Since You Asked

Public Land Orders

2011-05-25T14:04:00.007-08:00

Question: Where can I find a Public Land Order?

Answer: Public Land Orders (“PLOs”) issued by the United States Department of the Interior are published in the Federal Register. The Department of Interior publishes tables identifying where in the Federal Register each PLO is published. You will need the approximate date of the PLO or the PLO number to use these tables. If the PLO was issued in or after 1994, you can find it in the Federal Register online using the citation you found in the PLO tables. In time, earlier issues of the Federal Register may become available online. If you know the title or subject of the PLO but don’t have the Federal Register citation or could not find it in the PLO tables, you can search the Federal Register using keywords from the title or subject. If you need a PLO published in the Federal Register before 1994 or could not find it using the above methods, check with your local Federal Depository Library.

Finding a Last Will and Testament in Alaska

2011-03-14T11:22:00.013-08:00

Question: My father lived in Juneau and he passed away a few years ago. I would like to find his will. Where do I start?

Answer: Below are several methods you can use to search for your father’s will. These are not necessarily all of the possible methods, and this information does not constitute legal advice. You may wish to consult a lawyer for assistance in matters concerning your father's death, his last will and testament, or his estate. The Alaska Bar Association offers a directory of bar members and a lawyer referral service.

If your father made a will, you may find a copy of it in Alaska’s court records. A person who has made a will in Alaska can deposit it with the court while they are still living. For more information about this process, navigate to Alaska Law Help's list of resources on wills, and click on the link titled “Depositing Your Will.”

In addition, if your father's estate was probated or subject to other types of court proceedings, you may find a copy of his will in the court case file. In Alaska, the Superior Court handles probate cases. To determine whether a case file relating to your father exists, search Alaska’s trial court case record database, called CourtView. Try entering just your father’s name to conduct a broad search. If you see your father’s name, you can identify the type of case he was involved in using letters in the case number. More information about case numbers is published at http://www.courts.alaska.gov/cvinfo.htm#numbers. Probate case numbers have “PR” as a suffix and case numbers representing the simple deposit of a will include “WI” as a suffix.

You can also contact the Superior Court for assistance in searching CourtView and ordering a copy of the will should you find a court case relating to your father’s will or estate. Contact information for the Superior Court in Juneau is published at http://www.courts.alaska.gov/ctrecs.htm#jun. Information about ordering court records is published at http://www.courts.alaska.gov/trialcts.htm#recs.

If a lawyer assisted your father with his will, the lawyer may have it. It is also possible that another member of the family may have the will, or it may still be among your father's belongings. People sometimes keep wills in safe deposit boxes, but since it has been years since your father’s death, such a box may no longer exist.

Building codes

2010-12-09T12:07:00.002-09:00

Question: Where do I find the Alaska building codes?

Answer: Like many states, Alaska relies heavily on uniform building codes. The precise codes that the state uses, as well as any changes or sections not employed, are listed in the Alaska Administrative Code: 13 AAC 50. The Alaska State Library maintains the current and previous two editions of the International Building Code and some other codes. For details, search our catalog.

The specific codes you need may be available at a library near you, but they usually are not available to be checked out. If they aren't available locally for you, you can request specific pages through interlibrary loan, or you can purchase a copy (or, much less expensively, purchase portions that relate to your specific needs). Just check your favorite local or online bookstore.

Alaskan historical census data

2010-12-02T12:01:00.002-09:00

Question: How many WWI veterans lived in Anchorage in 1970?

Answer: 82, according to "Table 102, Social Characteristics for Places of 10,000 - 50,000: 1970" found on page 3-135 of the US Census "General Social and Economic Characteristics: Alaska" from the 1970 Census.

