State of Arizona Research Library Policies

Introduction to Our Resources

The State of Arizona Research Library provides access to collections online and in print. Online Collections are available through the Arizona Memory Project and include historic newspapers,

Publicly Available Online

Available at the Polly Rosenbaum State Archives and History Building

  • Arizona Collection: city directories (print and microform), periodicals, books, vertical files
  • Maps: published maps of Arizona and Federal Depository maps from around the world, online Sanborn Maps
  • Newspapers: microfilm and physical newspapers from Arizona dating to 1859.
  • Genealogy: books supporting Arizona research and onsite databases including Ancestry and Family Search books
  • Arizona State Government Publications: publications of Arizona government agencies including annual reports, studies, and educational materials.
  • Federal Depository Library Collection: State Library of Arizona is the Regional (full) Depository Library for Arizona, receiving publications through the Federal Depository Library Program of the U.S. Government Printing Office.

Some resources such as Legal Reference, select genealogy materials, and select City Directories are in open stacks in the reading room of the Polly Rosenbaum Archives and History Building. Others (such as Arizona state agency and federal agency publications) are in closed stacks. Staff can assist you in identifying and retrieving materials you need.

Researchers may request assistance by:

  • Submitting an online request here. Questions are monitored Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Research Library strives to respond to your inquiry within one business day. Staff can help researchers identify materials held in physical and online collections, and provide basic instruction on using the collections.
  • Calling the State of Arizona Research Library at 602-926-3870 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You may be asked to leave a message; the Research Library strives to return your call within one business day. Staff can help researchers identify materials held in physical and online collections, and provide basic instruction on using the collections.
  • Visiting the Polly Rosenbaum State Archives and History Building Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff will provide reference assistance in person, as well as instruction on using resources.
  • Patrons may make an appointment to consult with a subject-matter expert on a research topic during regular business hours, either in person or on the phone. Staff may provide consultation services for up to 30 minutes. Consultations to the same person or group are limited to once every three months. To schedule an appointment, call 602-926-3870.

Library staff cannot conduct extensive research, provide responses that require interpretation of texts, locate missing people, or provide criss-cross directory service.

Reference Policy

Agency staff will make every reasonable effort to respond to requests for research information as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

What we can do for you:

  • Provide you with 30 minutes of research assistance (per person, per three month period).
  • Assist in locating and using resources related to your research topic.
  • Provide links to authoritative web-based resources on current topics.
  • Provide assistance in obtaining answers to factual questions.
  • Direct you to resources that will help you learn how to do research.
  • Show you how to determine what a citation or abbreviation stands for.
  • Suggest appropriate government agencies or other organizations as sources of additional information.
  • Help you locate a particular statute or case when you have a specific reference or citation.

What we cannot do for you:

  • Explain, clarify or translate the meaning of sources or determine their relevance to your specific situation.
  • Recommend a course of action.
  • Assist you in completing forms.
  • Recommend individual professionals to assist you.

The unique nature of legal information means that for legal and ethical reasons, we may not be able to address all inquiries.

  • We cannot read any part of a statute, case, definition, etc. over the phone or to patrons in the library.
  • We cannot advise you of your legal rights.

 

Name, Obituary, Business or Place Searches

The State of Arizona Research Library’s Collections include a number of sources that can be used to look up information about individual people or places. These sources include obituaries (and newspapers more generally), city directories, as well as the Arizona Collection (books, periodicals, and vertical files), and documents in our State Publications and Federal Depository Library Collections.

Patrons interested in such information are welcome to conduct in-person research in the Reading Room. Patrons may also request many of the above resources via Interlibrary Loan for use in their local public library. For remote search requests, please see the terms on our Newspaper / City Directory Search Request form.

Scanning and Photocopy Requests

Patrons may print from computers and microform reader-printers. Printing from computers and microform readers is 10¢ per page. Patrons may also use microform readers capable of scanning to e-mail and cloud services at no cost.

Scans or photocopies of print materials must be made by staff and will be charged at the following rate:

  • 1-10 copies, $0.10 cents per copy
  • 11-50 copies, $0.25 per copy
  • 51-100 copies, $0.50 per copy
  • 101+ copies, $1.00 per copy

 

All map scans are made in accordance with the State Archives fee schedules: