This study is a review of trends in information-handling technology and significant developments which are changing or will change the general environment within which archivists and records managers in international organizations will have to work. Trends in microelectronics, electronic storage, software, data transmission, computer architecture, data entry, and non-digital storage are discussed; electronic technology applications including office automation, electronic mail, data exchange standards, optical disks, computer-assisted retrieval of microfilm, text conversion, and artificial intelligence or expert systems are presented; and the implications and opportunities for new technologies are considered. A discussion of the survey of international organizations conducted to collect information on electronic records management and archives is also presented, and recommendations and guidelines for the Section of Archives of International Organizations (SIO) and for archivists and records managers are offered. Appendices include a glossary, end user hardware/software evaluation criteria, a copy of the questionnaire used in the survey, and lists of sources. (KM)