AC 06.2025
Date: October 18, 2024
Memorandum to Federal Records Management Contacts: Publication of Regulation Updates to 36 CFR 1236 Subpart D
NARA has amended the regulations at 36 CFR 1236 Subpart D - Digitizing Temporary Federal Records concerning requirements for digitization of temporary records. These updated regulations went into effect on August 28th, 90 days after publication in the Federal Register.
We are updating existing regulations in 36 CFR 1236 subpart D to update citations to the applicable GRS and to align with language in 36 CFR 1236 subpart E - Digitizing Permanent Records. Specifically:
- In § 1236.36, NARA replaced the citation to GRS 5.2 with GRS 4.5. In June 2023, NARA introduced General Records Schedule (GRS) 4.5 -Digitizing Records, which covers source records that have been digitized and documentation related to digitization projects and processes. This update to § 1236.36 ensures agencies have clear guidelines for managing and disposing of temporary records that have been digitized.
- NARA has added specific guidance in § 1236.30 to ensure that agencies manage temporary digitized records in alignment with the requirements in 36 CFR 1236 subparts A, B, and C.
- NARA harmonized the language used in 36 CFR 1236 subpart D with 36 CFR 1236 subpart E to clarify when agencies may dispose of scheduled source records.
- To ensure consistency with 36 CFR 1236 subpart E, NARA removed the word "original" from the term "original source records." This change ensures that the term "source records" accurately reflects the records that underwent digitization and validation.
If you have questions about this bulletin, please direct them to rmstandards@nara.gov.
William Fischer
Chief Records Officer
for the U.S. Government (Acting)