Bowling Green State University
For the Record: BGSU's Record Management Newsletter
Volume 5, Issue 1 Winter 2018

New Version of General Records Retention Schedule Issued!
Beginning in January 2018, a new version of the BGSU General Records Retention Schedule is available for use by all units and departments. This version is more comprehensive (and longer) that previous versions, but the goal is to cover more record types in the General Schedule than previously. This enhanced coverage by the General Schedule will eventually make some department- and unit-specific records retention schedules obsolete because all their record series will be covered by the General Schedule. The new General Records Retention Schedule is available at the Records Management website both in a .pdf version organized by 6 broad categories: Accounting and Financial Records; Administrative Records, Education Records, Legal Records, Personnel Records, and Publication Records. Another version, listing all records in alphabetical order regardless of larger category, is also available online.

Check out the Updated Records Management Website
Efforts have been underway to revamp the Records Management website. This work coincides with the issuance of the new General Records Retention Schedule. There is new information available on the website, including details on how to use the University Records Center, as well as past issues of For The Record.

Records Management Training
Records management training will be held this March/April. The focus will be on how to read records retention schedules, general records concepts, and how to deal with electronic records including e-mail. A survey has been set up to help plan the sessions. Additional announcements of training opportunities will be made via e-mail and Campus Update as the selected date(s) approach.

Need Scanning or Microfilming Services?
by Guest Contributor, Allison Brandeberry, BGSU Reformatting Specialist
Did you know that BGSU has a Preservation Lab? It's run by the Center for Archival Collections and offers a wide range of records formatting services: microfilming for bound, large format or fragile paper records; document scanning for loose letter and legal sized paper records; transfer to microfilm of digital records; microfilm duplication; and most recently we've added the ability to digitize microfilm so that we can create digital files from previously microfilmed records.

These services are available to all BGSU offices and departments to assist in the management and preservation of University records. All microfilm is created to conform to ANSI standards; with the storage of the microfilm negative in our climate-controlled vault the film will have a lifespan of 500-1000 years, so if necessary the original records can be disposed of without fear of losing valuable information. More information about the program, a full list of services and current pricing is available at the Preservation Lab's website. You can also e-mail Reformatting Specialist Allison Brandeberry for additional information. The Preservation Lab does provide a cost discount for projects involving university records.

For the Record is the newsletter of the Bowling Green State University Records Management program. It is distributed electronically to records center users and others responsible for the records of their office. All content is written by Cindy Sauer unless otherwise indicated. To be added to or removed from the distribution list for For the Record please contact Cindy Sauer at csauer@bgsu.edu.