PHILADELPHIA — The 18-story tower across from the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg is where millions of records from centuries of commonwealth history are kept to keep them safe for future generations — but it's running out of room.

Officials say the archive, which receives several thousand new boxes of records each year, can take more for another year or maybe two, and the building must either be renovated and expanded or the material must go to a newer and more functional facility.

"We are almost at 99 percent capacity right now," said David A. Haury, Pennsylvania's state archivist, who said more than 200 million pages of paper were stored in the tower. "We don't want to be in a position where we can no longer take in documents. We're running out of options."

Officials say the building not ideal for storing documents, with small floors and ceilings crisscrossed with pipes that frequently leak. The two elevators were built for passengers, not large quantities of paper, and they groan and shake as they ascend.

"The building is poorly designed for the purpose it is supposed to serve," Haury said.

The Legislature a few years ago set aside $30 million for a new facility, but Gov. Rendell has not released the money due to the state's fiscal problems.