Ensuring the appropriate preservation and disposition of University records is a shared responsibility. Special Collections and University Archives provides professional guidance and expertise in assuming custody of historical records no longer needed in University offices, and in providing access to users. University offices that create and maintain records are responsible for their preservation and security during their retention period, determining when they are no longer needed on-site, and providing essential information on their contents and uses to support appraisal and access.
When a university office believes it may have records of permanent historical value to transfer to the University Archives, the first step in the process is to contact the archives. The Community and University Archivist will discuss with you the type and quantity of records to be transferred. Arrangements can often be made via phone or email, or it may be necessary for the archivist to visit your office to review the records. Do not send records to the archives without first consulting the archivist. Records transferred to the Archives will always be available to the depositing office.
Review the University of Nevada, Reno Retention Schedule and our collection policy to determine which records should be kept by your office and which should be transferred to the archives.
Transfer of physical materials
When the department and the archives have agreed on what records are to be transferred, prepare them for transfer:
- Request archival records boxes from the archives.
- Pack the records and their original file folders into the boxes in the same order in which they were maintained in your office. It is important to transfer the file folders to the Archives with the records. Both legal and letter size files can be packed in the same type of record-storage box. When packing records into boxes leave two or three inches of space in each box so that files may be removed and refiled more easily.
- In order to provide for a close accounting and to retain the proper order of a multi-box transfer it is important to label each box, in pencil, with the office name and the box number (i.e. ENGLISH DEPARTMENT, Box 1 of 5, Box 2 of 5, etc).
- A complete inventory of the contents of each box of the records to be transferred should be created in Microsoft Word or in plain text, and the data transferred to the Archives on a disk.
- When all preparations have been completed for transferring the records, fill out a Facilities Services Department work order form for pick-up and delivery of the records to the Archives. Notify the Archives that the material has been sent.
- An Acknowledgement of Transfer form will be completed by the Archives and sent to the depositing office for signature. This form includes a general description of the records being deposited and transfers administrative custody of the records from the originating office to the University Archives. Records transferred to the Archives will always be available to the depositing office.
View Facilities Department Work Order Form
Transfer of digital materials
- For guidelines to prepare electronic records for a transfer, please contact Special Collections and University Archives.