Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) Arizona legislators, government officials or staff:
Please go to our Reference Services site. Attorneys, students, genealogists or other members of the public:
Please select a category or sub-category that best describes your question: ABOUT ARIZONA - In general: If you don't have a specific question, but have a general interest in Arizona, then you might want to visit the agency's About Arizona page.
- Government: If you don't have a specific question, but have a general interest in government in Arizona, you might want to visit the agency's Arizona State Government page.
- History: If you are interested in researching Arizona's history using historical records, newspapers, photos, manuscripts and books, you might want to visit the Arizona History and Archives Division's Frequently Asked Questions page.
- Kids: If your child has to do a report about Arizona, the agency has an About Arizona for Kids page with links to sites of interest to kids and students doing reports about Arizona. Also, the Governor has a Kids Page that includes Facts about Arizona. You may also find much of the information your child needs at your local library: look in almanacs, encyclopedias and U.S. Census Bureau publications. The Arizona Office of Tourism has a Kid Zone and Visitor's Guide that you can view on the web or order.
- Laws: Arizona Revised Statutes are available on the Arizona Legislative Information Service (A.L.I.S) site. Current and historical annotated Arizona codes, official statutes, regulations and bills as well as session laws, attorneys general's opinions, court cases and treatises can be found in the Arizona Law Collection in the Law and Research Library. Guide to Arizona Legislative History at the Capitol and Legal and Regulatory Resources on the Web might also be helpful.
- Maps: Arizona @ Your Service, the state portal, has links to a variety of current Arizona Maps. The Law and Research Library's Map Collection contains historical and contemporary geographic, nautical, topographic and transportation maps of Arizona. Maps, Geographical and Geological Resources on the Web might also be of interest.
- Newspapers: Currently, the Law and Research Library subscribes to over 100 newspapers from Arizona's cities and towns. Once a newspaper ceases to be published or is available on microfilm, it is housed in the Arizona History and Archives Division.
top of page ABOUT GENEALOGY AND FAMILY HISTORY - Arizona: If your ancestors were from Arizona, the Arizona History and Archives Division would be the best place to start your research. There, you could access biographical and obituary indexes, Arizona census rolls, historical Arizona records and newspapers.
- Other: However, additional information of interest to genealogists is available in the collections of the Law and Research Library, e.g.:
- Genealogy Collection: This is the largest genealogical book and periodical collection in Arizona. CD-ROM databases and online resources are also available for use. In addition to materials about Arizona, the collection also contains materials from other states as well as genealogical indexes and reference works.
- Law Collection: Were any ancestors involved in court cases?
- Map Collection: This is a wonderful resource for researchers trying to figure out exactly where an ancestor's property was located in Arizona.
- Arizona State Agency Publications: These might also be of interest to those with Arizona ancestors since the names of those licensed to practice medicine or sell real estate can be found in the collection. Brand owners and brands can be found in the brand books. The names, addresses and salaries of early teachers can be found in the early education directories. The names of miners killed or injured in mining accidents during early statehood can be found in the annual reports of the State Mine Inspector.
- Federal Publications: These are resources not only for those whose ancestors worked for, fought for, or otherwise had specific dealings with the Federal Government, but the collection also contains many volumes about the history of the country. For specific publications, see: Selected Federal Publications of Interest to Genealogists
- See also: Frequently Asked Genealogy Questions and Genealogy Information Portals
top of page ABOUT THE LAW AND RESEARCH LIBRARY - Are you open to the public?
Yes, the collections are available for use by the public at the Law and Research Library during normal business hours. Some of the collections are in open stacks, e.g., the Genealogy, Law and Maps. But parts or all of other collections, e.g., Arizona state agency publications, are in closed stacks and must be requested by call number at the reference desk in Suite 300. The staff of the Law and Research Library can assist you with identifying the call numbers of materials you need. - How do I access your online catalog?
Our catalog is available on the Web from the homepage of Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records at: http://www.lib.az.us However, please note that not all of the items in our collections are listed in the online catalog, so please contact us if you have a question about what is located here. - May I borrow books from your library?
In general, materials in the collections are kept available to support the work of the Arizona Legislature and state agency staff and so (with some exceptions) do NOT circulate. However, professional practitioners may borrow materials directly from the Professional Collection. Some materials from other collections may be borrowed by Legislators, state agency employees and members of the State Bar. Members of the public may request materials though the interlibrary loan service at their local libraries. Please contact us if you have questions about what materials do circulate. - Do you provide crisscross service?
No. However, Arizona History and Archives Division welcomes you to come in and use their historical sets of Arizona city directories and telephone books. - Will you research a topic for me?
It is agency policy to limit research for an individual to thirty minutes. For more extensive help, you may wish to contact a professional genealogist or historian. WE CANNOT LOCATE MISSING PEOPLE. - Can I get photocopies?
Coin operated photocopiers and microform readers are available for use in public areas. Microform reader-printers are available in the Arizona History and Archives Division down the hall from Law and Research Library's 3rd floor reference desk. In general, self-serve photocopies are 10¢ per page. Division staff will also make a limited number of photocopies for you but the charge is 25¢ per page. - How can I find out if you have what I want before I drive there?
Since not all of the items in our collections are listed in the online catalog and many items in our collections are in closed stacks, it's always a good idea to contact us before you visit to verify that what you need is here and ask that it be put on hold for you. top of page Updated: 02/28/2007 |
