Mission and Goals
Agency Mission
The agency serves the Arizona Legislature and Arizonans, providing public access to public information, fostering historical/cultural collaborative research, information projects and ensuring that Arizona's history is documented and preserved.
Goal Summary
- Providing prompt, professional legislative support
- Preserving and documenting Arizona’s history
- Providing access to public information
- Promoting statewide collaboration for historical and cultural institutions
Agency Description
The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records provides information services as authorized in Arizona Revised Statutes 41-1331 through 41-1352. Research and reference services are provided in the subject areas of law, government, genealogy, and Arizoniana. Consultant services are offered to public libraries to strengthen county and local library services, and to government agencies of the cities, counties, and state to assist them in the management of official records. State grants for public libraries and other authorized services are administered and monitored. Special library and information services are offered for anyone who is unable to read or use standard printed materials as a result of temporary or permanent visual or physical limitations. Public records are identified, preserved, and disposed through archival retention programs. Exhibits are created to educate the public regarding government-related history and the legislative process. These services are provided through the divisions of the agency: History and Archives, Braille and Talking Book Library, Law and Research Library, Library Development Division, Museum and Records Management Division.
Braille and Talking Book Library Division
The Braille and Talking Book Library Division provides audio library materials to any Arizona resident who finds it difficult to read standard print because of vision loss or physical limitations. The services are available to individuals with either a permanent or temporary impairment that limits the ability to read and to institutions serving such persons. The Library of Congress designated it a Regional Library for Talking Books in 1969, the year the Division was formed.
Services include:- Loan of recorded books and magazines.
- Loan of equipment to play recorded material.
- Loan of braille books and magazines.
- Loan of audio described videos.
- Free mailing for return of materials.
- Access to audio newspapers over the phone.
- Access to downloadable digital audio materials.
Talking Books are books recorded on cassettes. The types of books in the collection are similar to those found in most public libraries. When a person or institution has been certified as being eligible for service the books, magazines and other materials are mailed with labels for easy return. There is no charge for any of the services, including the mailing of the materials to and from patrons.
A cadre of volunteers narrates and monitors recorded books and magazines, repairs cassette books and playback equipment, provides home delivery to new patrons, and performs clerical and professional tasks that enable the Division to meet the highly specialized information needs of its patrons.
History and Archives Division
The History and Archives Division identifies, acquires, cares for, arranges and describes and makes available the permanently valuable public records of Arizona. It provides leadership and assistance to organizations and individuals responsible for historical records. The Archives promotes historical research and encourages the study of Arizona history. Holdings date from 1864 to the present.
Services include:
- Appraisal of public records to determine historical value.
- Dissemination of information about records in the Archives.
- Consultation to government agencies and the public on preservation of documents, disaster preparedness and recovery.
- Administration of archival programs.
Law and Research Library Division
The Law and Research Library serves the informational needs of the legislative executive, and judicial branches of state government in addition to the general public. The Law and Research Library also provides important and essential resource sharing services to Arizona libraries through the Arizona Network (AZNET).
Library Development Division
Through the Library Development Division, the Department takes a leadership role in coordinating statewide planning and development of library services. A staff of professional library consultants works closely with public libraries to help define and meet the wide variety of information needs that exist in the state.
Services include:
- Administering federal grant programs for public library development, public library construction and interlibrary cooperation, and administering state grants-in-aid for county and metropolitan library development.
- Providing county and statewide programs of continuing education for librarians, trustees and Friends of the Library groups.
- Planning and coordinating special statewide programs including the Summer Reading Program for students and other young people, and other humanities and public awareness projects.
- Coordinating and supporting interlibrary cooperation through the Arizona Network (AZNET), which is an on-line system of borrowing and loaning between libraries, and a statewide telecommunications network with access to Internet.
- Providing consulting services relating to library construction, automation, and other needs as requested.
Museum Division
The Museum Division operates the State Capitol Museum in the restored 1898 Capitol building.
The Museum Division, housed in the original 1900 Capitol building, presents exhibits and programs on government in the Arizona Territory and early Statehood days.
Services include:
- Museum and capitol complex tours.
- Museum exhibits.
- Education programs.
- Commemoration of special state events.
- Museum Store, visitor lounge, patio and grounds.
Records Management Division
The Records Management Division is responsible for establishing standards, procedures and techniques for effective management of the public records of Arizona state and local government. The Division operates from a state-of-the-art records center capable of housing over 190,000 cubic feet of state agency records
Services include:
- Consulting, training and education in records management for state and local government agency personnel.Developing record retention schedules for state and local government agencies.
- Maintaining and accessing inactive state agency records.
- Housing state agency master copies of microforms and computer tapes in a climate-controlled vault.
- Microfilming selected state agency documents and Arizona newspapers.
- Processing and duplicating state agency microfilm.