Records manager
Encyclopedia
The Records Manager for an organization is the person responsible for the management of records in the organization. This role has evolved over time and takes many forms, with many related areas of knowledge required for professional competency.
Records Managers are found in all types of organizations, including business, government, and non-profit sectors. Generally, dedicated (i.e. full time) Records Managers are found in larger organizations.
evolved from the development of archives in the United States government following World War II
. With the explosion of paper records during that war, better systems of management
were needed to retain and make the records available for current use. Records Managers became specialists that bridged the gap between file clerks and archivists. The profession expanded into the corporate world in the 1950s.
, constituting knowledge areas of:
The Records Manager may also have subject matter expertise in:
The health care industry has a very specialized view of Records Management. Health information management involves not only maintaining patient files, but also coding the files to reflect the diagnoses of the conditions suffered by patients. The American Health Information Management Association
(AHIMA) is the professional organization in this space.
Records Managers in the pharmaceutical industry are responsible for maintaining laboratory research, clinical trials data, and manufacturing information.
Records Managers in law firms often have responsibility for managing conflicts, as well as managing client matter files.
In the (US of A)
Records Managers in nuclear power plants specialize in compliance with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
rules regarding the handling of nuclear materials. NIRMA is their local professional organization.
programs generally offer coursework in archives and records management. Records Managers may have degrees in a wide variety of subjects in all disciplines.
Professional and trade organizations such as those listed below offer continuing education conferences, seminars, and workshops.
Governmental archives and records management departments such as the National Archives and Records Administration
offer educational programs of interest to government records managers.
A professional certification, the Certified Records Manager credential is offered by the Institute of Certified Records Managers. Other organizations may offer certificates reflecting completion of a course of studies, attendance at a seminar, or passing a subject matter test.
Records Managers are found in all types of organizations, including business, government, and non-profit sectors. Generally, dedicated (i.e. full time) Records Managers are found in larger organizations.
History
The practice of records managementRecords management
Records management, or RM, is the practice of maintaining the records of an organization from the time they are created up to their eventual disposal...
evolved from the development of archives in the United States government following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. With the explosion of paper records during that war, better systems of management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
were needed to retain and make the records available for current use. Records Managers became specialists that bridged the gap between file clerks and archivists. The profession expanded into the corporate world in the 1950s.
Competencies
The Records Manager generally provides expertise in records managementRecords management
Records management, or RM, is the practice of maintaining the records of an organization from the time they are created up to their eventual disposal...
, constituting knowledge areas of:
- Records Creation and Use
- Active and Inactive Records Systems
- Records Appraisal, Retention and Disposition
- Vital Records Identification and Protection
- Records and Information Management Technology
The Records Manager may also have subject matter expertise in:
- LawLawLaw is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
- PrivacyPrivacyPrivacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
and Data Protection - Information TechnologyInformation technologyInformation technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
and Electronic Storage Systems - General BusinessBusinessA business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
Principles
Specialization
Records Managers are present in virtually every type of organization. The role can range from one of a file clerk to the Chief Information Officer of an organization. Records Managers may focus on operational responsibilities, design strategies and policies for maintaining and utilizing information, or combine elements of those jobs.The health care industry has a very specialized view of Records Management. Health information management involves not only maintaining patient files, but also coding the files to reflect the diagnoses of the conditions suffered by patients. The American Health Information Management Association
American Health Information Management Association
-References:* -External links:* * * * * *...
(AHIMA) is the professional organization in this space.
Records Managers in the pharmaceutical industry are responsible for maintaining laboratory research, clinical trials data, and manufacturing information.
Records Managers in law firms often have responsibility for managing conflicts, as well as managing client matter files.
In the (US of A)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Records Managers in nuclear power plants specialize in compliance with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is an independent agency of the United States government that was established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 from the United States Atomic Energy Commission, and was first opened January 19, 1975...
rules regarding the handling of nuclear materials. NIRMA is their local professional organization.
Education and Certification
Few universities offer formal records management education. Graduate-level programs are often specialties within Library Science and Archival Science programs. Graduate-level Public HistoryPublic history
Public history is a term that describes the broad range of activities undertaken by people with some training in the discipline of history who are generally working outside of specialized academic settings. Public history practice has quite deep roots in the areas of historic preservation,...
programs generally offer coursework in archives and records management. Records Managers may have degrees in a wide variety of subjects in all disciplines.
Professional and trade organizations such as those listed below offer continuing education conferences, seminars, and workshops.
Governmental archives and records management departments such as the National Archives and Records Administration
National Archives and Records Administration
The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent agency of the United States government charged with preserving and documenting government and historical records and with increasing public access to those documents, which comprise the National Archives...
offer educational programs of interest to government records managers.
A professional certification, the Certified Records Manager credential is offered by the Institute of Certified Records Managers. Other organizations may offer certificates reflecting completion of a course of studies, attendance at a seminar, or passing a subject matter test.