Analog: Information or data that is not digital.

Archives: The division within an organization responsible for acquiring and maintaining the organization’s records of continuing value.

Born-digital: Originated in a computer/digital environment.

Digitized Record: A record that has its information transformed from analog into digital form. Records can be digitized by scanning, photography or via converting analog audiovisual data into digital audiovisual data (bits).

Disposition: Materials’ final destruction or transfer to an archives as determined by their appraisal. See also: Retention.

Electronic Record: Data or information that is created electronically and requires the use of a technology/automated computer system to render it intelligible by a person.

Historical/Enduring/Continuing Value: The importance or usefulness of records based on the information they contain that justifies their permanent or continued preservation.

Non-current Records: Inactive records; records no longer used in the day-to-day course of business, but which are preserved and occasionally used for legal, historical, or operational purposes. 

Official Record: A complete, final, and authorized copy of a record.

Record Series: A group of similar records that are arranged according to a filing system and that are related as the result of being created, received, or used in the same activity.  

Restrictions: Limitations on access to or use of materials. This may be defined by a period of time or by a class of individual allowed or denied access. 

Retention: The length of time records should be kept in a certain location or form for administrative, legal, fiscal, historical, or other purposes. 

Retention Schedule: A document that identifies and describes an organization’s records, usually by series, and provides instructions for the disposition of records throughout their life cycle.

Sensitive Information: Personal or confidential information that should be protected from public scrutiny; information that may be sensitive because of legal, financial, or personal considerations; that may be potentially embarrassing and that individuals may expect to be kept private.

Transfer Agreement: Document describing the process of moving records as part of their scheduled disposition, especially from office to a records center, or from a records center to an archives. 

Vital Records: Emergency operation records immediately necessary to begin recovery of business after a disaster.

* Source: SAA Dictionary of Archives Terminology.