Your Vote Counts!

The ICRM liaison typically acts as a guide and mentor for CRM candidates.  I look forward to continuing in this role.  I would like to add another dimension to my duties - and that is offering news and assistance to current CRMs who are often just as engaged in the CRM process, adding maintenance credits and keeping abreast of ICRM news.  In this forum I will occasionally address current CRMs and CRAs directly (and, in fact, have done a little bit of that already!).

So, for today, this:  please vote for your ICRM board members!  The election is now active, and if you are a CRM in good standing you would have received an email (on or around August 7th) which outlines the actions you need to take to vote.  Have a look at the candidates (a lot of information is provided) and be a part of the future direction of the Institute of Certified Records Managers by casting your votes.

In the meantime - I've been given one exam to mark for the August writing... to those of you waiting for that mark and potentially the official credential - good luck!!

Wayne Hoff, CRM, IGP
ARMA Calgary ICRM Liaison
icrmrep@armacalgary.org

Books and more books!

I get asked by a lot of people who are curious about the CRM designation, "Where do I buy the textbook?"  They've hunted for it online and can't find anything.

Of course, there is no textbook for the CRM.  Or rather, EVERYTHING is the text book!  It is up to the candidate to review the list of study topics for each exam and fill in the areas they're not so strong on with their own study.  That means finding books, magazine articles, blog posts, webinars, conference sessions, chapter events, lunch & learns, and conversations with experienced practitioners, and then soaking it up.  It's not as daunting as it looks - it just takes a bit of time, and the bonus is that learning it is enjoyable and even exciting.

I have a whole library of records management and information government books.  (Okay, maybe not a whole library, but quite a few all the same.)  They're some of the classic study materials and include many of the recommended resources listed by the ICRM on their website.  Some offerings:

• Winning Strategies for Successful Records Management Programs (Langemo, 2002)
• Records and Information Management: Fundamentals of Professional Practice (Saffady, 2011)
• Records Management for Dummies (Richardson, 2012)
• Micrographics: Technology for the 21st Century (Saffady, 2000)
• Records Management:  Making the Transition from Paper to Electronic (Stephens, 2010)
• Information and Records Management:  Document Based Information Systems (Robek, Brown, & Stephens, 1995)
• Barron’s Business Guides:  Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms (Downing et all, 2013)
• Records Management (Read & Ginn, 2007)
• Digital Document Management (Saffady, 2007)

Give me a shout to sign a book out.  Or to ask any questions.

A question to both CRA/CRM candidates and existing CRA/CRMs - what study resources did you find most helpful?  Share them with us all in the comments.

Happy studying.

Wayne Hoff, CRM, IGP
ARMA Calgary ICRM Liaison
icrmrep@armacalgary.org