50 TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT

a records manager to supervise the program and a central microfilm unit
is contemplated for the following year.

Although our efforts to improve the records management practices
of local agencies were directed primarily toward providing for the
orderly retention, no less than the orderly disposal of records, consider-
able time was devoted to advising and consulting with county officials on
other records problems. As in the past, the Comptroller of the Treasury
frequently asked our advice on the expenditure of funds for record
equipment and services by the Clerks of Court and the Registers of
Wills in the counties. While these officials operate on a county basis,
in fiscal matters they are State officers and must secure the approval of
the Comptroller before making any extraordinary expenditures. Repre-
sentative examples of the requests for equipment and services reviewed
by the Archivist and the Assistant Records Administrator during fiscal
year 1961 are listed below:

	County Agency	Nature of Request
	Allegany, Register of Wills	Repairs to record books
	Anne Arundel, Clerk of Circuit Court	Repairs to record books
	Baltimore, Clerk of Circuit Court	Purchase of new Photostat machine
	Calvert, Register of Wills	Repairs to record books
	Charles, Clerk of Circuit Court	Employment of temporary camera operator to
		microfilm old land records
	Frederick, Clerk of Circuit Court	Preparation of indexes of corporation record
		books
	Harford, Register of Wills	Purchase of MRD-1 microfilm camera
	Howard. Clerk of Circuit Court	Alterations to vault and purchase of cabinets.
		shelving, and other equipment
	Montgomery, Register of Wills	Preparation of Index of dockets, 1798-1930
	Prince George's, Register of Wills	Purchase of MRD-1 camera
	Somerset, Clerk of Circuit Court	Repairs and rebinding of record books, in-
		cluding canvass covers
	Washington. Clerk of Circuit Court	Purchase of Apeco autostat machine
		Employment of temporary camera operator to
		microfilm land records
	Wicomico. Clerk of Circuit Court	Canvass covers for record books
		Rental of modification unit for microfilm
		camera to record by Copyflo method
	Worcester. Clerk of Circuit Court	Microfilming of old land record books, 1850-1949