Records Continuum
A model that views recordkeeping as a continuous, integrated process rather than a series of separate lifecycle stages, emphasizing that records serve current and future purposes simultaneously.
The records continuum is a conceptual model of recordkeeping, developed in Australia, that offers an alternative to the traditional records lifecycle. Where the lifecycle model sees a record passing through distinct, sequential phases (creation → active use → inactive → disposition), the continuum model views recordkeeping as a continuous, integrated whole in which a record can serve operational, regulatory, and archival purposes at the same time.
In practice, the continuum emphasizes designing recordkeeping so that records are captured as trustworthy evidence from the moment of creation, with archival and accountability needs considered up front rather than handled later as a separate “archives” stage. The two models are complementary lenses: the lifecycle is intuitive for managing retention and disposition; the continuum stresses integration and the enduring evidential value of records.