Records and Information
Management Month, 2024
Having trouble coming up with an idea to celebrate Records and Information Management Month this April?
Records and Information Management (RIM) Month, is celebrated worldwide in April each year. Many records and information managers in local government organizations use this opportunity to raise awareness and educate staff and leadership about the importance of information management through creative, unique promotions within their organization. The goal is to emphasize the significance and relevance of organizing and maintaining records and data to manage information efficiently and effectively.
Through the actions of members of ARMA (the Association of Records Managers and Administrators), Records and Information Management Month was first recognized in 1995 as National Records and Information Management Day. The goal was to draw attention to the importance of renewing the US Paperwork Reduction Act. ARMA International organized a luncheon in Washington, D.C. as part of the celebrations, with members of Congress and the executive branch in attendance. The observance grew in scope over time and Records and Information Management Month is now celebrated globally each year in April.
Last year, members of the LGMA’s FOI, Privacy and Records Management Committee provided a curated selection of promotional ideas they used to attract the attention of staff and raise the awareness of good records and information management.
This year not only will the LGMA be publishing the 6th edition of our Records and Information Manual in April, we are also providing a few more new promotional ideas below to help get your creative juices flowing.
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Robyn Biggar, Manager of Records and Information Management, City of Port Coquitlam
Even AI has something to learn about Records Management this month: It’s not all paper and naming conventions.
With the information field evolving, we need to consider the generally accepted recordkeeping principles in our use of technology: Accountability, Transparency, Integrity, Protection, Compliance, Availability, Retention, and Disposition.
How can we confirm the integrity of AI-generated outputs? How do we protect personal information AI may use (and potentially breach)? Reflect this RIM Month on how your organization uses technology and information that is consistent with the principles (and broader legislative framework).
The topic of AI is on the minds of almost every local government staff member, most particularly those involved in technical assessments, privacy management and records and information management. It’s not only of concern, but it is also being assessed to build tools to streamline processes and reduce budget needs.
Given this level of interest, Robyn input the following prompt into an AI image generator: “An image of someone who has accomplished perfect records management, streamlined information processes, and ideal organization of data for optimal organizational value.”
The resulting generated image is here:
As you will note, given the spelling errors and unrecognizable imagery, AI does have a way to go in terms of development, not to mention the outdated reliance on paper to describe information management; however, there is little doubt AI will continue to develop in municipal work, and not just in response to fun prompts.
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Cobi Falconer, Director, Access to Information and Privacy, City of Vancouver
The City of Vancouver’s Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Department is using Records at Work month to celebrate Departmental Records Coordinators (DRCs) and recognize the important work they do.
DRCs are departmental record-keeping representatives located in each business unit and are considered records compliance champions. They support their work area by providing records management assistance such as filing, finding and sharing departmental records.
The Corporate Records and Information Management (CRIM) Team are offering a coffee card to five lucky participants who can name the DRC(s) in their business area. CRIM will also be requesting the organizational business units to nominate a DRC superstar from their unit who will also receive an award.
In addition to all of the above, CRIM will host a one-hour DRC Ask Me Anything session after soliciting records management questions in advance from DRCs. CRIM staff will provide their responses to the questions to those who register for the online session.
These records management events will be held during the month of April to highlight Records and Information Management Month.