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development/Research and Analysis Division has scanned and posted PDFs of Alaska related census reports from 1880, 1910 and 1940 through 1990 at http://labor.alaska.gov/research/census/cenhist.htm. These reports can include:

Number of Inhabitants
General Population Characteristics
Detailed Population Characteristics
General Social and Economic Characteristics

Alaska Census Data from 2000 and beyond can be located at http://labor.alaska.gov/research/census/

Presidential speeches

2010-11-23T15:13:00.004-09:00

Question: Where can I find the official version of the speech that President Ronald Reagan gave on the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger and the official version of the speech that President George W. Bush gave on the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia?

Answer: The official version of both speeches can be found in Public Papers of the Presidents as follows:

Address to the Nation on the Explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, January 28, 1986 - page 94-95 of:

Reagan, Ronald. 1989. Public papers of the Presidents of the United States Ronald Reagan. 1986. Washington: United States Government Printing Office.

Address to the Nation on the Loss of Space Shuttle Columbia, February 1, 2003 - page 119-120 of:

Bush, George W. 2006. Public papers of the presidents of the United States, George W. Bush: 2003. Washington: U.S. G.P.O.

President Bush's speech is also available electronically through the FDSys system at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PPP-2003-book1/pdf/PPP-2003-book1-doc-pg119.pdf.

Local Sales Taxes

2010-10-28T15:29:00.004-08:00

Question: How many communities in Alaska do NOT have a sales tax?

Answer: Currently, 253. You can verify this for yourself by visiting the Alaska Community Database Custom Data Queries at http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CF_CUSTM.htm and selecting all the communities in the left hand box and "sales tax" from the options in the right hand box. Save the file and open it up in your favorite spreadsheet. When we checked, 253 was the number of communities that report 0% tax rate, "No Taxing Authority" or "None".

Alaska's African American Newspapers

2010-10-07T12:39:00.006-08:00

Question: I would also be interested to know what black newspapers have been published in the state/territory of Alaska.

Answer: The Alaska State Library’s Guide to Alaska Newspapers on Microfilm identifies these titles as African American newspapers:

Anchorage Gazette
Anchorage Spotlight
Anchorage Town Crier
Crusader
Midnight Sun Reporter
New Horizon
North Star Reporter
Vox Populi

You can find more information about these titles in the Guide (linked above), under the "Anchorage" heading. The Alaska State Library’s collections include some issues of these newspapers on microfilm, but coverage is incomplete. Another post on this blog describes how to request our microfilm through interlibrary loan.

Girdwood's Glaciers

2010-09-24T10:00:00.004-08:00

Question: What are the names of the seven glaciers surrounding Girdwood, Alaska?

Answer: There are a large number of glaciers in the general vicinity of Girdwood, but the seven glaciers reference points to Crow Glacier, Raven Glacier, Eagle Glacier, Clear Glacier, Goat Glacier, Milk Glacier and Alyeska Glacier. Alyeska Resort's flightseeing page mentions other glaciers that are also within a relative short distance of Girdwood.

Health Insurance Data

2010-09-08T11:29:00.006-08:00

Question: Where can I find data on the cost for private sector employees to purchase health/medical insurance in Alaska?

Answer: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services compiles data on private sector health insurance costs at the State level. You can access the data at http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/. Here, you can find total premium costs by state per private sector employee, the average employee contribution, and many other data elements. Try clicking "Summary Data Tables" in the left navigation bar under "Data and Statistics," then scroll to the bottom of the page and choose "State and Metro Area Tables." You can limit the tables you’d like to retrieve by year, table “series,” table “subseries,” and keywords. Choosing the subseries "Premiums/Contributions/Enrollments" will retrieve tables identifying premium costs.

Auto and Small Engine Repair

2010-08-13T12:15:00.002-08:00

Question: My car keeps breaking down, and I don’t want to keep taking it to the mechanic. Do you know where I can find information on automotive repair? Also, I could have sworn that my snowmobile was working last winter; do you have anything for that too?

Answer: Why yes, yes we do. If you're an Alaska resident, the Digital Pipeline has the resources you’re asking about. Under “Resources A-Z” are the Auto Repair Reference Center and the Small Engine Repair Reference Center.

