W. Va. Code § 5A-8-2: Declaration of policy.

The Legislature declares that programs for the efficient and economical management of state and local records will promote economy and efficiency in the day-to-day record-keeping activities of state and local government and will facilitate and expedite government operations; that records containing information essential to the operation of government and to the protection of the rights and interests of persons must be protected against the destructive effects of all forms of disaster and must be available when needed. It is necessary, therefore, to adopt special provisions for the selection and preservation of essential state and local records thereby providing for the protection and availability of such information.