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