52 NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT

microfilm operation. This service saved the State many dollars through effi-
cient utilization of equipment and the standardization of microfilm opera-
tions and techniques.

State agencies also received technical advice from the Division concern-
ing the application and installation of specialized record-keeping and data-
gathering systems.

In conjuction with the Department of Budget and Procurement, the
Division began a program of reviewing requests for the purchase of file
equipment and records systems. Of the nineteen requests reviewed, sixteen
were approved. Two of the approved requests were filled, however, by the
transfer of filing equipment declared surplus through the records disposal
program. Three requests were disapproved because the equipment sought
was either unnecessary or unsuited for the purpose intended.

Chapter 436, Acts of 1953, which established the records management
program applied only to State agencies. However, earlier Acts of the Legis-
lature made it necessary for the counties to offer their records to the Ar-
chivist prior to disposal and to report all disposal actions to the Hall of
Records. The Records Management Division continued the past activities of
the Hall of Records in this respect and also succeeded in extending the new
records management program to at least one county on a voluntary basis.
Montgomery County accepted an offer of assistance from the Division in
the preparation of records retention schedules for county records, and by
the close of the fiscal year all of the major records in the County's Bureau
of Finance had been inventoried, analyzed and scheduled.

The work of microfilming Land Records and Orphans' Court proceed-
ings in the counties, which had been performed for some years by the Hall
of Records, was continued by the Records Management Division. The ac-
quisition of microfilm equipment by several counties has diminished the need
for this service, but it is still an important phase of the Division's work.
Even where counties do their own microfilming, the Hall of Records provides
technical advice and checks the completed film.

During the year the Division staff visited forty-six State, county and
bi-county agencies to prepare schedules and review requests for equipment.
The staff prepared fifty-five schedules for State and bi-county agencies, five
genera] schedules for records common to most State agencies, and twelve for
county agencies. These schedules covered 293 separate record items, and
authorized the disposal of 4,748 cubic feet or 142,440 pounds of records.