Northampton County Expands Archive Capacity by 47%
A high-density movable shelving system brought county records back on site and increased capacity for archival boxes by 47% and docket books by 25%.
- System
- Storage Solutions
- Last reviewed
- Jul 2026
The project, in one minute.
By 2012, Northampton County was spending more than $1 million on off-site commercial records storage. Reynolds designed a high-density movable shelving system with locking carriages and barcode tracking that increased archival-box capacity by 47% and docket-book capacity by 25%.
From operating constraint to installed system.
Northampton County needed more records space and had been moving records to an off-site commercial records center, making access difficult and causing retrieval delays. Reynolds designed a high-density movable shelving system sized for current records and future growth, with locking carriages and barcode tracking.
The constraint
Northampton County had moved records to an off-site commercial records center, but files were hard to access and retrieval was slow — and by 2012 the County was spending more than $1 million a year in storage fees.
The Reynolds response
Reynolds designed and installed a high-density storage system sized for current needs with room to grow, organized and protected with locking carriages and a barcode tracking system — bringing records back on-site.
The operational result
Documented outcome
What changed after the system went in.
- Docket Book Capacity
- +25%
Documented increase in capacity for docket books
- Off-Site Storage Fees by 2012
- More than $1M
Amount the supplied project record says the County was spending by 2012
Planning archive storage around access, growth, and retention
Start with the records inventory, applicable retention schedule, access frequency, security, indexing method, and expected growth. Then verify that the room and proposed equipment can support the load, egress, fire-protection, and environmental requirements.
Inventory the record series and formats
Count boxes, books, files, and unusual formats separately. Record dimensions, current quantities, growth, and the retention rule that applies to each series.
Design around retrieval and security
Access frequency, authorized users, work surfaces, aisle needs, locking, and chain-of-custody determine how the system should operate day to day.
Model retention, disposition, and growth together
Capacity planning should account for incoming records and scheduled disposition rather than projecting growth from the current inventory alone.
Verify the room before selecting equipment
Floor loading, column locations, egress, fire protection, lighting, environmental conditions, and installation access can change the feasible layout.
Questions buyers ask before work begins.
Project facts stay attached to the published record. These answers provide broader planning context for similar work.
Explore high-density archive storageWhat did Reynolds install, and what results were documented?
Reynolds designed a high-density movable shelving system sized for current records and future growth, with locking carriages and barcode tracking. The supplied project record documents a 47% increase in archival-box capacity and a 25% increase in docket-book capacity.
Does Pennsylvania use one retention period for every county record?
No. Pennsylvania's local-government schedules assign retention and disposition instructions by record series. A county should identify the applicable schedule entry for each series rather than apply one period to every record.
Does the Right-to-Know Law set county records-retention periods?
No. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records explains that the Right-to-Know Law does not establish records-retention schedules. Retention is governed by other laws and schedules, and an agency may not dispose of a record to prevent access after a request has been made.
How quickly must a Pennsylvania agency respond to an RTKL request?
The Office of Open Records says an agency generally has five business days to respond in writing. The law allows a written notice of an extension for specified reasons, which can add up to 30 calendar days unless the requester agrees to more time.
Can permanent paper records be replaced by electronic copies?
Do not assume that scanning authorizes destruction of the paper original. Check the applicable PHMC schedule, format requirements, agency policy, and any legal or historical value before disposition. Confirm the approved approach with the records authority when a permanent record or original format is involved.
What should be reviewed before installing high-density archive storage?
Inventory the record series, formats, quantities, retention periods, access frequency, security, indexing method, and expected growth. Then review the room's floor loading, columns, egress, fire protection, lighting, environmental conditions, and installation access before fixing the layout.
A maintained project record, not a generic claim.
Reynolds keeps the documented scope, attributable images, outcomes, and supporting references connected to the client record.
One local Reynolds team
Documents, storage, and modular space — planned together.
A project can begin with a file backlog, an access problem, or a constrained room. Reynolds can review the information, storage, and facility conditions together, then define the practical path.
Document systems
Scanning, workflow, records access, and information governance.
Explore the disciplineStorage systems
High-density systems, automated retrieval, shelving, and organized storage.
Explore the disciplineModular space
Mezzanines, in-plant rooms, enclosures, and facility structures.
Explore the disciplinePlan the next project
Discuss a storage solutions project like this.
Bring Reynolds the operating constraint. We will inspect the records, workflow, room, or facility and document practical options.
What happens next
- 01A Reynolds specialist reviews the request.
- 02We inspect the records, workflow, room, or facility.
- 03You receive practical options and a defined next step.