Final answer:
The two types of disposition of federal records are permanent retention for records with enduring value, and temporary retention for records with limited time relevance. Both can be archived as hardcopy or electronically.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two types of disposition of federal records are generally understood as permanent retention and temporary retention.
Permanent retention refers to records that have been determined to have enduring historical or informational value and are thus retained indefinitely. These records may include those from the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, and U.S. District Courts, published in resources like the Federal Reporter and Federal Supplement. On the other hand, temporary retention refers to records that are kept for a specific period as determined by their relevance and usefulness, after which they are destroyed or deleted.
The process of managing these records often involves archiving, which can be in the form of a (a) hardcopy, such as paper files, or (b) electronically stored data.
A researcher doing archival research like shown in FIGURE 2.10 may encounter both types. Hardcopy records are physical documents that are often stored in archives, libraries, or records centers. Electronic records are digital files saved on electronic media, which can be accessed through computers.