From the main page of the Auto Repair Reference Center you can find problems with your specific car, including recalls. They also have guides for general car troubleshooting, care and repair, and auto IQ. The auto IQ section is especially helpful for those of us who don’t entirely know where everything is located, or what a part actually does.

The Small Engine Repair Reference Center works similarly. Select the type of small engine you need information on (snowmobile, snow thrower, tractor, etc), then narrow it down by make and model.

Redistributing Federal Documents

2010-08-06T11:01:00.003-08:00

Question: There is a federal bill that I’m interested in, and I want to share it with my colleagues through email and a listserv. Where can I find a copy that I can send around without worrying about copyright issues?

Answer: We’ve already talked a bit about the wonderfulness of the Library of Congress’s THOMAS, where you can search for individual bills by bill number, text, or sponsor. But did you know they offered full-text of each available bill?

Once you've found the bill you need, THOMAS will send you on to the Government Printing Office, where you can download a pdf of the bill. Since these are published by the federal government, they fall under public domain and you can distribute them to your heart’s desire.

Alaskan songs

2010-07-30T14:00:00.000-08:00

Question: Could you help me find the lyrics and a recording for Aleut Lullaby and O'er the Tundra?

Answer: It looks like these songs can be found in the book:

CACHE OF SONGS FOR ALASKA. Delaware, Ohio. Cooperative Recreation Service, Inc., 1959. 80 p. (Includes words and music for several Alaska songs: Alaska's Flag; Aleut Lullaby; Song of the North; Alaska, My Alaska; Home on the Snow; O'er the Tundra; Our Alaska; Kusehani; Spirit of Alaska.).

According to our finding aid, we have this songbook in our Historical Collections, MS075, but it cannot be checked out. You can contact our Historical Collections directly with any questions at asl.historical@alaska.gov or 907-465-2925. It looks like the book is also available through some used book dealers.

I haven't found any CDs with both of these songs. I have found An Aleut Lullaby as a CD or download, but I don't know if it's the same song as Aleut Lullaby. I didn't find any recordings of O'er the Tundra, but have found some of She'll Be Coming O'er the Tundra. Again, I don't know if this refers to the same song or not. For either of these titles, trying putting the song title in quotes in your favorite internet search engine to find purchasing options.

Good luck in learning about Alaska's musical heritage!

Earthquakes in Alaska

2010-07-23T06:04:00.003-08:00

Question: I live in Alaska, and am worried about the ground exploding and things falling on my head. Where can I find information about fault lines and earthquakes in Alaska?

Answer: Not to worry! We have you covered.

The Alaska Earthquake Information Center has plenty of information about our earthquakes, including a list of notable earthquakes and a preparedness guide.

Inside the section titled “Earthquake Info” are maps showing the location Alaska’s fault lines, shown as red lines. http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/html_docs/maps.html
Fault lines are also shown in their FAQ page http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/html_docs/faq.html

If you’d like to see where the most recent earthquakes happened, they have an often updated map showing activity for the past few days. http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/recent/sub/index.html

For additional information about earthquakes, visit the U.S. Geological Survey’s earthquake page: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

Language learning online

2010-07-16T13:15:00.001-08:00

Question: Do you offer any foreign language courses that I can take on my own?

Answer: We offer foreign language resources in a variety of formats. Some are available to all, either through the State Library directly or through interlibrary loan:

Books
Tapes
CDs
Playaways (preloaded digital players)

We also have some online materials that are available to Alaska State Library patrons (including all employees of the State of Alaska) and those of our partner libraries. These include:

If you think that you should be eligible to use any of these materials, but are having difficulty finding, accessing, or using the resources, please contact us at the Alaska State Library.

US Fish & Fisheries Commission Annual Reports

2010-07-09T10:00:00.004-08:00

Question: I am interested in researching the annual reports from the Commission of Fish and Fisheries from 1880 through the 1890's. According to the records of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, NARA has them in microfiche. How can I get the information for my research?

