Many thanks to the people who responded to my question about Freedom of
Information and Data Protection with regard to closure periods. Here is a
brief summary.
There are various approaches being taken by different offices:
Catalogued material
Some offices are surveying all their catalogued material to reconsider
closure periods taking DP and FOI into account.
Catalogued material is regarded as published, so exempt.
Uncatalogued material
Regarded as due to be published, therefore exempt.
Requests for access to uncatalogued material will be dealt with on case by
case basis.
Additional staff to prepare detailed box lists of uncatalogued material so
that collections are ‘reasonably accessible’, with a view to cataloguing
fully at a later date.
Use of a confidentiality clause in agreement with depositors but not sure
if this will work
Flowchart and guidance for searchroom staff
Varying attitudes as to how acceptable reference of enquiries to paid
researchers will be.
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