Delaware Code Title 29 Sec. 503 – Duties of Delaware Public Archives concerning public records
(a) The Delaware Public Archives shall be responsible for establishing and enforcing the policies and guidelines for the management and preservation of all public records of this State and the political subdivisions thereof.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 29 Sec. 503
- State: means the State of Delaware; and when applied to different parts of the United States, it includes the District of Columbia and the several territories and possessions of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
- Vital records: means those records which contain information required for government to continue functioning during a disaster, protect the rights of Delaware citizens and document the obligations of Delaware government, and reestablish operations after a calamity has ended. See Delaware Code Title 29 Sec. 502
(b) The Delaware Public Archives shall have the power, duty and authority to:
(1) Establish and administer an archives and records management program for the application of efficient and economical methods to the creation, utilization, maintenance, retention, preservation and disposal of public records.
(2) Analyze, develop, establish and coordinate standards, procedures and techniques of recordmaking and recordkeeping.
(3) Preserve and administer in the Delaware Public Archives such records as may be transferred into its custody, carefully protecting such materials, and filing, classifying and cataloguing them for use. Provided, that any materials placed in the keeping of the Delaware Public Archives under special terms or conditions restricting their use shall be made accessible only in accordance with such terms or conditions.
(4) Initiate appropriate action to recover records removed unlawfully or without authorization.
(5) Establish a centralized micrographics and document imaging program for the benefit of all agencies, at the full cost of such goods and services, in accordance with § 6531 of this title.
(6) Institute and maintain a training and information program in records and information management to bring approved and current practices, methods, procedures and devices for the efficient and economical management of records to the attention of all agencies and political subdivisions.
(7) Establish and maintain a program in cooperation with state agencies and the political subdivisions of this State for the selection and preservation of vital records, or those records which are considered essential to the continuing operation of government and to the protection of the rights and privileges of citizens.
(8) Promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(9) Adopt a seal of office for the purpose of certifying copies of public records.