Press Release
Press Release · Friday, December 14, 2001

College Park, MD. . . Archivist of the United States John W. Carlin announced today the National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA) release of a "Report on Current Recordkeeping Practices within the Federal Government." The report is an analysis of two significant data collections that were conducted by NARA and SRA International, Inc. (SRA) to assess the state of recordkeeping and records use in the Federal Government. This is an important step in NARA's efforts to review and, if necessary, revise records management policies and guidance to fit the changing office environment.

SRA is an information technology firm that provides systems integration and consulting services to business and government. SRA used individual interviews, focus groups, and an Internet survey to find out how agency officials and staff viewed records management and what they perceived its role to be in today's modern office. More than 40 Federal agencies participated in the interviews and focus groups, and more than 475 individuals replied to the Internet survey. Additionally, using a process called Records Systems Analyses, or RSAs, NARA teams examined selected business processes in Federal agencies to determine how records are actually being created and managed. The report identifies patterns in records management, suggests situational models to explain those patterns, and identifies points where NARA could effectively intervene to improve records management.

The report has significant implications for NARA's future policies and procedures and the Archivist invites the public to comment. The report is available on the NARA web site at http://www.archives.gov/records_management/initiatives/information_collection.html. Please provide your comments by January 31, 2002 by mail to NPOL, National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001. You may also email your comments to Contact NARA or fax them to (301) 837-0319.

For additional PRESS information, please contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (301) 837-1700 or by e-mail.

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