This is the process where departments select which types of records are worthy of permanent preservation. It applies equally to those bodies which have decided to make archival provision in a place of deposit for their own records, as well as those bodies which transfer to a specialist or local place of deposit. This guidance applies to records in all formats and media.
We have published guidance for all records, listed below and in Selecting your records. Additionally, The National Archives' initiative What to Keep is designed to help government ensure it knows what information to keep and for how long, and to put this into practice when dealing with digital records. You can find helpful links, documents and further information under relevant guidance.
The National Archives' Records collection policy describes what records we collect and why.
Records collection policy (PDF, 0.12Mb)
Guidance on appraisal
Best practice guide for appraising and selecting records for The National Archives (PDF, 0.38Mb)
The National Archives' appraisal policy (PDF, 0.11Mb)
Appraisal policy: background paper Grigg and beyond (PDF, 0.12Mb)
How to compile an appraisal report (PDF, 0.13Mb)
Management of private office papers (PDF, 0.90Mb)
Machinery of government changes: Guidance on transfer of records, information and knowledge (PDF, 0.49Mb)
Series level appraisal questionnaire (DOC, 0.03Mb)
Operational selection policies, schedules and associated guidance
Operational selection policies - OSPs
Operational selection policies are working tools for those involved in the selection of public records. They are an integral part of The National Archives' records collection policy.
Schedules and associated guidance
Retention and disposal schedules establish and maintain control of information and record resources. There is also guidance on commonly held public records, where generic disposal periods can normally be identified.
Go to the next stage: Selecting your records
This page contains PDF, DOC files. See plug-ins and file formats for help in accessing these file types.
