Selecting and transferring paper records

Records can possess different types or degrees of value to a public records body, and these values affect how records are managed and how long they need to be kept.

• Schedules for keeping and disposing

Under the Public Records Act 1958, those responsible for public records must make arrangements for the selection of those records which ought to be permanently preserved.

• Operational selection policies by subject
• Operational selection policies by number

Departments should have effective arrangements to determine which records should be retained in the department, designated as open on transfer or transferred as closed for a period of time.

• Access to public records

Information on statutory obligations It is the responsibility of all organisations responsible for public records, as defined by the Public Records Act 1958 (c.

The process of transporting new unaccessioned records from Public Record Bodies to The National Archives is also known as the ‘uplift’.

Accessioning is the work that The National Archives does once records have been delivered, so that we can make the records available.

The forms and guidance provided below are for government departments that want to borrow accessioned records from The National Archives.

Chinagraph pencil: A waxy pencil originally used to write on china, glass or other hard surfaces.