Answer: In this case, you will not need the microfiche because the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has posted the annual reports of the United States Fish and Fisheries Commission (AKA United States Fish Commission) online at http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/cof/data_rescue_fish_commission_annual_reports.html. These reports cover the date range of 1871 - 1979 with some gaps in between. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open the PDF files.

Any green thumbs?

2010-06-25T12:04:00.001-08:00

Question: I would like to know what causes the leaves to fall off the Oriental Lily. My plant is losing leaves every day and will have no more leaves to drop.

Answer: Generally speaking, the Cooperative Extension Service is a great resource for help caring for plants given your local conditions. In Alaska, they offer an Ask an Expert service covering a variety of subjects, including gardening. See: http://www.uaf.edu/ces/info/askexpert/

However, I didn't find any information on this topic already published on their website. From what I've seen on other sites, Oriental Lilies normally die back once they've bloomed, so losing leaves may be a normal part of the plant cycle. There are many free sites available that provide a wealth of information on caring for Oriental Lilies. I recommend using your favorite internet search engine with the terms: <"oriental lily"> and and . For example, with Google type in:
"oriental lily" plants care

If you want to avoid commercial sites, with loads of advertising, try limiting the search to educational or governmental sites by adding either or to your search.

Library services in Alaska

2010-06-15T11:51:00.004-08:00

Question: I'll be moving to Alaska soon and the area I'm moving to doesn't have library services. Is there a way I can access library services through the state library, and if so, how?

Answer: Alaska has a mail services, or regional services, program for residents with no local public libraries. This program is administered through the Juneau Public Libraries for Southeast Alaska, and through the Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Libraries for the rest of the state. For more information about the program and to apply, see http://www.juneau.org/library/mailserv/.

Finding Congressional activity

2010-05-28T11:47:00.000-08:00

Question: How do I find what occurred in the US Congress on September 11, 2001?

Answer: One method is to use Thomas from the Library of Congress. Click on:

"Congressional Record", currently on the left hand side of the page, then
"Browse Daily Issues", currently to the right of "Search the Congressional Record", then
"107" for the daily listing of the 107th Congress. We know that this is the correct Congress because the years 2001-2002 are listed at the top.

You will find September 11, 2001, towards the bottom of the page with links to the floor activity in the House, extensions on remarks made in congress, and a digest summary of the day's activities. There doesn't seem to have been any floor activity in the Senate on that day, but if there were, that would have been listed too.

2010-05-21T14:49:00.000-08:00

Question: What was the population of Aniak in 1950? What was the population of Juneau in 1960?

Answer: Alaska's Department of Labor and Workforce Development offers some U.S. Census reports and data for Alaska for 1900 through 1990 at http://labor.alaska.gov/research/census/cenhist.htm. Here is a direct link to the 1960 report, which includes some of the 1950 data as well: http://labor.alaska.gov/research/census/histpdfs/1960ak.pdf. Table 8 lists cities and towns in alphabetical order, and there, you fill find 1950 and 1960 population data for Aniak and Juneau. More recent data is available from the U.S. Census Bureau's web site. Try using the population finder at http://www.census.gov/population/www/.

Finding Old Alaska USGS Reports

2010-05-14T09:01:00.000-08:00

Question: Where would I find a copy of Marcus Baker's Geographic Dictionary of Alaska? I think it was published in the early 1900s by the US Geological Survey.

Answer: While this dictionary is available in paper at a number of libraries, including ours, thanks to the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, you can also find this report online at http://www.dggs.alaska.gov/pubs/pubs?reqtype=citation&ID=3362. This is one of many historic USGS reports that have been digitized by the Division. You can search or browse for more of this historic material at http://www.dggs.alaska.gov/index.php?menu_link=publications&link=publications_search.

Contacting Social Security

2010-05-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

Question: How can I locate the nearest Social Security Office?

