DoD standard 5015.2 embodies the legal and logical requirements that are applicable to all U.S. federal agencies with respect to records management. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has endorsed the standard for use by all agencies. DoD is certifying COTS products that meet the standard. The standard, NARA's endorsement, and the register of certified products are at http://jitc.fhu.disa.mil/recmgt/
If agencies choose not to use a certified E-records management system, it is fair to ask: Which provisions of law do they intend to violate? If the answer is none, the question is: Why do they insist upon violating Raines' Rules and wasting the taxpayers' money reinventing the standard?
In the context of electronic information systems, the terms "management" and "metadata" are virtually synonymous. eXtensible Markup Language is a powerful new enabler for the capture and use of records management metadata. How the potential of XML can be applied to enhance the 5015.2 standard will be the topic of the September 19, 2001, meeting of the XML Working Group. The draft agenda is at http://xml.gov/agenda_20010919.htm
