Records Management For Dummies

Know what to keep, how to set up a system, and what your plan should contain

If you're involved with a business — any business — you're acquainted with records and record-keeping. If you have your own business, you may be wondering what you need to keep and where on earth you're going to keep it. Well, help is here! Blake Richardson answers all those questions and helps you implement a tried-and-true records management system.

• Order out of chaos — see how an information management program can benefit your organization and find options for inventorying records
• Rank and file — explore different filing systems and methods, find one that meets your needs, and develop a plan
• What and why — learn what you need to keep and how proper records management can protect your business in case of a lawsuit
• When it's time to let go — ensure that files are properly destroyed when they should be
• Super software — compare software options for managing records, documents, and enterprise content, and discover e-Discovery

Open the book and find:

• Tips on managing the information life cycle
• The scoop on retention scheduling
• Suggestions for naming folders and files
• Reasons to set quotas on e-mail inboxes
• What a hold notice is and when to consider one
• Guidelines for evaluating software vendors
• How to enchant senior management with your plan
• Options for educating employees and training your staff

Learn to:

• Take inventory of current records and determine what needs to be kept
• Develop efficient filing systems for both paper and electronic records
• Create a records retention schedule
• Document the destruction of sensitive materials