This study is intended primarily to assist administrative officials and those responsible for administrative and management services in United Nations agencies, as well as similar officials in other international and regional organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, in the establishment and development of modern records management and archival systems and services that will help meet the particular record and information needs of their institutions, while at the same time providing essential services on a sound professional basis. The study is based largely on responses to a questionnaire which was sent in 1981 to 32 United Nations agencies to gain better insight into their organizational status, procedures, and problems. The report is divided into six chapters: (1) Introduction; (2) General Requirements for an Effective Records Management and Archives Program; (3) Managing the Life Cycle of Records and Archives; (4) Control, Appraisal and Disposal of Records; (5) Administration of Modern Archives; and (6) Guidelines. The current situation is described, problems and alternative solutions are discussed, and a number of specific conclusions are made for each topic addressed in chapters 2-5. The guidelines in the final chapter summarize the conclusions under each of the foregoing topics. The six appendices and five figures include examples of directives and forms used in various agencies. A three-page bibliography and an index are also included. (DMC)