Answer: Visit the Social Security Administration website at http://www.ssa.gov and click on Find a Social Security Office in the left hand column of the site. Then type in your zip code. You will be given one or more offices near you. Each office entry has local and toll free phone numbers, along with the office address and a map showing the area near the office.

The Fifty-Niners

2010-04-09T13:59:00.001-08:00

Question: Could provide me with some information on the Alaska 59ers?

Answer: In March of 1959, two months after Alaska became a state, a group of about three dozen people, primarily from the Detroit area, left the lower-48 to homestead in Alaska. They settled along the Susitna River. In the articles that follow they are called the “Detroit 59ers” or simply just the “Fifty-Niners.”

Smith, William E. In Alaska: Homesteading. Time, 12 November 1984. Available at ttp://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,926918,00.html (Accessed on February 26, 2010).

Alaska: Call of the Wild. Time, 11 May 1959. Available at http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,865796,00.html (Accessed on February 26, 2010).

Zacharias, Pat. Detroit 59ers – Alaska or Bust! The Detroit News, 5 March 1998. Available at http://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=69 (Accessed on February 26, 2010).

The 59’ers Find Promised Land. Life, 20 April 1959, p. 141. Available at http://books.google.com/books?id=W0gEAAAAMBAJ&source=gbs_all_issues_r&cad=3 (Accessed on February 26, 2010). You will need to browse to page 141 to view this article, which also includes photographs.

Coen, Ross. Alaska or Bust! The Ester Republic, March 2009, p. 25. This article is not available freely on the internet.

Non-Newtonian Fluids

2010-02-26T10:00:00.003-09:00

Question: I am teaching a high school class about non-newtonian fluids. Could you direct me to some cool facts and experiments on the subject?

Answer: "Interesting Thing of the Day" at http://itotd.com/articles/624/non-newtonian-fluids/ provides a background on the discovery and varieties of non-newtonian fluids . At the bottom you will find a number of useful links. Perhaps the most fun are the YouTube experiment videos. The viscosity chart further clarifies the distinctions between the different types of fluids. Students may be interested in the links to geophysical diagrams and the MIT research group's page on man made and naturally occurring examples.

A step-by-step guide to an easy experiment is found on Instructables at http://www.instructables.com/id/Oobleck/. The lesson is directed at elementary kids, but the concept applies to all ages. Non-newtonian fluid is sometimes referred to as an Oobleck based on Dr. Seuss' book Bartholomew and the Oobleck. This lesson incorporates the book into the experiment.

In addition, videos of reproducible experiments can be found on "TutorVista.com" at http://www.tutorvista.com/ks/non-newtonian-fluid-dynamics and "Wonder How To" at http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-non-newtonian-fluid-cornstarch-quicksand-home-249081/.

List of Americans Who Have Renounced Citizenship

2010-02-19T11:13:00.003-09:00

Question: I would like to see if someone has or has not renounced their US citizenship. I think there is a list published each year. Where are those lists?

Answer: The list is called "Quarterly Publication of Individuals, Who Have Chosen To Expatriate" and is published quarterly by the Internal Revenue Service in the Federal Register.

To view all lists published so far, visit www.fdsys.gov and type in "Quarterly Publication of Individuals, Who Have Chosen To Expatriate" into the search box. The list appears to have been first produced in January 1997. As of this writing, the latest list of individuals was published in November 2009.

You may well wonder why this list of individuals who have sworn off allegiance to the United States is published by the Internal Revenue Service and not by the State Department, especially when it is the State Department that issues the "Certificate of Lost Nationality" that results when a person has gone through the difficult process of renouncing their US Citizenship.

The reason for the IRS handling the list is because the 1996 law (PL 104-191, Title V, Sec 512(a)) was passed in an atmosphere where it was assumed that tax evasion was the number one reason for renouncing one's US citizenship.

If you live in Alaska, you can get a flavor of this climate by visiting the Digital Pipeline at http://sled.alaska.edu/databases/home.html and typing in [renounce citizenship taxes].

