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Library records: A retention and confidentiality guide
320
Reviews
Wiegand, Shirley A. Library Records: A Retention and Confidentiality Guide. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1994. 243 pp. $59.95 (ISBN O-313-28408-3). Reviewed by Charles Curran, Professor, College of Library and Information Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208. Oklahoma University Law Professor Shirley A. Wiegand has provided a book on library records management that is wrapped around two themes: the law, as it relates to retention and destruction; and confidentiality and privacy, as those values sometimes compete with the values inherent in the law. Wiegand informs us early on that hers is not a how-to-do-it manual and that other books perform this function. Indeed they do. Information and Records Management, by Ricks and Gow can very adequately fill the need for manuals, yet neither treats confidentiality or privacy in sufficient detail, Recordkeeping Requirements, by Donald S. Skupsky, who is a lawyer-records manager, does provide an issues approach to the subject of records management and destruction, but its 1989 copyright places it in pre-information superhighway times. One of the special strengths of the Wiegand book is its attention to the issues associated with electronic communication. So the first thing for prospective purchasers to note is that the Wiegand book is best used as a companion to some of the standard tools of the trade. Its function is complementary and its information is up-to-date. The second aspect of note is the book’s theme. Wiegand would have us consider issues of law and privacy first, then consider the standards and practices of record keeping, the nuts and bolts. Wiegand includes many important lessons for us, and none is more important than one central notion readers will take from this book: Records people better seize control over electronic communication or technical people will archive “their way, ” and that “way” runs and will continue to run counter to the rules records managers currently observe. The fact that records do not have to be on paper anymore visits us with many problems, one of which is that electronic communication provides us greater access to information, and to the identities of the participants in information transfer, than current guardians of confidentiality ever anticipated. Wiegand faces this problem squarely and better than any of the other authors of standards works in the field. Part 1 introduces record retention and destruction and a superbly crafted consideration of current law and practice on a state-by-state basis. The author not only includes the records management laws of the states, she also supplies responses by state archivists and records managers to the particulars and peculiarities of those laws. Then she adds her own nicely drawn comments. She concludes the section with “Recommendations for Change. ” Part 2, “Confidentiality of Library Records, ” shares her solid grasp of this topic, displaying good organizational skills and keen lawyer’s insights. She not only identifies problems, she offers resolutions and recommendations for the
Reviews
321
management of confidentiality. She asserts in this section that information professionals should bring their practice on client privacy up to the standards of their expressed commitment to the privacy. “As a first step. . . , all libraries, both public an private, should adopt a strong, clear, well publicized confidentiality policy” (p. 185). Appendices contain the surveys from which the author assembled her findings and opinions. She provides a bibliography and a useful index. Records managers, archivists, and documents librarians everywhere will agree that this important guide is a most useful addition to their professional collections.
REFERENCES
Ricks, Betty R., & Gow, K.S. (1984). Znformation resource management. Cincinnati, OH: South-Western Publishing. Robek, Mary F., Brown, Gerald F., & Maedke, Wihner 0. (1987). Information Records Management. 3d ed. Encino, CA: Glencoe. Skupsky, Donald S. (1989) Recordkeeping Requirements: Thefirstpractical guide to help you control your records-What you need to keep and you can safely destroy. (2nd ed.) Denver, CO: Information Requirements Clearinghouse.
Starting an Archives. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press and Society of American Archivists, 1994. 106 pp. $25.00 (ISBN o-8108-2864-2).
Yakel, Elizabeth.
