For the Record – Why Records Management ?

In November, LUCAS joined with the North West Regional Archive Council to produce a seminar to introduce the principles of records management to a new audience. The event was widely advertised and attracted over 70 delegates from organisations as diverse as the Diocese of Salford, Cheshire Primary Care Trust and Manchester City Council. The theme unifying these delegates was a recognition that the records of their institutions required management to ensure efficiency, accountability and compliance.

The day began with a video from the International Records Management Trust, describing the disastrous results of poor record keeping for individuals, society and democracy, in Ghana. Margaret Procter followed up this example with a description of how and why organisations should manage records. Margaret then provided useful guidance on how to make the case for a records management programme and which basic tools were available to set up new systems.

Alan McQuitty, presented a paper on the role and importance of records management within his organisation, the pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly. He described how pharmaceutical companies need to meet a large number of regulations and how the company uses the records management programme to achieve this. This business perspective on the subject was followed by a paper on the management of records under the Freedom of Information Act, by Kelvin Smith from the Public Record Office. Kelvin described the main areas of the act and in particular its implications for record creation and record keeping.

Margaret Procter then finished the day with an outline of the first steps delegates should take to implement the programmes outlined during the day. Margaret described questions for organisations to examine guidance available and research to be undertaken, as preparation to introducing a records management programme.

Feedback on the day was overwhelmingly positive, with many delegates requesting further guidance and training on the issues raised.