The State Archives preserves unique historical records created by government agencies. The Library of Michigan receives 65 gratis copies of each publication created by government agencies. Expanded hours are available to state agencies upon request. Limited access is also available via phone, fax, e-mail, I.D. mail and U.S. mail. For more information check out our General Reference Services .
Some records are exempt from public disclosure according to the Freedom of Information Act.
Examples include mental health records, educational records and some state police records. When the State Archives accepts custody of confidential records it establishes access agreements with the office of creation to ensure that only authorized individuals have appropriate access to the records. Land records were used by the Department of Transportation to prove the State of Michigan owned land upon which a highway was about to be built. The Department of Corrections studied reports written after the 1952 riot at Jackson prison before developing recommendations addressing the causes of the 1981 riot. The Department of State has reviewed superseded policies and procedures before it developed new ones.