Have you been put in charge of your office or agency’s records and, by extension, the records storage room? This can be an overwhelming experience. You may inherit a space with unmarked boxes, loose materials, ephemera, and decades of records crammed into a tiny space and packed to the ceiling. You’ll need to gain control … Continue reading 10 Steps to Wrangling Your Records Storage Room
Category: Local Records Preservation
Managing Local Records in Alabama Resource Guide
We have a quick quiz for all local government employees! Q1: Do you know what a "Records Disposition Authority (RDA)" is?Q2. Do you know the definition of “retention”?Q3: Did you know that Alabama law requires you to practice appropriate records management? Believe it or not, local government institutions in Alabama are all beholden to the Local … Continue reading Managing Local Records in Alabama Resource Guide
Preparing for and Cleaning Mold on Paper Records
If you have ever stepped into your records room and caught the unmistakable scent of mildew or opened a drawer to find a fuzzy film growing there, you know the stress this can cause. You might feel that all hope is lost, but thankfully, you can often salvage moldy documents. A quick, informed response will … Continue reading Preparing for and Cleaning Mold on Paper Records
Newspaper Preservation
Guest Contributor: Mary Clare Johnson, Collections Archivist, Alabama Department of Archives and History Many of us collect and keep newspapers and clippings as souvenirs of historical and personal importance; however, these ephemeral objects are not meant to last forever and have an expected lifespan of 50 years or less. They require special care and proper … Continue reading Newspaper Preservation
Preserving Historic Ledgers and Books
Guest Contributor: Keri Hallford, Collections Archivist, Alabama Department of Archives and History Are you considering wrapping books in your agency’s collection? Keeping bound records was once an easy and reliable way to reference important information quickly. In the digital age, however, this method is becoming outmoded, and books often fall into disrepair. As bound records … Continue reading Preserving Historic Ledgers and Books
For the Record 