Giles County archivist warns courthouse records storage is full; requests climate‑controlled space

GILES COUNTY—The county archivist told the commission that the archives has removed only a fraction of courthouse records and is now at capacity, urging commissioners to secure climate‑controlled storage before planned courthouse renovation work begins.

The archivist, Barbara (last name not specified in the record), said the archives team has taken between one‑quarter and one‑third of generated records so far and that many files in the courthouse basement are in poor condition. "We gotta have a place to put the records that cannot stay in this building while we start working on the building," Barbara told the commission, asking specifically for "a warehouse that's heated, cooled, climate controlled."

Barbara said archivists cannot remove records until the county clerk releases them; when released, the archives can process them and, where necessary, return some materials if space is limited. She shared photographs of damaged records and described the work as time sensitive because renovations will begin soon.

Barbara also introduced her replacement, Katie Mae Smith, who began work the same day and helped measure storage needs. The archivist said the archives staff will take custody of records during renovations and that, after renovation, court clerks will decide what must be retained.

The commission heard the report for awareness; no funding motion or vote was recorded at the meeting. The archivist requested that commissioners incorporate records storage planning into the courthouse renovation schedule.