Oxford County, Maine
How Kofile Supports Oxford County with a Modest Restoration Budget
“The customer service was, bar none, the best. Strong relationships and clear, honest detail — that is what Kofile delivers.”
– Cherri Crockett, Register of Deeds
Population: About 60,000
Age of oldest record: 1795
The need: To establish a sustainable preservation plan to rescue centuries-old records with limited funding.
Confronting Hidden Damage
When Cherri Crockett took office as Oxford County’s Register of Deeds, she inherited records that had been deteriorating for decades. Early in her term, staff discovered boxes of plans and volumes stored in a damp basement beside furnace fuel tanks.
Many records had not been viewed in years, and damage was extensive: ink was burning through the pages, edges were deteriorating, and taped plans had been compressed inside books for decades.
With only $3 per document dedicated in their budget for preservation, the county needed a partner who could provide trusted guidance and work with their limited funds.
“We are in a rather small budget part of the country,” Crockett said. “We were super fortunate that Kofile partnered with us to start preserving our records.”
Building a Preservation Plan
In 2019, Kofile began working with Oxford County to restore and preserve its most fragile documents dating back to 1795. A records expert from Kofile assessed which books to preserve first in Crockett’s office.
“He was not trying to sell us anything. He sat with me, gave me the options, showed me some books before and after, and really talked me through the process,” Crockett said.
When funds are limited, Kofile restores a handful of books at a time, depending on what the budget can handle. This allows counties like Oxford to make meaningful progress each year.
“We will never see the completion of this project, unfortunately,” Crockett said. “But we really enjoy what Kofile is able to do for us: the phone calls, the emails, the checkups, and consistent relationship building.”
The Results: A Stronger, Safer Archive
So far, Oxford County has restored and preserved 40 books and 420 plans. Kofile has also provided improved digital images, allowing the county to update online access with clearer versions of its historic documents.
“We found that some of our older scans weren’t exactly legible,” Crockett said.
Restored physical volumes return to their offices flattened and securely bound, making it possible for Oxford County to allow the public to view the records in person.
“They’re wrapped in mylar and all bound in books,” Crocket said. “They’re beautiful.”
The quality final product strengthens public trust, helping leadership justify the expenditure of taxpayer dollars year after year.
“Being able to present a fully preserved, fully bound book or plan to somebody so that they can see what the process looks like has been super powerful and beneficial,” Crockett said.
Through consistent communication, quality work, and reliable relationship building, Kofile has ensured that Oxford County felt confident through every step of the process.
“Kofile is going to give you facts, they’re going to be honest with you, and they’re going to tell you exactly what the project entails and what the steps look like,” Crockett said.
Get Started
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