Usually I write about something from Mount Sinai's past. I try to show its relevance to the present day, but it is still looking back. Today I want to tell you a little about a very forward-looking program in which the Archives Division of the Library is involved, and that is rolling out a records and information management program for The Mount Sinai Medical Center. We have hired our first ever professional Records Manager, Miriam Gianni, and she is working with our Records Consultant, Dr. William Saffady. They are visiting offices around the Medical Center, to see what records are created and stored. From those interviews they will draft retention schedules of how long records need to be kept. At the end of that process, departments will be able to actively manage the records they create and be able to more easily find the information they need when they need it. In other words: throw things away, free up office space, become more information efficient. An ancillary but important gain from this initiative in the future will be allowing the institution to finally tame the off-site storage tiger that costs us thousands and thousands of dollars every year. Each department is appointing a records coordinator to work with our Records Manager. Maybe you will see Miriam and Bill in your area soon.

