University Archives and Records Programs in the United States and Canada

Abstract

University archives and records management programs in Canada and the United States are phenomena of the post-World War II era. Surveys undertaken by the Society of American Archivists from 1949 to the mid- 1960s found that universities in Canada and the United States managed their institutional archival records primarily as a part-time activity, preferring instead to devote resources to traditional library collections including manuscripts and rare books. The survey the authors conducted in the spring of 2002 revealed the persistence of old trends and the struggle of the university archivists and records managers to balance old and new needs. The survey results demonstrated the effectiveness of an advisory records management committee on the promotion of records and archives policies and procedures, the need for compliance audit, and the development and delivery of systematic training on information management. A major weakness identified by survey respondents was the lack of institution-wide electronic records management policies and procedures developed in cooperation with senior administrators, information technology staff, university archivists, and records managers. Another weakness is the absence of official standards for university archives and records programs. The release of ISO 15489, Information and documentation - Records management in September 2001, provides an important departure. This international standard, when used in conjunction with the SAA Guidelines for College and University Archives, will provide Canadian and American universities with the tools to address current challenges in order to develop a comprehensive archives and records program.

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