The Schuylkill County Prothonotary’s office is making strides to move into the digital age.

Last week, commissioners voted to convert all existing files - more than 2 million - from TIF to PDF/PDFA format. The $15,650 cost is paid from the department’s automation fund, an account funded through state required court fees paid for all documents filed in the prothonotary’s office.

An amount remaining in the fund was not mentioned. Scan­tek, a company based in Columbia, Maryland, will work with Prothonotary Bridget McGowan Miller and the county’s management information systems department on the project, of which 50 percent is due at signing and contract approval.

Miller said the project, which will take six to eight months to do, will “free up much-needed storage space in our archives department. Upon completion, we will move forward with the development of an in-house digital document online service,” she said.

A cost for online services to the public was not provided. All improvements will come from the automation fund.

Miller said the pandemic has been the catalyst for the improvements.

“It was never more evident than during this past pandemic year that the prothonotary’s office needs more options for the public to be able to view documents other than in person,” she said.

At least 20 people a day came into the office regarding civil cases before the pandemic, she said. As an example, passports must be done in person.

Transitioning to an online filing system will be a benefit to all. Documents that are public knowledge will be accessible online. Sealed cases will not.

Attorneys and title searchers are those who frequent the office most often and will likely see the greatest benefit, she said. Upgrading the antiquated desktop computers, which are nine years old, is also planned. A request do so to the commissioners is possible soon.

“I’m very excited to get started on my project,” Miller said.