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Preface

To assist in meeting the needs of Member States, particularly developing countries, in the specialized areas of archives administration and records management, the Division of the General Information Programme of UNESCO has developed a long-term Records and Archives Management Programme (RAMP).

RAMP's basic principles reflect the main themes of the General Information Programme. Its chief objectives are as follows:

• make clear the importance of the administrative records and archives of Member States as basic sources of information;
• assist Member States, at their request, in establishing and developing management systems and services essential for the efficient use of records and archives;
• promote the development and spread of archival know-how by training of specialists in this field.

The activities of the Records and Archives Management Programme focus on the development of archives infrastructure, training, the protection of archives, promotion of the development and use of modern information techniques, and the promotion of archives research.

This study was prepared under contract with the International Council on Archives (ICA). Its purpose is to assist in the preparation of a standard handbook of directives for government agencies to help them establish appropriate records management programmes. The study contains a select bibliography.

Any comments and suggestions concerning this study should be addressed to the Division of the General Information Programme, UNESCO, 7 place de Fontenoy, 75700 Paris. Other RAMP studies can be obtained from the same address.

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