NARA Bulletin 2007-01
March 30, 2007
TO: Heads of Federal agencies
SUBJECT: Checklist of current NARA bulletins and list of records management guidance in effect
EXPIRATION DATE: September 30, 2007
1. What is the purpose of this bulletin? This bulletin lists National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) bulletins that are in effect. It also defines the overall structure for NARA records management guidance, and lists the guidance products that are in effect. The first table in this bulletin lists NARA bulletins that are in effect for the current fiscal year. The second table identifies baseline guidance which is fundamental and requisite for sound records management practice. The third table identifies other guidance products which provide additional context, address specific implementation issues and describe recommended practices. This bulletin also extends the standard expiration date of all substantive bulletins from two to three years.
2. What are NARA bulletins? The Archivist of the United States uses NARA bulletins when transmitting fundamental records management guidance to agencies. This guidance helps agencies comply with recordkeeping laws and regulations. You can find more information about NARA's records management regulations in Subchapter B of Chapter XII of Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The first bulletin of the fiscal year is a checklist of current bulletins and records management guidance products.
3. What other vehicles does NARA use to promulgate records management guidance? NARA also uses Memos to Records Officers from the Director of Modern Records Programs to convey recommended records management practices that agencies should consider incorporating into their recordkeeping operations. This information is contained in the third table.
4. Changes in bulletins' expiration dates? Previously, NARA issued bulletins with a maximum two-year expiration date. NARA is now expanding the duration period for most bulletins to three years and is amending the expiration date of bulletins that are currently in effect. The first bulletin of each year (the checklist bulletin) and other bulletins with specific action dates will continue to have shorter expiration dates.
5. How can I get more information about NARA bulletins? For more information about specific NARA bulletins, call the Lifecycle Management Division at 301-837-3560 or send your question to RM.Communications@nara.gov.
6. How do I know which records management guidance is required? NARA will identify in its promulgating document (NARA bulletin or Memo to Records Officers) whether newly-issued guidance is fundamental and required, or recommended practice. NARA also provides many timely and relevant information products to assist Federal agencies in performing their statutorily-required records management functions. NARA records management guidance is available on the NARA web site at http://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/policy/guidance-regulations.html. Agencies may also wish to consult the media-specific Toolkit for Managing Electronic Records (http://toolkit.archives.gov/pls/htmldb/f?p=102:1:11077972001844564795) which identifies NARA records management guidance products applicable to electronic records.
7. How do I obtain copies of NARA bulletins?
a. Paper copies. We send paper copies of our bulletins to the heads of Federal agencies. You can obtain additional paper copies by contacting the NARA Lifecycle Management Division at 301-837-3560.
b. Electronic copies. We send electronic copies of our bulletins to Federal agency records officers. We also post all NARA bulletins on the NARA web site at http://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/bulletins/.
8. How do I correct any mistakes in the mailing address? To correct the mailing address for the head of your Federal agency, contact NARA's Policy and Planning Staff at301-837-1850.. To correct the mailing address for the agency records officer, contact RM.Communications@nara.gov.
ALLEN WEINSTEIN
Archivist of the United States
The following NARA bulletins remain in effect: