Permanent=forever

now you ask what is forever?
You are asking for the quantification of time. One of the great differences 
between Archivists and Records Managers is the degree to which art playsa 
role in our professoins. A Records Manager will seek to quantify everything. 
Time is immutable and so all retention periods should reflect this 
sentiment. Archivists share the vision of Ozymandeus. At some point far into 
the future a traveller should "look upon our works and despair. Is there 
value in this? yeah. Do most Records managers share that view? Probably not. 
Are there permanent record sin every organization? if you ask an Archivist 
the answer is yes. If you ask a Records Manager....

Increasingly we have seen a sentiment grow in this country that records have 
a fixed value. There is a point at which the relative value of a record 
excedes the cost of maintaining it. As you migrate records forward at what 
point does the amount of time and money becme prohibitive? To an Archivist 
the reality might be realized theat the record cannot be preserved. However 
at that point a piece of their soul dies.

Is there room for art in information management?
Should be preserve records permanently? (Larry already keeps personnel 
records 100 years)
Should we limit our view of forever?
must we?


Chris Flynn

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