City of Salem Makes 1.1 Million Pages of Public Records Available Online

The City of Salem has launched an online portal at www.salem.com/records  that can be used to search and access 1.1 million pages of public records spanning 385 years of history. The records have been digitized and made searchable over the last three years as part of a major project undertaken by the City’s Information Technology Department and Laserfiche. The project has been funded by a combination of state grant and City capital funds.

The City of Salem has been digitizing documents in order to streamline governmental operations and improve access for residents. Digitized records include property cards, building permits, actions of the City Council, as well as records of the Health Department, Historical Commission, Conservation Commission, Electrical Department and much more. The repository will continue to grow, with departments adding additional material daily. All files in the public repository can be accessed, downloaded printed and shared free of charge and at any time.

“The City of Salem is committed to transparency and openness, and the creation of this new online portal to access thousands of public records quickly and easily is another positive step in those efforts,” said Mayor Kim Driscoll. “I am very grateful to our IT team, as well as all of the departments who helped compile, catalog, and manage the documents that went through this digitization process. While we still have additional records to go, including some of great historical value and interest, the launch of this new online tool marks a significant milestone in our efforts to improve public access to City information.”