Public records

A public record is something that documents the organization, policies, functions, decisions, procedures, or other activities of a public office. This includes records kept by the state, counties, cities, villages, townships, school districts, and other entities that perform a public service and are supported by public funds. In addition, nonprofit agencies are required to keep and disclose records of expenditures they make in providing services with governmental monies.

The definition of a public record should change with time.  As technology advances, new methods of communication must be preserved as records.  The most recent examples are emails and text messages.