Which of the following is a step in developing a records management program?

• A. Determining how records are created (manual and computer).
• B. Determining where records will be stored.
• C. Developing time frames with deadlines.
• D. Establishing a system for archiving records.

Answer: (D)

In developing a records management program, setting up a system for archiving records addresses how records are kept long-term, moved out of active use, and still retrieved when needed. Archiving establishes the rules, methods, and locations for preserving older records according to retention requirements, which is essential for legal compliance, historical preservation, and efficient active filing.

Why this fits best: archiving is the mechanism that ensures ongoing preservation beyond day-to-day operations, tying into retention schedules and disposition plans to determine what should be kept and how long.

The other options describe parts of records handling that occur earlier in the records life cycle or deal with storage and timing without establishing the long-term preservation framework. For example, determining how records are created relates to record creation processes; deciding where records will be stored concerns current storage logistics; and developing time frames with deadlines touches on retention and timelines but does not specify the method for long-term preservation and retrieval through an archiving system.