Home > History and Archives > Polly Rosenbaum Archives and History Building > Needs Assessment and Functionality of the New Facility
Polly Rosenbaum Archives and History Building
Needs Assessment & Functionality of the New Facility
Needs Assessment and Functionality of the New Facility
For over three decades there has been a recognized need for more space and improved storage
conditions for the unique and irreplaceable holdings of the Arizona State Library, Archives
and Public Records.
The 1999 Sunset Review of the State Library by the National Conference of State Legislators stated:
Finding One: Preservation of Arizona’s Historical Materials. Arizona statutes require that the
Department oversee the collection and preservation all materials that pertain to Arizona history.
However, the Department is unable to comply with these statutory requirements because it lacks
adequate storage space and because current storage conditions jeopardize the archival material.
It listed the top two recommendations for the agency as:
Recommendation 1. The Legislature should expand space for the Arizona archives collection.
This legislative action should be based upon a systemic review and evaluation of storage expansion
options and costs conducted by the Department.
"Advocate the development of a new, state-of-the art facility for the Arizona State Archives"
was the top preservation recommendation of the 1998 report of the Arizona Historical Records Advisory
Board, "Protecting Arizona’s Documentary Heritage."
GladysAnn Wells, Director of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records (1997-2011), has stated the following
functional priorities for the new facility:
- Conserve and protect unique historical materials now in custody of the State Library, Archives and Public Records.
- Provide capacity to conserve and protect those unique materials not now under custody, but which statutory responsibility is provided to the State Library, Archives and Public Records for preservation.
- Provide the first ever major not-for-profit treatment facility for unique historical materials serving Arizona governmental units.
- Provide a state-of-the art laboratory for repair and conservation of unique research materials.
- Enhance research access to unique research materials through use of emerging technologies.
