[DOC] Designing and Implementing Recordkeeping Systems (DIRKS Manual)

[Terry Kuny]

The following media release has today been issued by the National
Archives of Australia and the State Records Authority of New South
Wales.

Adrian Cunningham
National Archives of Australia
---------


DIRKS TO THE RESCUE!

In the beginning was the word and the word was carved in stone.  Then
followed parchment and ink and, as time went by, the printed word.  Such
tangible records were easily preserved for posterity.

But in today's electronic environment, the word has become more elusive.
Created on screen and then clicked into cyberspace, millions of messages
criss-cross Australia each day.  And until now, electronic
record-keeping systems have not kept pace with the rapidly developing
technology.

But a new, draft manual developed by the State Records Authority of NSW
and the National Archives of Australia aims to bridge the technological
gap.  Known as Designing and Implementing Recordkeeping Systems (DIRKS
Manual), it was released today for comment and testing.

The first of its kind in the world, the manual will help Commonwealth
and NSW Government agencies to design and implement recordkeeping
systems for any technological or paper-based environment.

Designed specifically for use online, the manual can be navigated for
easy reference and provides links to other Commonwealth and NSW
Government resources.

The exposure draft of the DIRKS Manual will be on the websites of the
National Archives and State Records Authority until December 2000 for
input and comments by potential users and interested parties.

The website address at the National Archives of Australia is:
http://www.naa.gov.au/Govserv/techpub/DIRKSman/dirks.html

The website address at the State Records of NSW is:
http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/publicsector/DIRKS/Exposure%20draft/title.
htm

For more information please contact:

Tony Newton at State Records of NSW
(02) 9237-0135 or govrkman at records.nsw.gov.au

Adrian Cunningham at National Archives of Australia
(02) 6212-3988 or adrianc at naa.gov.au.


7th February 2000