Records Management Handbook

Ira A Penn is a Senior Management Analyst with the US Federal Government and the Editor of the Records Management Quarterly published by the Association of Records Managers and Administrators. An internationally known author and speaker, he is the recipient of the Emmett Leahy Award for records management excellence, and has been involved with management analysis and records management for over 30 years. Gail B Pennix is an independent consultant in Boston, MA associated with the Records Improvement Institute. The holder of an MLS from Simmons College in Boston and with 20 years of professional records management experience, she has taught records management at university level, authored several articles, and lectured at various seminars. Jim Coulson is President and Senior Consultant with Records Improvement Institute, Westboro, MA. He has been active in records management for 24 years as a record analyst, microfilm supervisor, filing systems sales representative, senior executive, and consultant. A developer of automated records management software, university lecturer, and author, he regularly conducts records management seminars for organizations throughout North America.

• Contents: Introduction: The records management function; The information life cycle; The evolution of records media. Records Management Improvement Strategies: Organizing an integrated program; Setting the scene for improvement; Management analysis part one: preparation, project management and data collection; Management analysis part two: analyzing, drawing conclusions, evaluation and implementation; Records inventory. Program Elements Implementation: Appraisal and retention scheduling; Vital records; Disaster planning and recovery; Forms management; Directives management; Reports management; Management of active records systems; Records storage; Records disposition; Archives records management; The opportunities and pitfalls of using technology in records management; Appendix; Index.

’...an excellent guide for all those employed in the management of records...One of the delights of the book is that it is readable, clear and instructive.’ Journal of the Society of Archivists ’Records Management Handbook is a very good book! It should be considered a worthwhile investment and is highly recommended as an addition to any records management library.’ Records Management Quarterly ’Strengths of this work include its clear definition of business records and their functions, the emphasis on the information life cycle at the records creation stage, the weight given to the management aspect of records management, the balanced view of technology as a tool rather than an end in itself, and the focus on the importance of organization-wide indexing standards and master classification plans for all business records, including paper and electronic. The well respected authors of this book have drawn their inspiration from many years of practical experience and teaching in the field. The first edition was a major contribution to the profession, and despite the expense, this second edition should be purchased by those involved in records management education and practice.’ Australian Library Review ’...a well written, practical and well produced book which certainly does meet the need for a good all round introduction to records management...Its acquisition would be money well spent on experience and authority.’ Journal of Librarianship and Information Science