Reviewed by Anne J. Gilliland-Swetland, Director, SourceLINK, Historical Center for the Health Sciences, University of Michigan, 715 N. University, Suite 6, Ann Arbor, MI 48101-1611. The archival profession in the United States faces enduring professional identity problems. This is largely due to two factors: firstly a lack of rigorous and standardized graduate education structure to produce qualified professional archivists; and secondly, a poor understanding by external parties such as institutional administrators and resource allocators of the fundaments of archival theory and practice. Starting an Archives represents one of the most recent attempts by the Society of American Archivists in its ongoing efforts that include the development of curricular guidelines, policy and planning statements, and basic educational texts, to redress this situation. The book surveys many of the primary considerations for the development of an archives program in terms of institutional commitment, and archival functions, facilities, and staff. Indeed, the aspects of this book that will probably be of most
Reviews
Wiegand, Shirley A. Library Records: A Retention and Confidentiality Guide. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1994. 243 pp. $59.95 (ISBN O-313-28408-3). Reviewed by Charles Curran, Professor, College of Library and Information Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208. Oklahoma University Law Professor Shirley A. Wiegand has provided a book on library records management that is wrapped around two themes: the law, as it relates to retention and destruction; and confidentiality and privacy, as those values sometimes compete with the values inherent in the law. Wiegand informs us early on that hers is not a how-to-do-it manual and that other books perform this function. Indeed they do. Information and Records Management, by Ricks and Gow can very adequately fill the need for manuals, yet neither treats confidentiality or privacy in sufficient detail, Recordkeeping Requirements, by Donald S. Skupsky, who is a lawyer-records manager, does provide an issues approach to the subject of records management and destruction, but its 1989 copyright places it in pre-information superhighway times. One of the special strengths of the Wiegand book is its attention to the issues associated with electronic communication. So the first thing for prospective purchasers to note is that the Wiegand book is best used as a companion to some of the standard tools of the trade. Its function is complementary and its information is up-to-date. The second aspect of note is the book’s theme. Wiegand would have us consider issues of law and privacy first, then consider the standards and practices of record keeping, the nuts and bolts. Wiegand includes many important lessons for us, and none is more important than one central notion readers will take from this book: Records people better seize control over electronic communication or technical people will archive “their way, ” and that “way” runs and will continue to run counter to the rules records managers currently observe. The fact that records do not have to be on paper anymore visits us with many problems, one of which is that electronic communication provides us greater access to information, and to the identities of the participants in information transfer, than current guardians of confidentiality ever anticipated. Wiegand faces this problem squarely and better than any of the other authors of standards works in the field. Part 1 introduces record retention and destruction and a superbly crafted consideration of current law and practice on a state-by-state basis. The author not only includes the records management laws of the states, she also supplies responses by state archivists and records managers to the particulars and peculiarities of those laws. Then she adds her own nicely drawn comments. She concludes the section with “Recommendations for Change. ” Part 2, “Confidentiality of Library Records, ” shares her solid grasp of this topic, displaying good organizational skills and keen lawyer’s insights. She not only identifies problems, she offers resolutions and recommendations for the
Reviews
321
management of confidentiality. She asserts in this section that information professionals should bring their practice on client privacy up to the standards of their expressed commitment to the privacy. “As a first step. . . , all libraries, both public an private, should adopt a strong, clear, well publicized confidentiality policy” (p. 185). Appendices contain the surveys from which the author assembled her findings and opinions. She provides a bibliography and a useful index. Records managers, archivists, and documents librarians everywhere will agree that this important guide is a most useful addition to their professional collections.
REFERENCES
Ricks, Betty R., & Gow, K.S. (1984). Znformation resource management. Cincinnati, OH: South-Western Publishing. Robek, Mary F., Brown, Gerald F., & Maedke, Wihner 0. (1987). Information Records Management. 3d ed. Encino, CA: Glencoe. Skupsky, Donald S. (1989) Recordkeeping Requirements: Thefirstpractical guide to help you control your records-What you need to keep and you can safely destroy. (2nd ed.) Denver, CO: Information Requirements Clearinghouse.
Starting an Archives. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press and Society of American Archivists, 1994. 106 pp. $25.00 (ISBN o-8108-2864-2).
Yakel, Elizabeth.
Reviewed by Anne J. Gilliland-Swetland, Director, SourceLINK, Historical Center for the Health Sciences, University of Michigan, 715 N. University, Suite 6, Ann Arbor, MI 48101-1611. The archival profession in the United States faces enduring professional identity problems. This is largely due to two factors: firstly a lack of rigorous and standardized graduate education structure to produce qualified professional archivists; and secondly, a poor understanding by external parties such as institutional administrators and resource allocators of the fundaments of archival theory and practice. Starting an Archives represents one of the most recent attempts by the Society of American Archivists in its ongoing efforts that include the development of curricular guidelines, policy and planning statements, and basic educational texts, to redress this situation. The book surveys many of the primary considerations for the development of an archives program in terms of institutional commitment, and archival functions, facilities, and staff. Indeed, the aspects of this book that will probably be of most