Program Manual
Introduction to Records Management
What is Missouri's records management program? In short, it is the complete and efficient control of your document inventory. It is having enough space to file current documents because unneeded papers have been stored off-site or destroyed. It is enjoying the hands-on convenience of working with microfilm or electronic copies of delicate originals, rather than the continual headache of piecing together precious, tattered historical documents. It is knowing that important records are safe, secure and under the care of professional records managers. It is contributing to the well being of Missouri's environment by recycling old papers and documents.
Missouri's records management program was established by the General Assembly in 1965 to meet the needs of state government. It currently serves more than 970 state governmental units. The records management program can assist state agencies in a variety of ways:
- By setting up records disposition schedules;
- By providing storage for semi-active and inactive records;
- By furnishing agencies with stored records on demand;
- By overseeing destruction of unneeded records;
- By providing microfilm services; and
- By providing guidance on use of imaging hardware, software and processes/procedures.
The program, conducted by the Office of Secretary of State, is headquartered in the James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center, 600 West Main, Jefferson City. This building houses the records management staff, an imaging department and more than 150,000 cubic feet of governmental records. Additional record storage centers are operated in Jefferson City.