We are pleased to announce that the 2014 Records Management-Self Assessment (RMSA) report is now available from our website (.pdf). Acting Chief Records Officer for the U.S. Government Laurence Brewer said, "This is our sixth RMSA and we are very pleased to see real progress being made by agencies. We expect this improvement to continue, … Continue reading RMSA 2014 released
Category: General
Expiration Date Bulletin Released
We have released NARA Bulletin 2016-01: Guidance on NARA Bulletin Expiration Dates. This administrative bulletin announces a change to our policy regarding the expiration date of bulletins. Every bulletin used to have an expiration date of three years. We would regularly review the bulletins to determine whether the policies were still relevant, accurate, and useful. Then, we would … Continue reading Expiration Date Bulletin Released
Open Government National Action Plan 3.0
The White House announced the release of the Third Open Government National Action Plan for the United States of America earlier this week. The release of the Plan was timed to coincide with the Open Government Partnership (OGP) global summit taking place in Mexico City. You may recall that earlier this year, a call went out for public … Continue reading Open Government National Action Plan 3.0
What is Metadata…
…There’s No Singular Way to Write About It...or should it be They?.. Look up the term metadata in a dictionary and you are likely to find it defined as “data that provides information about data.” While technically accurate, this definition does little to help those who are unfamiliar with the term to understand how important … Continue reading What is Metadata…
Minimum Metadata Bulletin Issued
We are pleased to announce that we have issued new guidance for Federal agencies on minimum metadata requirements for transferring permanent electronic records to NARA. NARA Bulletin 2015-04: Metadata Guidance for the Transfer of Permanent Electronic Records, describes the minimum set of metadata elements that must accompany permanent electronic records transferred to NARA. This Bulletin … Continue reading Minimum Metadata Bulletin Issued
New NARA Bulletin on Digital Identity Authentication Records
We are pleased to announce the issuance of NARA Bulletin 2015-03 Guidance on Managing Digital Identity Authentication Records. This Bulletin provides guidance to agencies on managing digital identity authentication related transactional records, such as digital certificates and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) files, created or used in the course of agency business. It supersedes our earlier records management guidance … Continue reading New NARA Bulletin on Digital Identity Authentication Records
Release of NARA Bulletin 2015-02: Guidance on Managing Electronic Messages
We are pleased to announce the issuance of NARA Bulletin 2015-02, Guidance on Managing Electronic Messages. This Bulletin applies to text messaging, chat/instant messaging, messaging functionality in social media tools or apps, voice messaging, and similar forms of electronic messaging systems. The Bulletin addresses the new definition for electronic messages and other issues covered in … Continue reading Release of NARA Bulletin 2015-02: Guidance on Managing Electronic Messages
Updated RM for Legal Counsel Materials
Updated videos of NARA's Records Management for Legal Counsel are now available.
Release of NARA Bulletin 2015-01
NARA is pleased to announce that we have issued NARA Bulletin 2015-01, Determining the Appropriate Age for Scheduling the Legal Transfer of Permanent Records to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). This Bulletin clarifies the appropriate age at which permanent records, regardless of their media or format, should be transferred into NARA’s legal custody. … Continue reading Release of NARA Bulletin 2015-01
Open Gov Plan 3.0
Later this year, the U.S. Government will publish the third National Open Government Action Plan (NAP). This will build on the prior action plans published in 2011 and 2013. Our efforts to improve the management of government records, through things like the Managing Government Records Directive, have been included in these previous plans. Now, we … Continue reading Open Gov Plan 3.0