HER/SMR Manual: Informing the Future of the Past, A manual for SMRs was published in 2000 by ALGAO, English Heritage and the Archaeology Data Service to provide a set of working guidelines appropriate to all SMRs, and for all staff, volunteers and students involved in managing, running or supporting an SMR. The revised edition (2007) has been produced by a collaboration between English Heritage, Historic Scotland, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW), the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers UK (ALGAO UK) and the Archaeology Data Service (ADS). It constitutes a major revision and expansion to take into account developments in record systems, both technical and working practices, and to widen the scope to fully encompass Scotland and Wales.

The manual offers an overview of the standards, services and systems that are already in place in HERs and shares ideas about best working practices in the HERs of today with case studies illustrating recording practices and model procedure, aimed at provide a platform for training and continuous professional development for HER staff.

The Second Edition is available as a web based document www.ifp-plus.info. PDF versions of each section can be printed out or downloaded from the website.