| The Records Management Program was established in
1974 as a support service to campus offices. Since
that time, the program has made a sustained effort
to provide for the orderly identification, management,
and preservation of active, inactive, and archival
records.
The University Archives & Records Center operates
under Public Records Law, RCW 40.14 (Preservation
and Destruction of Public Records) and RCW 40.10
(Protection of Essential Records). University records
by statutory definition are public property and must
be maintained, transferred, and destroyed according
to records retention schedules approved by the State
Records Committee.
The Archives & Records Center operates under
the direction of the University Librarian/Public
Records Officer to serve all University offices,
both on and off campus. The Center assists campus
offices in developing and updating retention schedules,
and acts as a liaison between the University and
the State Records Management Office in obtaining
approval for retention schedules from the State Records
Committee. Center staff also develop and maintain
general records retention schedules that apply to
commonly-held University records.
In addition to retention scheduling activities,
the Archives & Records Center assists campus
offices in effective management of records throughout
their life cycle, such as development of standardized
filing systems, analysis of potential microfilm and
electronic technology applications, and identification
of vital records.
As a result of the records retention scheduling
process, the Archives & Records Center provides
inexpensive, secure, and environmentally appropriate
storage for semi-active, inactive, and historical
records. Storage of records frees costly office space
and minimizes the need to purchase expensive filing
equipment. At the same time, the Center provides
an efficient reference service for campus offices
who request the records.
|
