What is a temporary record?

A temporary record is defined as a type of record that holds insufficient value for national preservation. This means that while these records may provide useful information for a certain period, they are not deemed important enough to warrant permanent retention in the national archives or similar repositories.

Temporary records often include documents that are necessary for everyday operational functions but do not contribute to the historical, legal, or research value that permanent records might possess. Once their usefulness has expired, these records are typically destroyed or disposed of according to established guidelines, making their management a critical aspect of effective records management practices.

On the other hand, records with enduring historical significance are classified as permanent and require a different approach to management. Records that must be kept permanently are also not considered temporary, and those designated for immediate destruction would not be classified as temporary records, since temporary records require a certain period of retention before they can be destroyed.