To ensure that physical and electronic records created or received by Hamilton Public Library (HPL), in the course of carrying out library business, are managed appropriately throughout the records’ life cycle to facilitate the accessibility, accuracy and security of information to meet operational and legislative requirements. 

Key Points Summary

Definitions

Archival Record: Records determined to have historical and cultural value to the library to warrant continuous preservation. These records are transferred to Local History and Archives at the end of their retention periods.  

Classification Scheme: A document/schema that identifies and classifies records, usually by business function across different departments or groups, and provides the record’s description, control, links, disposition methods and access status. 

Disposition: The final action carried out on a record after its retention period has ended. This may include retaining, archiving, or destroying the record.  

Life Cycle: Similar to a biological life cycle, a record’s life cycle is a record’s creation or receipt, use, maintenance, retention, and disposition.  

Permanent Record: Records determined to have historical, administrative, legal, or other value to the library to warrant continuous preservation.  

Record: Recorded information in any format or medium, created, received, and maintained as evidence in pursuance of legal obligations or in the transaction of business. This may include paper and electronic records, minutes, correspondence, financial statements, maps, drawings, photographs, etc. 

Records Management: The field of management responsible for managing records in an efficient and systematic manner throughout its life cycle.  

Record Series: A group of identical or related records that are normally used and filed as a unit and that permit evaluation as a unit for retention scheduling purposes. 

Retention Period: The period of time during which records must be kept before disposition. The retention period is often broken into active and inactive stages, and is determined by legislative, regulatory, and operational requirements.  

Retention Schedule: A timetable that identifies record series and the length of time they must be retained and their final disposition.  

Transitory Records: Records of a temporary nature that have limited usefulness. Transitory records are not required to meet legislative obligations or to sustain administrative or operational functions. 

Policy Details

In the course of managing records, Hamilton Public Library will comply with legislated requirements and professional standards including: the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Public Libraries Act, the Employment Standards Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Income Tax Act. 

All records created by Hamilton Public Library or in the organization’s custody are the property of the library and are managed as a corporate resource, regardless of medium or format.  

 
Disposition of Records 
Records that have reached the end of their retention period and are no longer needed for another valid reason will not be retained and will be destroyed. 

Transitory records, unless they have become necessary for legal or administrative purposes, will not be retained and will be destroyed. 

Records that are classified as permanent or archival records have long-term value to the library, such as for recording its corporate, service and cultural history. These records will be preserved and protected to ensure their safety, availability, and recovery. As such, Permanent records will be maintained by the department the record is created by, while archival records will be transferred to the Local History and Archives department and will follow the Local History and Archives Policy.  

Records will not be retained beyond their retention period without a valid reason authorized by the Chief Librarian/CEO or designate.  

The destruction of records will be done in a secure and confidential manner and will be carried out in accordance with established procedures.   

Official Records 
Only one official record, either physical or digital, will be maintained for the purpose of ensuring retention requirements.  

Where an original physical record is not required by law, or is not classified as a permanent record for preservation, the digital record will become the official record for retention purposes. The physical record will be then considered transitory and will, therefore, be disposed of.  

Duplicate records that are identified in the retention schedule (such as copies used as supporting documents to a report, or when the original record is submitted to the City of Hamilton) are considered exceptions and are not transitory. They will be retained in accordance with the retention schedule. 
 

Records in Electronic Format  
The electronic/ digital records within a record series are an alternative format or delivery of the records themselves, with no change in the transaction or content of the record. 
Electronic records are governed under the same rules of the library’s records management policy, which addresses format, content, organization, retention, disposition, and backup.  

The introduction of new technology will require updates to procedures and practices pertaining to electronic records which otherwise will be reviewed and changed following the same revision timeframe as this policy.  

 
Accountability  
The CEO/Chief Librarian is responsible for ensuring that records management requirements are being met and that they reflect the library policies and priorities. 

The Director, Digital Technology and Creation is accountable to the Chief Librarian/CEO for the general administration of the records management function. 

Directors are accountable to the Chief Librarian/CEO for the administration of their respective records series as established in the retention schedule.  

Directors are accountable to the Chief Librarian/CEO for ensuring compliance with the Records Management Policy and procedures in their respective areas.