separately or combined.
Disposition Instructions: Transfer to the State Archives.
Schedule Item
TAX SCROLLS AND BOOKS: ALL OTHER
Description: Includes real and personal property, discovery, delinquent and any other supplemental scroll, book, summaries, or recapitulations.
Disposition Instructions: Destroy in office after 10 years or 1 year after released by the governing board, whichever comes first.
Protect Records
Avoid storing records: In flood-prone basements Under leaky roofs or pipes On the floor In an unsecured location Keep records safe by: Researching recycling and/or shredding vendors Having a Disaster Preparedness Plan in place for your records
Electronic Records Management
Managing Electronic Records
Paper vs. Electronic Records Creating Trustworthy Records & Developing an Electronic Records Policy Preserving and Destroying Electronic Records Managing E-mail
Paper vs. Electronic Records
Content is Key
“Public record” or “public records” shall mean all documents, papers, ... electronic data-processing records, ... or other documentary material,
regardless of physical form or characteristics
, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of public business by any agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions. -GS 132-1
Create Trustworthy Records
Admissibility Electronic files may be challenged in court Documenting Authenticity Maintain records on system operation and inspections Explain how records were created, kept secure, and disposed of Keep training records on staff
Preserving Electronic Records
Records of archival value must survive no matter the inconvenience Migrate to new platforms Save files in standard formats Output to paper or microfilm
Preserving Electronic Records
Never trust claims that you won’t have to actively manage records over time Anticipate changes to the underlying hardware and software (these are inevitable) Periodically sample records to ensure that they’re still readable and not corrupted
Destroying Electronic Records
Ensure timely destruction Control all copies Purge hard disks before transferring Make sure the records are destroyed Not just index files
Guidelines for Managing and Preserving Electronic Records
http://www.records.ncdcr.gov/erecords Managing Electronic Public Records (Online Tutorial, October 2008) Best Practices for Digital Preservation (April 2008) Recommended Digital File Formats (March 2007) NC Guidelines for Managing Public Records Created by IT Systems (April 2000)
Managing E-mail
E-mail contains public records and is subject to public inspection Requires daily management File in e-mail folders Utilize and follow your retention schedule Destroy outdated e-mails Ensure security of confidential information IT’s Role
E-Mail Resources
http://www.records.ncdcr.gov/erecords E-Mail as a Public Record in NC: A Policy for Its Retention and Disposition (July 2009) Managing Your Inbox: E-Mail as a Public Record (September 2009)
Questions?
Records Management Analysts
Local Records Unit Lisa Coombes ( [email protected]
) (919)807-7357 Tom Vincent ( [email protected]
) (919) 807-7364 Asheville Office Ginny Daley ( [email protected]
) (828) 274-6789