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Department of Records and Information Services
Established in 1977, the Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) preserves and provides public access to the historical and contemporary records of New York City government. It operates the Municipal Archives, the Municipal Library (founded in 1913), and the Records Center, maintaining collections that range from birth, death, and marriage records to historical maps, ledgers, and images dating back to 1645.
What's working
- On average, what is the time between records disposal eligibility and application sent to Law Department?: 0.6 months — decreased back down to 0.6 months in FY25 after DORIS streamlined processing following a 350% surge in disposal volume
- How long does it take to Law Department to approve records disposal application?: 2.4 months — increasing as DORIS's own disposal volume surged, overloading downstream review
- How many records were digitized?: 4,077,000 records — increasing, largely due to a one-time grant-funded census digitization project
- and 4 more below
What's getting worse
- How long does it take to respond to vital record requests?: 10.7 days — decreasing overall, despite a temporary rise from a staff reassignment
- How many preservation actions were performed?: 7,594 actions — decreasing as a grant-funded conservation project wound down
Critical indicators
With a numeric target
How long does it take to respond to agency requests for stored records?
1.7 daysBeats target by 0.3 days
How long does it take to respond to agency requests for stored records?
1.7 daysBeats target by 0.3 days
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 1 day | 2 days |
| FY23 | 1.4 days | 2 days |
| FY24 | 1.5 days | 2 days |
| FY25 | 1.5 days | 2 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 1.7 days | 2 days |
1.7 days in FY26 — met the City's own target for this indicator (0.3 days below the 2 days target), though it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
DORIS's Records Management Division operates off-site storage facilities holding roughly 1 million cubic feet of active physical records on behalf of New York City agencies, courts, and district attorneys' offices. When one of these offices needs a stored file, DORIS retrieves it from the warehouse and makes it available for pickup, with performance tracked by how many requests are fulfilled within 48 hours. It is an unglamorous but load-bearing function: courts and prosecutors' offices cannot operate without timely access to their own case records.
NYC Department of Records - About, DORIS Mayor's Management Report Indicator Definitions
On average, what is the time between records disposal eligibility and application sent to Law Department?
0.6 months — decreased back down to 0.6 months in FY25 after DORIS streamlined processing following a 350% surge in disposal volumeBeats target by 1.4 months
On average, what is the time between records disposal eligibility and application sent to Law Department?
0.6 months — decreased back down to 0.6 months in FY25 after DORIS streamlined processing following a 350% surge in disposal volumeBeats target by 1.4 months
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 0.2 months | 2 months |
| FY23 | 0.7 months | 2 months |
| FY24 | 1.3 months | 2 months |
| FY25 | 0.6 months | 2 months |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 2 months |
This step of the records-disposal process got slower in fiscal 2024 (up to 1.3 months) largely as a side effect of DORIS's own success: the agency sharply ramped up the volume of records it was disposing of that year — up 350% — as part of an effort to reduce storage costs, and processing that much larger volume took client agencies longer on average. DORIS says continued streamlining brought the time back down to 0.6 months in fiscal 2025.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DORIS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DORIS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
DORIS's Records Management Division operates off-site storage facilities holding roughly 1 million cubic feet of active physical records on behalf of New York City agencies, courts, and district attorneys' offices. When one of these offices needs a stored file, DORIS retrieves it from the warehouse and makes it available for pickup, with performance tracked by how many requests are fulfilled within 48 hours. It is an unglamorous but load-bearing function: courts and prosecutors' offices cannot operate without timely access to their own case records.
NYC Department of Records - About, DORIS Mayor's Management Report Indicator Definitions
How long does it take to Law Department to approve records disposal application?
2.4 months — increasing as DORIS's own disposal volume surged, overloading downstream reviewBeats target by 0.6 months
How long does it take to Law Department to approve records disposal application?
2.4 months — increasing as DORIS's own disposal volume surged, overloading downstream reviewBeats target by 0.6 months
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | Not available | 3 months |
| FY23 | 1.3 months | 3 months |
| FY24 | 3.7 months | 3 months |
| FY25 | 2.1 months | 3 months |
| FY26 (YTD) | 2.4 months | 3 months |
The Law Department's average time to approve a records-disposal application nearly tripled in fiscal 2024, to 3.7 months, which DORIS attributes to a side effect of its own disposal-streamlining push: the volume of records DORIS sent for disposal jumped 350% that year, and processing that much larger caseload took the Law Department longer. The figure eased to 2.1 months in fiscal 2025, though DORIS's more recent reporting shows it climbing again as disposal volumes keep growing.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DORIS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DORIS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
DORIS's Records Management Division operates off-site storage facilities holding roughly 1 million cubic feet of active physical records on behalf of New York City agencies, courts, and district attorneys' offices. When one of these offices needs a stored file, DORIS retrieves it from the warehouse and makes it available for pickup, with performance tracked by how many requests are fulfilled within 48 hours. It is an unglamorous but load-bearing function: courts and prosecutors' offices cannot operate without timely access to their own case records.
