PRESERVATION OF ASSOCIATION RECORDS

1. Depository

Current business records of the Association are on file with the Executive Director, Montana Library Association, 510 Arbor, Missoula MT 59802. Association records of historical value are regularly deposited with the Montana Historical Society Library and Archives, 225 N. Roberts Street, Helena MT 59620-1201.

2. Preservation of Materials.

1. Papers, documents and records relating to the activities and history of the Association are to be retained according to the following guidelines:

Record	Retention Period
Constitution and bylaws	Permanent
Minutes and proceeding	Permanent
Lists of officers and members	Permanent
Publications (One record copy of all programs, journal, monographs, newsletters, brochures, posters and announcements)	Permanent
Ledgers and journals	Permanent
Audit Reports	Permanent
Applications filed with regulatory agencies	Permanent
Annual Reports	Permanent
Checks and bank statements	9 years
Vouchers, cash and numerical copy	9 years
Claims, closed, against the Association	7 years
Correspondence and memoranda of historical interest	Permanent

2. Records which do not meet the above criteria and which should not be retained include, for example:
• Records of specific financial and membership transactions
• Letters of transmittal where the date and routing information is on the document transmitted
• Requests for publication or information after the requests have been filled
• All bank forms and unused printed or duplicated materials
• All duplicate copies
• Papers, reports, work papers and drafts which have been published elsewhere
• Replies to questionnaires if the results are recorded and preserved either in the archives or in a published report

3. Procedures.

1. The Executive Director is charged with the responsibility of obtaining file and archival material from the officers of the Association, chairs of divisions and committees, and others shortly before or immediately following the annual conference. In consultation with the Executive Committee, the Executive Director is responsible for periodically weeding the current files of unnecessary material according to the guidelines stated in Section 2 and for evaluating material for inclusion in the archives at the Historical Society.
2. All materials to be included in the files or archives should be clearly identified and dated.
3. The chair of each division and committee is responsible for insuring that the records of the division or committee are forwarded to the Executive Director for inclusion in the files or archives.
4. The Secretary-Treasurer is responsible for insuring that the financial records of the Association are properly filed preserved.