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Territorial Library Established
The 1st Arizona Legislature drafted the territory's first legal code and territory ordinances. Within this legal code was a proposal to establish a Territorial Library of Arizona, of which the Secretary of the Territory (at the time Richard Cunningham McCormick) would preside over as Territorial Librarian. See Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1864 -
Territory Legislature Authorizes Collection Expansion
See Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1865The 2nd Territorial Legislature further promoted the fledgling Territorial Library, taking measures to increase the library's collection. Among the acts passed in favor of the library was a law that new lawyers pay a fee that would purchase new law books for the library; that the legislature would fund $1000 worth of law book purchases for the library; and that the Legislature would pay for the library's rental fee. -
Library Expenses Deemed Top "Necessary Territorial Expense"
See Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1867The 4th Territorial Legislature authorized a $150 yearly rental allowance for the upkeep of the Territorial Library. The Legislature also authorized a reimbursement to Territorial Librarian Richard McCormick a sum of $1515 for materials purchased and shipped to the library. Tellingly, these were the first item listed under "Necessary Territorial Expenses" for the Territory. and the first joint resoultion of the Legislature, respectively. -
The Mark of Excellence
See Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1868The Legislature authorized a payment total of $326 for reimbursement of freight delivery of new materials and for a minor shelving remodel to host the vast amount of materials in the library's possession. In addition, a motion was passed that all library materials be stamped as library property and a full inventory prepared for the Governor at least one month prior to the next Legislature. -
Library Funds Increase
See Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1871As a reflection of the growing affluence and expansion of the library, the Legislature authorized a payment of $1200 to be made for the years 1871 and 1872 due to necessary additional shelving and other library materials. -
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Library Faithfully Funded
See Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1873 Up Until 1909, Through Daniel F. Cracchiolio Law Library Digital CollectionsFrom its early days to the last days of being a Territory, the Arizona Territorial Legislature faithfully and officially approved of library funds in its session records. This would ultimately include general expenses made by the library, fees for newspaper subscriptions, rent, insurance, and expansion and remodeling projects. The Legislature executed these ordinances virtually without fail at each session, indicating its steadfast dedication to its library's excellence. -
The Library Goes Mobile
See Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1877The Legislature empowered the Secretary of the Territory/Territorial Librarian to rent suitable rooms to move the Territorial Library from the previous capital, Tucson, to Prescott, the new capital. John Hoyt was to compile and record all Territory laws and house the records in the Territory Library, which had authority to sell these records and use the funds for book purchases. -
Throw the Book at 'Em
The Legislature sanctioned that the library would receive a copy of the court transcripts for any case listened to by the Court of Appeals. -
Tombstone Becomes a Library Zone
See Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1881The Legislature granted township rights to the town of Tombstone, which included the right to establish a public library. This is the first known Arizona law that enabled a town to erect a public library. -
The Library Branches Out
See Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1883The Legislature approved a motion that the Territorial Library be given a copy of the pamphlet detailing laws around public schools. The number of public libraries in the state increased, as the town of Prescott was given authorization to erect a public library. The Legislature also approved $650 for the library to be moved into a new builiding and for necessary improvements to be made, including new carpeting, extra shelving and extra lighting. -
Busy Times at the Library
The Legislature appointed J.F. Bostwick to catalogue and arrange the library and compensated him $250 for his work.$350 over the course of two years was approved to record and bind subscriptions to Territorial papers. The Legislature also apSee Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1885 (PDF Parts 3 and 4) -
On the Road Again
See Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1889The Legislature agreed to finance expenses necessary to move the Territorial Library from Prescott to the new capital in Phoenix. A distinct Act was also included on the books to define the Territorial Librarian's salary as $600 a year. -
Building Something Permanent
See Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1893The Legislature "officially" established a permanent residence for the Territorial Library at the state capital. The Territorial Library would now be directed by a 3-member Board of Curators who would remain in office for 2 years and receive no compensation. The Territorial Librarian would serve as the Secretary of the Board. The Board would have managerial power and report finances and receipts to the Governor; they were also allocated $1000 for expenses. -
A Little Extra! Extra!
See Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1897Legislature approved $800 for two years' worth of rent; $70 for two years' worth of insurance; $300 for two years' worth of Territory newspaper subscription; $107 for furnishing the library with Bancroft's History. They also demanded that the library help with starting the Arizona Pioneer Historical Society records by providing them with volumes of newspapers. $300 was allocated to rebind and reletter all newspaper records held at the Territorial Library, binding the backs in leather. Law book -
Public Libraries and Reading Rooms Established and Expanded
See Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1899Act 22 of the 20th Arizona Territorial Legislature decreed that any city of more than 5,000 people would be authorized to levy a tax on its citizens that would fund the creation and maintance of a public library.Moreover, any general monetary gift would be incorporated into the city's Library Fund and used only for that purpose. 5 people are allowed to serve as unpaid library trustees that meet minimally once a month. The town may pass ordinances protecting the library and its materials. Rent et -
Whatever is Lost Can Be . . . Reimbursed
See Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1903Due to the amount of library materials that had been lost, an act passed that provided $4000 to the Library for replacing lost materials, purchasing full serials, and writing an accurate catalog of all materials for more efficient and accurate material management. In addition, the Territorial Librian was charged with buying 150 serial volumes of Arizona Supreme Court transcriptions for distribution throughout the territory's libraries. The Territorial Librarian would be a Board member. -
City Councils Get Counseled
See Session Laws of the Territory of Arizona 1907 (PDF Parts 2 and 3)The Legislature passed a resolution that a city council may appoint library trustees and may appoint as many as the city deems fit. In addition, the Legislature also authorized any city council to have the power to establish a public library through a city tax so long as the electors of the city vote yes to having a library constructed. A resolution was passed to rebind any current Arizona history in the library and to make efforts to purchase more materials of Arizona history for the library. -
The Carnegie Library Opens
See History of the Carnegie CenterThe first public library in Phoenix, the Carnegie Library existed in this capacity until 1954. Until 1988, it served in various capacities such as a community social building and a homeless shelter. It was later rechristened as the Carnegie Center and now is used as the administrative office building and multifunctional facility for the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. -
Arizona Becomes a State
See Arizona's ChronologyAfter nearly 50 years of being a U.S. Territory, Arizona became the 48th state and its Territorial Library subsequently became what is today known as the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. -
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Established
See NLS Website (Linked Here) and http://www.azlibrary.gov/braille/index.aspxCongress approved a motion that the Library of Congress would sponsor a program to provide free braille (and, later, audio material) to library patrons who would otherwise not be able to or have difficulty accessing library reading material. Arizona's Braille and Talking Book Library today circulates approximately 500,000 titles to Arizona residents and is located in Phoenix. -
State Includes "Imaging" as Part of Records
See Arizona's Records Management StatutesAn amendment was made to a previous Arizona statute that defined the scope of records and what consituted as a "record." The amendment widened the definition to include images as part of records and to be governed by the same ordinances as other records. The Arizona library system thus had to include images as part of records. -
Library Under Jurisdiction of State Legislature
See Arizona's Records Mangement StatutesIn 1976, the Department of of Library, Archives and Public Records, which had previously been governed as the Division of Library, Archives and Public Records under the jurisdiction of the Department of Administration, fell under the new management of the Arizona Legislative Branch. -
Patron Privacy Protected
See 41-151.22Arizona legislation decrees that no public library can disclose private information about a patron unless consent is given by the patron or if required to by law enforcement. -
Record Definition Expands
See Arizona's Records Management StatutesAs a reflection of the growing impact of technology on people's lives, the Arizona Legislature again revisited and expanded on its previous statute of what constitutued a record, this time including "electronic media." As in 1974, the library system from then on included electronic media in its records. -
First Library Legislative Day Held at Arizona State Capitol
See Arizona Library AssociationAlthough a national Library Legislative Day had been held in 1974, it was in 1996 that Arizona libraries held a statewide Library Legislative Day at the Arizona State Capitol building. Library Legislative Day marked a day when librarians and politicians could discuss library issues and library promotion on a more personal level. -
Library Board Defined
See 11-906The 2005 Arizona Legislature more fully defined the duties and obligations of the State Library Board of Examiners. The Board was to include the State Librarian, the Arizona University librarian, the Phoenix Public Library librarian, and two appointed county librarians. They were to serve without pay except for necessary travel expenses. County librarians were to serve under the direction of the State Librarian, who also is required to hold an annual county librarian convention. -
School Libraries Authorized to Extend Public Library Services to Students
See 15-362A revised 2005 statute declared that a school's governing board has the power to enter into a contract with a public library to extend public library materials and other services to schoolchildren. While this would be free for the children, the governing board was to spend no more than 2% of the school budget for this. -
Arizona Memory Project Begins
See Arizona Memory ProjectIn anticipation of Arizon's centennial in 2012, the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records launched the Arizona Memory Project, which sought to collect a plethora of Arizona primary sources culled from various Arizona institutions. The goal of this project is to create an online collection of Arizona's history throught photographs, manuscripts, maps, and other such documents. -
Let's Go Digital
See Phoenix Public Library Receives 2008 Digital Pioneer AwardThe Phoenix Public Library, along with a conglomerate of 10 other Arizona public libraries, team up to create the Greater Phoenix Digital Library, which houses solely electronic media for library patrons. It outstripped New York of the title of "Largest Digital Library in America" and won the 2008 Digital Pioneer Award for this creation. -
State Library Governance Established in Office of Secretary of State
See 41-151.01Part of Arizona's 2012 Revised Statutes was to move the governing of the state library to the Office of the Secretary of State. Coupled with this change, the revised statute also mandated that the State Library provide access of information to items such as genealogy, political science, and econoics, as well as provide library development, a records and archives facility, and a legal reference section. -
Joan Clark Becomes State Librian
See DirectorAfter the retirement of predecessor Gladdys Ann Wells, former schoolteacher Joan Clark was named the new Arizona State Librarian, a position she still holds today. -
Technology Child Protection Laws Adopted
A law is passed requiring public libraries to set up protective measures that would block access to harmful web content such as child pornography. The libraries must have this policy visible and conspicuous and must enforce this protective measure. See 34-502.
