State of Arizona Research Library Policies

Access

Some resources such as Legal Reference, select Genealogy materials, and 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 and must be requested at the information desk, by email, or telephone. Those materials may only be viewed in the reading room.  Staff can assist you in identifying locations of materials you need.

Service

For Arizona legislators, government officials or staff

Call for an immediate response:

1. Tell us what you are looking for.
2. Identify yourself and your affiliation (House, Senate, State agency, ...).
3. Tell us how fast you need the material or information.  "ASAP" is too vague - please let us know if you need it in minutes, hours or days.
4. Identify the best way to contact you.
5. Tell us in what format you prefer your results - paper, electronic, fax, by telephone or in person.

Email for a response in 24+ hours:

• Law related question (select State Library of Arizona Law Questions from the categroy dropdown)
• Non-law question or request a publication

For the public (attorneys, students, etc.)

• Contact us with inquiries by telephone, mail, email and in person during business hours
• Limit your questions to brief, informational questions related to the Library’s collections. Research for an individual is limited to thirty minutes.
• Library staff cannot conduct extensive research, provide responses that require interpretation of the law, locate missing people, or provide criss-cross directory service.

Law Reference Policy

Agency staff will make every reasonable effort to respond to requests for research information as quickly and thoroughly as possible, however the unique nature of legal information means that for legal and ethical reasons, we may not be able to address all inquiries.

What we can do for you:

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

What we cannot do for you:

• Explain, clarify or translate the meaning of sources of legal authority or determine their relevance to your specific situation.
• Read any part of a statute, case, definition, etc. over the phone or to patrons in the library, unless you provide a specific citation.
• Advise you of your legal rights.
• Recommend a course of action.
• Assist you in completing forms.
• Recommend a specific attorney to assist you.

State Agencies Providing Publications

Please call for mailing address and/or email address for electronic publications.

Circulation

• Most materials from the collections do not circulate. They are available for in-library use by all citizens of Arizona.
• Some materials may be borrowed by Legislators, state agency employees and members of the State Bar.
• Members of the public may request materials which circulate though the interlibrary loan service at their local libraries. Contact us to find out which materials circulate.

Photocopying and Computer Printing

Coin operated photocopiers, microform reader-printer and computer printers are available for use in the public areas.  Self-serve photocopies are 10¢ per page.  

Scans or photocopies can be made by staff 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

Interlibrary Loan

The staff of the State of Arizona Research Library will assist Arizona Legislators and legislative staff, Arizona state agency employees and regular genealogy clients with the location and loan of materials from libraries around the country.  Also, materials that circulate from Library and Archives' collections are loaned to requesting libraries or sent in electronic format via email.

Resources that are not available in the Library and Archives' collections may be requested through Interlibrary Loan by:

• Members of the Arizona State Legislature
• Members of legislative staff and staff of Arizona state government agencies

As a member of OCLC (symbol: AZP), our lending policies are listed in the ILL Policies Directory. Interlibrary Loan requests may be submitted by OCLC or ALA request and submitted by mail, fax or scanning into email. See Contact Information below.

Some of the library collections may circulate and others do not, depending on the collection and age or condition of the material. Films from the History and Archives' Arizona Newspapers on Microfilm Collection may (with some exceptions) be requested through Interlibrary Loan.

For microfilm loans to other libraries, there is a two-reel limit, per patron. Additional reels may be ordered after borrowed reels have been returned and received back. All reels must be returned in a box.

Generally, there is no fee for obtaining an item through interlibrary loan except return postage. If a fee is required to borrow an item, the Research Library will secure your permission before confirming the request.

Members of the public may submit requests for loans or copies of items from our collection through their local public library. Libraries may submit requests via OCLC or an ALA form mailed or faxed to 602-256-7984, or email (Select Interlibrary Loan from the dropdown).