Our Mission

We are committed to providing our members, and the wider information profession, services and opportunities to support their continuing professional journey and to enhance their skills and knowledge in a safe and supportive community, which welcomes people at all levels of professional experience, from students to Members to Fellows and those with a general interest in the information profession. 

Our Values

IRMS members uphold the values of accountability, integrity, trustworthiness, honesty and transparency at our workplace and other professional roles we have.

We strive to act in an ethical and respectful manner, taking full responsibility for our decisions in the profession and ensuring transparency, sustainability and fairness in all our actions. 

What is information and records management?

Information and records management (also referred to as 'records management') is the collective term for the procedures by which an organisation manages, controls and uses its information assets. It covers information and records in all media and relates to how information is gathered, processed, stored, accessed, used, shared and, ultimately, when and how it is either permanently preserved or destroyed. Information governance is a facet of information and records management, as are business processes improvement and knowledge management.

What is the Information and Records Management Society?

The Information and Records Management Society is the foremost professional association for all information professionals, regardless of their professional or organisational status or qualifications. 

Formed in 1983 as the Records Management Society (RMS) with a clear commitment to inclusivity across the profession, the IRMS now has over 1000 members from the UK and around the world who span the public, private and third sectors.

In 2021 the IRMS changed to become a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales (registration number 12914034). This was one of the first steps on our journey to becoming a registered Charity. The IRMS' full legal name then became the 'Information and Records Management Society Limited'. 

Membership of the Society is open to all and its membership rates are deliberately designed to be accessible to all.