MERCER COUNTY Law library gets grant for records

Old legal documents will be accessible on computer.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER -- A $37,000 state grant has been awarded to Mercer County to digitally store old documents at the Mercer County Law Library.
The money will allow purchase of equipment to scan documents into a computer, making it possible to comply with preservation laws governing county legal records, but allowing destruction of the actual documents.
Commissioner Olivia Lazor, who announced the award Thursday, said that lack of money to buy the equipment in the past has forced the county to store old legal records.
"Our storage area is full to capacity," she said.
Once the records are copied with the new equipment, old legal documents will be accessible on computer. Employees will no longer have to go to the microfilm office and go through documents page by page as they do now.
The county law librarian will attend a conference in November to learn how to begin the changeover.
Juvenile delinquency: In other business Thursday, commissioners approved channeling $150,000 through the county for the Communities that Care Implementation Plan to be administered by the county Juvenile Probation Department through the Greenville School District. The program is designed to deal with risk factors leading to juvenile delinquency and will involve hiring an outreach worker. No county money is involved.
Commissioners accepted Gerald Hodge's resignation from the county Industrial Development Authority with thanks for his work. Hodge is moving out of the county.
The board accepted a commemorative plaque from the Pennsylvania Veterans Commission recognizing Mercer County's $1,500 donation to the Pennsylvania Veterans Memorial Fund for a memorial to be located at the veterans cemetery in Fort Indiantown Gap.