Introduction to Records and Information Management for State and Local Governments

This 90 minute narrated PowerPoint presentation was created as part of the Council of State Archivists’ "Intergovernmental Preparedness for Essential Records (IPER)" project. Watch the presentation as a simple introduction to Records Management or to prepare for the IPER webinars (coming in 2011).

Watch the presentation (SWF File - 35.38 MB)
Learn more about IPER

Technical Issues

Please be patient when downloading the file. It is a large file, and depending on your connection and network system, it may take a few minutes to download. The entire file must be downloaded before the presentation will play.

When testing the presentation with the files on your computer's hard drive, you may encounter an error message when you first begin regarding your computer's Flash player security. You are given the option to click "OK" or "Settings". If you simply click "OK", you will not be able to test the hyperlinks because Flash player will not launch links from files on your computer without changing the security settings. See the following websites (below) for the solution to this problem and a further explanation of what is occuring. Following the simple steps will allow you to test the hyperlinks.

This SWF file and above documentation are posted for the convenience of the Archives and Records Management Community. The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission cannot provide technical assistance. Please contact the Council of State Archivists at the above-linked website for technical or content help.

Disaster Planning/Vital Records Management
Overview of the policies, procedures, and responsibilities involved with Disaster Planning and Vital Records Management. The training is for anyone who is responsible for designing a records disaster plan or overseeing the preservation and safeguarding of vital records. Course covers:

• Disaster risk and analysis
• Disaster case studies
• Preparing a records disaster plan
• Identifying and protecting vital records
• Disaster response
• Records recovery and salvage techniques 

 Records Management
Introductory training for local government officers and staff, records managers, and anyone who is responsible for maintaining local government records. Course covers:

• Benefits of Records Management
• Using a Records Retention and Disposition Schedule
• Elements of a Records Management Program
• Establishing a Records Management Program
• Overview of the Local Government Records Section
• Overview of the issues involved in reformatting records
• General technical considerations for media conversion 

For more information on training schedules and opportunities or to schedule training, please contact Jerry Ellis at (717) 787-3384 or email RA-LocalGovernment@pa.gov. Mail inquires may be sent to the following address: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Pennsylvania State Archives Building, 350 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0090.