NYC Department of Records - About, DORIS Mayor's Management Report Indicator Definitions
What percent of vital record requests responded to within 12 business days?
82% — increasing overall, despite a dip from a temporary staff reassignmentBeats target by 7%
What percent of vital record requests responded to within 12 business days?
82% — increasing overall, despite a dip from a temporary staff reassignmentBeats target by 7%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 46% | 60% |
| FY23 | 77% | 60% |
| FY24 | 91% | 75% |
| FY25 | 74% | 75% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 82% | 75% |
The share of vital record requests answered within 12 business days jumped from 46% to 91% between fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2024, which DORIS credits to its Historical Vital Records online platform reducing demand for staff-processed copy requests. Performance then dipped to 74% in fiscal 2025 after a staff member in the vital-records unit was temporarily reassigned to cover a vacancy elsewhere in the agency; DORIS said it expected the reassigned staffer to return in fiscal 2026, and performance did partly recover, to 82%.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DORIS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DORIS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
The push for a central city archive dates to 1939, when Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia's Municipal Archives Committee, led by librarian Rebecca Rankin, proposed consolidating city records into one properly maintained facility. DORIS itself was formally established in 1977 and now operates the Municipal Archives, Municipal Library, and Records Center. The Municipal Archives alone holds over 200,000 cubic feet of original documents, photographs, ledgers, maps, and moving images documenting New York City's government and history, material that would otherwise be vulnerable to loss, damage, or simply becoming inaccessible to researchers, journalists, and the public.
NYC Department of Records - About, Municipal Archives - the Institutional History, New York City Department of Records and Information Services - Wikipedia
How long does it take to respond to vital record requests?
10.7 days — decreasing overall, despite a temporary rise from a staff reassignmentMisses target by 0.7 days
How long does it take to respond to vital record requests?
10.7 days — decreasing overall, despite a temporary rise from a staff reassignmentMisses target by 0.7 days
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 24.8 days | 12 days |
| FY23 | 10.7 days | 12 days |
| FY24 | 6.9 days | 10 days |
| FY25 | 12.9 days | 10 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 10.7 days | 10 days |
The average time to respond to a vital record request fell sharply through fiscal 2024 (to 6.9 days) as DORIS's online Historical Vital Records platform let most customers get copies without submitting a staff-processed request. It then rose again in fiscal 2025 (to 12.9 days) after a staff member in the vital-records unit was temporarily moved to cover an administrative vacancy; DORIS expected the reassigned worker to return in fiscal 2026, and response time did improve back to 10.7 days that year.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DORIS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DORIS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
The push for a central city archive dates to 1939, when Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia's Municipal Archives Committee, led by librarian Rebecca Rankin, proposed consolidating city records into one properly maintained facility. DORIS itself was formally established in 1977 and now operates the Municipal Archives, Municipal Library, and Records Center. The Municipal Archives alone holds over 200,000 cubic feet of original documents, photographs, ledgers, maps, and moving images documenting New York City's government and history, material that would otherwise be vulnerable to loss, damage, or simply becoming inaccessible to researchers, journalists, and the public.
NYC Department of Records - About, Municipal Archives - the Institutional History, New York City Department of Records and Information Services - Wikipedia
How long does it take to respond to historical photo requests?
6.6 days — decreasing overall, despite recent increases tied to staffing and higher demandBeats target by 5.4 days
How long does it take to respond to historical photo requests?
6.6 days — decreasing overall, despite recent increases tied to staffing and higher demandBeats target by 5.4 days
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 5.4 days | 15 days |
| FY23 | 5.4 days | 15 days |
| FY24 | 2 days | 12 days |
| FY25 | 4.4 days | 12 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 6.6 days | 12 days |
The average time to respond to historical photo requests fell to 2 days in fiscal 2024 thanks to streamlined processing procedures, then more than doubled in fiscal 2025 after DORIS temporarily reassigned a staffer from the vital-record and photo unit to cover a vacancy elsewhere. It kept rising into fiscal 2026, which DORIS attributes to a roughly 30% jump in the volume of photo requests received rather than a return of the earlier staffing issue.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DORIS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DORIS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, DORIS, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
The push for a central city archive dates to 1939, when Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia's Municipal Archives Committee, led by librarian Rebecca Rankin, proposed consolidating city records into one properly maintained facility. DORIS itself was formally established in 1977 and now operates the Municipal Archives, Municipal Library, and Records Center. The Municipal Archives alone holds over 200,000 cubic feet of original documents, photographs, ledgers, maps, and moving images documenting New York City's government and history, material that would otherwise be vulnerable to loss, damage, or simply becoming inaccessible to researchers, journalists, and the public.
