Records Management
Last updated on July 22, 2024Government and broader public sector organizations manage their digital and physical records according to legislated requirements.
Records and Information Management Services
Government information management services help clients manage government information responsibly. These include providing advice, learning resources, EDRMS services, scheduling and appraisal, and records transfer and storage. Expand each section below to learn more about these services:
Advice and Guidance
About this service
Government Information Management (GIM) Branch provides advice and guidance regarding the ongoing management of government information in accordance with relevant legislation, policy, and information schedules. Government Information Management Specialists (GIMS), analysts, and advisors, provide services through sector-based portfolios of client ministries, collaborating with ministries to champion effective and efficient information management (IM) practices.
GIMS and their teams:
- Advise on IM legislation, policy, practices, and appropriate recordkeeping systems as defined under the IMA
- Consult on enhanced records management practices to improve business operations
- Advocate and partner on the development of IM strategies and plans
- Promote awareness of IM requirements and best practices
- Work with program and IT staff on properly disposing information when decommissioning system applications
- Support IM projects, compliance reviews, the development and implementation of information schedules, and the implementation of recordkeeping systems, including EDRMS Content Manager
Before you start
Review the list of Government Information Management Specialist (GIMS) contacts, and contact your GIMS team at any time to discuss your information management needs.
You may also want to review the available Learning resources (IDIR required), in preparation for a discussion with your GIMS team.
Who is eligible?
B.C. Government Ministries.
What are the timelines?
You can expect to hear back from us within 2 business days.
Submit a request
For support managing your government information, contact your GIMS team.
Enterprise Document and Records Management (EDRMS) Services
About this service
Government Information Management Branch supports a government standard Enterprise Document and Records Management System (EDRMS) Content Manager to manage physical and electronic records.
The EDRMS Business Services team provides Help Desk support for:
- Service requests (e.g., updating record classifications, dates, owners, etc.)
- User access (new users, modifications to existing users, deactivations)
- EDRMS system implementations
Before you start
B.C. Government ministries manage records life cycle through recordkeeping systems. Check out the Records Management systems page and Learning resources (IDIR required).
Who is eligible?
B.C. Government Ministries.
What are the timelines?
You can expect to hear back from us within 2 business days.
Submit a request
Current users can ask EDRMS Help for support using the system, and prospective users can request information about getting EDRMS Content Manager from the EDRMS Business Services Team.
Information Management (IM) Learning Resources
About this service
Government Information Management (GIM) Learning develops self-directed, interactive, eLearning courses on a variety of information and records management subjects and hosts monthly Information Management and Government Information Education (IMAGINE) Community of Practice webinars.
Access our online records management training and information about our monthly RM Community of Practice webinars on the GIM Learning page (IDIR required).
Before you start
Review the GIM Learning page (IDIR required) for additional information and records management resources.
Who is eligible?
B.C. Government Ministries.
What are the timelines?
You can expect to hear back from us within 2 business days.
Submit a request
Reach out to the GIM Learning team about our eLearning program or to request technical support.
Information Scheduling and Appraisal
About this service
Government Information Management (GIM) Archivists develop, review, and amend information schedules to enable ministries to manage their information, including data and records, in accordance with legislation. GIM Archivists also appraise business area records, identifying those of enduring value while ensuring that others may be routinely destroyed when no longer required.
Additional services include:
- Reviewing information schedules developed by ministry staff and contractors to ensure alignment with set standards
- Supporting the public consultation and review processes required for Chief Records Officer (CRO) approval and publication of information schedules
- Reviewing records scheduled for selective retention (SR) in order to select a portion for archival transfer 
Before you start
First, review ARCS Online (Administrative Records Classification System), the ORCS Library (Operational Records Classification Systems), and the Special Schedules page to see if an approved information schedule exists that applies to records in your business area. Check out the Developer’s Handbook (IDIR required) for a detailed description of the schedule development process and supporting guidance.
To learn about the criteria that determine what information is to be preserved in the archives review CIRMO Policy: Archival Appraisal of Government Information.
Who is eligible?
B.C. Government Ministries and designated government bodies.
What are the timelines?
You can expect to hear back from us within 5 business days.
Submit a request
Contact your GIMS team to discuss information schedules needs for your business area.
Physical Records Transfer and Offsite Storage
About this service
Government Information Management Branch's Records Centre Services (RCS) team co-ordinates with contracted storage facilities to facilitate offsite physical records transfers, retrieval processes, and the destruction of records in storage.
Once transferred to offsite storage, records are kept, destroyed or transferred to B.C. Archives according to approved Information Schedules.
Before you start
Review the process of preparing your records for offsite transfer or destruction using the Physical Records Transfer & Offsite Storage page, GIM Learning page (IDIR required), and the RIM Manual.
About this service
The RCS team provides support for:
- Records transfer and offsite storage services
- Retrieval processes
- Disposition services
Who is eligible?
B.C. Government Ministries and eligible Broader Public Sector Agencies.
What are the timelines?
You can expect to hear back from us within 2 business days.
Submit a request
Reach out to the RCS team for questions related to records transfer, offsite storage, records retrieval or disposition services.
Governance
Learn more about information management governance:
Information schedules determine how records are classified and managed during all stages of their use.
Search by keyword or schedule number to find information schedules.
Learn how government records are managed:
Government Information Management Branch - Intranet (IDIR required)
Contact information
Contact information for:
For all inquiries, please contact GIM@gov.bc.ca. We monitor this inbox from 8AM - 4PM Mon-Fri.