Up to 2004, East Lothian Council had no Records Manager/Archivist in place. Following the recommendations of the Chief Executive’s Management Team on 15 January of that year, endorsed by Council on 10 February 2004, it was agreed to proceed with the appointment of a Records Manager/Senior Archivist and of an Archivist.

The Records Manager has drawn up an Archiving Policy, and an archive store has been established at the Library and Museum Headquarters in Dunbar Road, Haddington. Each of the Council’s Departments has been allocated space and is responsible for the management of their own records. There are no staff on site and no public access. As the number of records have grown, storage areas in other Council properties have also been established

Some archival materials of historical significance are deposited with the Library Service and held in the Museum/Archive store at the Library and Museum Headquarters. This store has temperature and humidity controls.

Pre 1974 records are currently in the keeping of the National Archives of Scotland, but the Council has a manifesto commitment to return the pre-1974 records to East Lothian. They will be housed in the proposed new Haddington Cultural Centre.