NYC Department of Records - About, Municipal Archives - the Institutional History, New York City Department of Records and Information Services - Wikipedia
Without a numeric target
What percent of storage capacity available for new accessions in Municipal Records Center?
21%
What percent of storage capacity available for new accessions in Municipal Records Center?
21%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 19% |
| FY23 | 19% |
| FY24 | 19% |
| FY25 | 21% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 21% |
21% in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
DORIS's Records Management Division operates off-site storage facilities holding roughly 1 million cubic feet of active physical records on behalf of New York City agencies, courts, and district attorneys' offices. When one of these offices needs a stored file, DORIS retrieves it from the warehouse and makes it available for pickup, with performance tracked by how many requests are fulfilled within 48 hours. It is an unglamorous but load-bearing function: courts and prosecutors' offices cannot operate without timely access to their own case records.
NYC Department of Records - About, DORIS Mayor's Management Report Indicator Definitions
How many records were digitized?
4,077,000 records — increasing, largely due to a one-time grant-funded census digitization project
How many records were digitized?
4,077,000 records — increasing, largely due to a one-time grant-funded census digitization project
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above. The dashed marker projects a full-year estimate at the current year-to-date pace.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 187,329,000 records | 1,000,000,000 records |
| FY23 | 126,505,000 records | 1,000,000,000 records |
| FY24 | 103,499,000 records | 1,000,000,000 records |
| FY25 | 457,846,000 records | Not available |
| FY26 (YTD) | 4,077,000 records | Not available |
| FY26 (projected) | ~5,436,000 records |
Records digitized swung dramatically because of staffing and a one-time project, according to DORIS's own reporting: digitization staff were temporarily reassigned in fiscal 2024 to prepare collection descriptions for a new digital-preservation platform, which held output down that year; fiscal 2025's huge jump reflects those staff returning to digitization work plus completion of a grant-funded project to digitize the 1890 census. Once that temporary project wrapped up, output dropped sharply again in early fiscal 2026.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DORIS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, DORIS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DORIS, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
The push for a central city archive dates to 1939, when Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia's Municipal Archives Committee, led by librarian Rebecca Rankin, proposed consolidating city records into one properly maintained facility. DORIS itself was formally established in 1977 and now operates the Municipal Archives, Municipal Library, and Records Center. The Municipal Archives alone holds over 200,000 cubic feet of original documents, photographs, ledgers, maps, and moving images documenting New York City's government and history, material that would otherwise be vulnerable to loss, damage, or simply becoming inaccessible to researchers, journalists, and the public.
NYC Department of Records - About, Municipal Archives - the Institutional History, New York City Department of Records and Information Services - Wikipedia
How many preservation actions were performed?
7,594 actions — decreasing as a grant-funded conservation project wound down
How many preservation actions were performed?
7,594 actions — decreasing as a grant-funded conservation project wound down
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above. The dashed marker projects a full-year estimate at the current year-to-date pace.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 8,145 actions |
| FY23 | 20,262 actions |
| FY24 | 17,151 actions |
| FY25 | 12,497 actions |
| FY26 (YTD) | 7,594 actions |
| FY26 (projected) | ~10,125 actions |
DORIS's preservation-action count has largely tracked a grant-funded conservation project for the Brooklyn Bridge Drawings collection. Activity was elevated while that project and related work (like the Manhattan Building Plans collection) ramped up around fiscal 2023, then declined as unanticipated staff absences hit fiscal 2024 and the Brooklyn Bridge conservator's contract ended in December 2024, cutting into fiscal 2025 output; DORIS's fiscal 2026 reporting shows a further drop tied to that temporary project's completion.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DORIS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DORIS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, DORIS, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
The push for a central city archive dates to 1939, when Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia's Municipal Archives Committee, led by librarian Rebecca Rankin, proposed consolidating city records into one properly maintained facility. DORIS itself was formally established in 1977 and now operates the Municipal Archives, Municipal Library, and Records Center. The Municipal Archives alone holds over 200,000 cubic feet of original documents, photographs, ledgers, maps, and moving images documenting New York City's government and history, material that would otherwise be vulnerable to loss, damage, or simply becoming inaccessible to researchers, journalists, and the public.
NYC Department of Records - About, Municipal Archives - the Institutional History, New York City Department of Records and Information Services - Wikipedia