Who decides which records are worth preserving?
The creating agency’s records officer makes the initial recommendation as to whether or not a record series has enduring value. The Maine State Archives Records Appraisal Committee (State Archivist, Director of Archives Services, Director of Records Management Services) reviews that recommendation, and sends the series on to the Archives Advisory Board (nine people appointed by the Governor, who meet at least twice a year). The State Archivist can declare a series archival without consulting the Board, but he cannot approve records destruction on his own. Destruction requires agreement from both the State Archivist and the Archives Advisory Board, and the State Archivist seeks input from his professional staff before making either determination.
