This is all well and good, but folks should know that there is a backlog
when records are to be microfilmed.  From the time between when they are
taken from the county and actually microfilmed, they are inaccessible to
the public. 

On average, how long does it take for the records to be microfilmed?  

Also copies of the microfilm should be GIVEN to the various Virginia
rooms in local libraries.  Their budgets are getting slashed, too.  

The plus side of this is that libraries generally have better hours for
working folks than county archives.  

But on the whole, I still prefer looking at originals which is far more
accurate than microfilm.  

Pamela Myer Sackett
Brentsville, VA


 

-----Original Message-----
From: Conley Edwards [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 4:01 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Senate Bill 818

As most of you know, the Library of Virginia maintains the official
archives
of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The state archives contains more than
91
million items documenting four centuries of Virginia history.

We have been monitoring Senate Bill 818 and want to reassure researchers
that safeguards exist through the state's records management program to
preserve the vital information contained in wills.  The Code of Virginia
in
the sections known as the Virginia Public Records Act gives the Library
of
Virginia authority to manage and direct records management for the
Commonwealth of Virginia.  This Code section governs the retention and
disposition of the records of the circuit courts.  As a result, circuit
court clerks in Virginia are either keeping the original will or
creating a
facsimile of the original will.  This is standard procedure.  Senate
Bill
818 would not change this.

We will continue to work closely with the state's circuit court clerks
on
the requirements of our records management program to ensure that the
invaluable information in these records is preserved, assuring
researchers
effective and efficient access.

We are grateful for the concerns you have expressed and will continue to
communicate and work with the Commonwealth's circuit court clerks on
this
matter.  As the official state repositoty we are committed to the
preservation of the documentary hertiage of Virginia and do not believe
Senate Bill 818 as currently written threatens that mission.

************
Conley L. Edwards
State Archivist
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA  23219
804-692-3554
[log in to unmask]
************

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