Preparing Documents for Scanning

As you prepare to scan documents, keep these best practices in mind.

Check for Completeness

Verify each page is legible. Ensure pages are complete including signature, date stamp, other important items are present and legible.

Check for Social Security Numbers

Ask your supervisor if you are to mark through the entire SSN or all but the last 4 digits. Use a Sharpie or other black marker.

Remove Staples and Paper Clips

Remove all staples and paper clips. Fan the pages to ensure they will be pulled through scanner separately.

Check Back of Document

Is there anything on the back of any documents that is to be kept?  If so, place these documents in a separate stack to run with ADF set to Duplex.

Readability

Verify documents are legible, especially pink and yellow NCR paper.  Sort any that are barely legible into a separate stack.

Quantity

Separate work to be done into small stacks no more than 20 in a stack. With experience, this number can be increased.