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Research at the Polly Rosenbaum State Archives and History Building

This guide includes information about scheduling an appointment to view materials from the Arizona State Archives and the State of Arizona Research Library in the Reading Room of the Polly Rosenbaum State Archives and History building.

Light Table

Many people use either their mobile phone or personal camera to take images of material from the State Archives and State Research Library materials.  Due to the lighting in our reading room, patrons will frequently find that they have a shadow from either their mobile phone or camera.  To address this issue, we have a light table patrons may use free of charge.  It is located on the north wall of the reading room.

The lights are activated via black push buttons on the base of the silver cones that contain the light bulbs.  One may adjust the angle of the lights by loosening the black knobs on either end of the bar holding the lights, moving them to the desired position, and retightening the black knobs.

Patrons may either use the light table with or without foam supports.  The decision of whether or not to use foam supports depends on the condition of the material; fragile volumes require supports and will be determined by the staff helping them. 

The light table has an adjustable mount for cameras.  Most cameras have a place on the bottom that allows the camera to attach to a tripod or other stabilizing item.  Simply attach the camera to the screw mount on the light table and then adjust the height by loosening the black knob on the mounting device, raise or lower the mounting device, and retightening the black knob.