Records Management and Archival Standards

ISO 15489: Information and Documentation - Records management (ISO 15489)

ISO 15489, issued in 2001, is an international standard on records management.

ISO 15489

  • "applies to the management of records, in all formats or media, created or received by any public or private organization in the conduct of its activities, or any individual with a duty to create and maintain records,
  • provides guidance on determining the responsibilities of organizations for records and records policies, procedures, systems and processes,
  • provides guidance on records management in support of a quality process framework to comply with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001,
  • provides guidance on the design and implementation of a records system, but
  • does not include the management of archival records within archival institutions."
(ISO 15489-1, p.1)

The standard is accompanied by a technical report, intended as an implementation guide.

For more information, see ISO 15489

Model Requirements for the Management of Electronic Records (MoReq)

MoReq, issued in 2001, was developed for the European Commission Enterprise Directorate General's "Interchange of Data between Administrations" programme by a private company, working under the supervision of an international expert team.

It describes mainly functional requirements for the management of electronic records by an electronic records management system.

Are also addressed, but in less detail:

  • Management of non-electronic records
  • Hybrid file retention and disposal
  • Document management
  • Workflow
  • Electronic signatures
  • Encryption
  • Electronic watermarks
  • Interoperability and openness
  • Non-functional requirements

The requirements are modular and generic: they are not platform-bound, sector-bound or geographically bound.

For more information, see Cornwell Consultantsor Interchange of Data between Administrations

General International Standard Archival Description (ISAD(G))

ISAD(G) is an international standard for archival description, first published by the International Council on Archives in 1994. It was reviewed in 2000.

While the focus of ISAD(G) is the description of archival records, i.e. records destined for permanent preservation, it claims to be applicable to records from their creation on.

For more information, see standards of the International Council on Archives