The Oregon State Archives is divided into the following units in addition to the State Archivist and a policy coordinator:
Reference Unit
The Reference Unit stores, describes
and provides access and research services to permanent
records
at the Oregon State Archives. They
inventory
and describe
targeted records held by county governments and other repositories as part of the
Oregon Historical County Records Guide. They work with state agencies and local governments to transfer permanently valuable records to the Archives. They
produce
finding aids, indexes,
exhibits
and other resources for use at the Archives and for web
publication. The unit also recruits and manages volunteers to help describe records and provide research assistance.
Publications Unit
The Publications Unit files, codifies
and publishes the
Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR). The OARs are published
after a public hearing process by Oregon state agencies under the authority of the Oregon Revised Statutes. The unit also compiles and publishes the
Oregon Blue Book, the official state directory of government, media, education, arts, almanac information
and more. The Blue Book has been published by the Oregon Secretary of State since 1911.
Information and Records Management
The Information and
Records Management Unit prepares records retention and disposition schedules for all units of government in Oregon, issues standards on recording media
and provides
assistance to government on records management issues.
Schedules for records common to most agencies are issued as OAR chapter 166; schedules for records unique to an agency are issued individually. The unit operates the
Security Copy Depository, which provides storage and retrieval services for state and local agency security microfilm. The unit also provides training in records management.
State Records Center
The
State Records Center stores inactive records of state agencies until they may be destroyed. Employees shelve, retrieve
and re-file records as requested by depositing agencies, and destroy records that have met retention requirements. Records are stored in cardboard containers and shelved on units 13
feet high, which achieves great economies of scale by increasing the density of storage space.
Consult the Oregon Blue Book or the Oregon Administrative Rules chapter 166 for more information about the duties and responsibilities of the Oregon State Archives.
Also see
Services in the Reference Room.