Vermont State Archives & Records Administration

VSARA in Action

New Developments in Records Management at ACCD

VSARA has been working closely with staff at the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) since 2009 to create and implement a complete records and information management program. This work includes the development of new records retention schedules (which are found on our website at http://vermont-archives.org/records/schedules/agency/); replacing outdated and incomplete disposition orders, and thoroughly reviewing the laws and regulations that apply to ACCD's records.

The new schedules allowed ACCD to destroy records that had been retained longer than necessary, clearing space in the records storage room. This means that they will no longer need to rely on the State Records Center for storage of many records. The schedules can also be applied to electronic records, allowing greater control over data maintained by the agency in any format.

The schedules also helped identify records of historic value that will be transferred into the Vermont State Archives, where they will be made available to the public for historic research. Correspondence of past secretaries and commissioners, and the minutes and reports of the Vermont Economic Council, Council of Regional Commissions and the Community Development Board, will all be entering the Archives thanks to this work.

Records Officer Kathy Thayer says about her work with VSARA, "What's been most helpful is your willingness to work with us one on one to identify our records, right down to pawing through our files and boxes. The statutory reference review is a wonderful piece of documentation that we can use continually. Your patience was very much appreciated as we revised and revised the documents."

Maple Sugaring (1930s/40s)*

Skiing at Mt. Mansfield (1936)*

* Both photographs: Series no. A-078. Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, Middlesex, VT.