STRAFFORD COUNTY, N.H. — The county accepted a $2,675 New Hampshire State Library conservation grant (a Moose Plate grant) intended to preserve and digitize historical books and records held by county offices.

Speaker 4, describing the grant, said it is "for preservation of historical books" and noted that the county has used Moose Plate grants in prior years to conserve materials dating back to the 1800s. Speaker 4 said the preserved materials will be digitized and made available on the county website.

A county official (Speaker 1) clarified eligibility limits: records maintained as part of required county services — for example, deeds — are not eligible for the grant because those are county obligations. Speaker 4 said the grant funds are used on "the weird stuff that I find that has been kicking around," not standard, legally required records.

The chair moved to accept the grant and the body approved the motion by voice vote. County staff indicated grant documents will be prepared and available for signatures at a subsequent point in the meeting.

The grant is modest in dollar terms but supports digitization and preservation of historic county documents that staff said include jail and nursing-home records and other locally significant items.