Which item qualifies as a local government record under the definition?

• A. A personal diary of a private citizen
• B. A map created by the city planning department
• C. A photo album stored at a private residence
• D. A private memo unrelated to government business

Answer: (B)

Records are documents created or received by a local government in the course of its official business and kept as part of the agency’s files. A map created by the city planning department fits this definition because it is produced by the government for its planning function and is maintained as part of the city’s official records. The other items are private materials not produced or kept by the government for its official duties—a private diary, a private photo album, and a private memo unrelated to government business—so they do not qualify as local government records. (Note: if a private item were created or kept by the government in the course of official work, it could become a government record, but that isn’t the case here.)