Although the law requires that every county create a public records commission, there are more advantages to creating the commission than simply fulfilling the legal requirement. An active records commission helps to manage the records that your county generates efficiently and legally. Destroying out of date, temporary records alleviates records storage problems and frees up space in offices, possibly postponing the need for renovation or expansion of offices. If the records commission takes the additional measures suggested and works with the county to create an archives, the county has ensured that it has fulfilled its duty to provide long term access to public records as mandated by the Tennessee Code. Additionally, having an active PRC also demonstrates to the citizens of your county that its government is meeting its legal and custodial responsibilities of caring for public records.

For more information on how to get your PRC up and running, contact the Archives Development Program at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.