The program to digitise millions of documents and plans has been carried out by LPI in collaboration with State Records.
Scanning records enables LPI to meet its obligations under the State Records Act 1998 to protect the records and to transfer them to the State Archives, administered by State Records.
As high quality images are made available online, the scanning program is also enhancing public access to the records – a goal that LPI and State Records share.
The two agencies have set up public terminals at State Records’ reading rooms at The Rocks and Kingswood, where the public can access many of the scanned images and explore other record collections held at State Records.
Public terminals are also available at the State Library.
State Records offers these special features for historical researchers:
- A section of its website devoted to historical and genealogical research, including a special section on Land records
- A series of instructional guides called Archives in brief, which has a number of issues on land records
- Property records in original form such as Primary application packets and records relating to Conditional purchase.
The digitisation program uses conservation assessment and treatment techniques which were developed in consultation with State Records. The logistics of the program such as transport, storage and scanning procedures have been developed by LPI and approved by State Records.
