Town Launches "Digital Archive Project" To Move Land Use Documents Online

Some of Nantucket's most important documents cannot be found with an internet search. The town's extensive collection of planning, zoning, historic district, and land use documents can only be accessed as physical documents at various town offices and departments. But that is changing.

The town has launched a "Digital Archive Project," which aims to digitize these documents and make them more accessible to the public.

"The goal of this project is to make essential records easier to access and preserve them for future generations," said town of Nantucket project manager Kevin Manuel.

The Digital Archive Project will be completed in two phases:

Phase One (April - June 2025) will digitize approximately half of the documents, while Phase Two (September - November 2025) will complete the process. During this time, there may be a 24- to 48-hour delay if requested documents are in production, but access will otherwise remain uninterrupted.

Funding for the $1.5 million project was previously approved at Town Meetings in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.