The issue you raise has serious legal implications. I would suggest two
Society of American Archivist publications.
"Constitutional Issues and Archives" and "Archives & Manuscripts: Law"
Both are listed in their 1996 publications catalog. They can be reached
at 312-922-0140 or by email at [log in to unmask]
I would also suggest that you cnotact your organiztions legal counsel.
The issue of confidentialty does not end with the people involved, often
their ancestors can become upset about personal information.

Barbara Lilley
New York State Library


On Sun, 4 Aug 1996, Miriam B Albahari wrote:

> Hi everyone -
> We have just received a donation of files and correspondence regarding
> someone's involvement with an arbitration and mediation board.  Some of
> the files are quite recent, and include fairly personal information about
> members of the community.  At the request of the donor, and due to our
> own sensitivities to the confidential nature of the material, I have been
> asked to draft a research access policy for this collection and similar
> materials.  Any suggestions?  Does it make more sense to base
> restrictions on a certain number of years from the time of donation, or
> when a particular case was closed, or some other benchmark?   Any advice
> would be welcome, although flaming is not.  (Tempers around here lately
> have made me hesitant to write, but I'll give it another try.)
>
> Miriam
>
> _________________________________________
>
> Miriam Albahari
> [log in to unmask]
>
> "Miracles sometimes occur, but one has to work terribly hard for them."
>                                                 -Chaim Weizmann
>