Open Government, Part 2: How to Retrieve and Produce Records on Demand Faster
In our first article in this series, we looked at a serious challenge facing government agencies: falling success rates in producing records in response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Between 2010 and 2022, [...]
Open Government, Part 1: Why Fewer Records Requests Are Being Met
Open government is a doctrine which holds that citizens have the right to access the documents and proceedings of the government to allow for effective public oversight. In its ideal form, open government promotes transparency, [...]
Train, Train, Train: Why Good Records Management Depends on Good Training
In the complex and always-changing landscape of federal records management, the need for comprehensive training has never been more acute. Despite a common perception among managers that they are well-versed in the fundamentals of records [...]
Ensuring Accessibility and Usability in Federal Electronic Records
As government bodies increasingly digitize their records under the direction of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), it’s imperative to make electronic records both accessible [...]
2 Key Recordkeeping Considerations When Sharing Records Within or Between Agencies
The exchange of information and records within and between government entities can significantly enhance operational efficiency and policy implementation. For example, research published in Government Information Quarterly found that “inter-organizational information sharing improves efficiency by [...]
Understanding Where Cloud Solutions Fit in Federal Records Management
In the digital era, federal agencies are increasingly turning to cloud solutions for records management. This shift represents a significant departure from traditional, on-premises data storage, but it shouldn’t be surprising. “Cloud storage … can [...]
Making Use of Audit Trails in Government Records Management: The Importance of Tracking Records’ Histories
In the complex world of government records management, the ability to track who has accessed and what has happened to individual records is invaluable. An audit trail—a step-by-step record that chronicles the life cycle of [...]