Appointed Positions in the Federal Government

2010-02-12T10:36:00.003-09:00

Question: Where can I locate information about appointed positions within the federal government, specifically whether or not a nominee for a position is confirmed by the U.S. Senate?

Answer: The Plum Book is freely available online at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/plumbook/. The November 2008 book is the most current issue and the next printing will be in 2012. The legend provides interpretation for the various appointment codes. The appointments are separated out by agency or other government organization. Within each section, you will find details on the position title, geographic location, name of the incumbent, type of appointment, pay information, tenure and appointment expiration date if there is one. A "PAS" code under type of appointment indicates that the position is nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

To research current nominees and appointments under the President Obama’s administration, the White House posted a database at http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/nominations-and-appointments. The “find inside” search box is on the top towards the right. The table lists the person's name, position title, federal agency, and the nomination/confirmation dates. You can change the way the table sorts, download the data or even email it to someone.

Marmot Day

2010-02-05T06:00:00.002-09:00

Question: I heard that February 2nd is Marmot Day in Alaska. What's up with that? Don't you like groundhogs?

Answer: February 2, 2010 was the first official Marmot Day in Alaska. February 2nd of each year is designated Marmot Day by ch 57 Session Laws of Alaska 2009. The law states:

* Section 1. AS 44.12 is amended by adding a new section to article 2 to read:

Sec. 44.12.110. Marmot Day. Marmot Day is established on February 2 of each year. The day may be observed by suitable observances and exercises by school programs, the Alaska Zoo, civic groups, and the public.

* Sec. 2. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).

Why the Marmot and not the groundhog? Here is the official sponsor statement by Senator Linda Menard taken from the official bill file:
Sponsor Statement for SB 58

Senate Bill 58, an act establishing February 2nd of each year as Marmot Day, will create a localized, Alaska version of Groundhog Day.

While many people in the Lower 48 spend every February 2nd honoring Punxsutawney Phil, or some other incarnation of the famous groundhog, Alaska residents don’t have the same representation.

The Marmot Day bill (SB 58) solves that, giving school children, public institutions and even adults the opportunity to use a local hire (the marmot) as their symbol.

Marmot Day can be celebrated in myriad ways, from special events at the Alaska Zoo to school celebrations with an educational angle so children can learn more about Alaska’s furry ground squirrel.

Already, the Marmot Day bill has received support from the Alaska Zoo and the Mat-Su Borough School District.

I hope you will also support the Marmot Day bill.

The official bill file also contains letters of support from children, school teachers and others interested in having a local alternative to Groundhog day.

Type 1 Diabetes

2010-01-29T10:43:00.002-09:00

Question: I am an Alaskan and I was recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Could you send me a few online resources to familiarize me with the disease and the local resources available to me?

Answer: There are numerous resources to assist you in managing diabetes. Here are a few reliable starting points:

State of Alaska, Health and Social Services, Alaska Diabetes Resource Guide. http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dph/chronic/diabetes/data/2009_AK_Diabetes_Resource_Guide.pdf
You will find an extensive list of health care organizations across the state that address various aspects of diabetes. In addition, the guide offers practical advice on nutrition, exercise and children with diabetes.

American Diabetes Association, Living with Diabetes.
http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/
This is a great starting page for someone recently diagnosed as it covers what to do first, treatment options and the complications that may arise.

American Diabetes Association, Type 1, Basics. http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-1/
The web page links you to information on medication, blood glucose control, family care and more.

MedlinePlus, Information and Guides.
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/type1and2/
From this page you can learn the essentials of managing both Type1 and Type 2 Diabetes and where to find further information.

Alaska Corporate Formation Records

2010-01-22T11:53:00.001-09:00

Question: I need a link to certificates of incorporation filed in Alaska.

Answer: It sounds like you are interested in finding the web page through which you can access information about certificates of incorporation or other formation documents filed for corporations or other business entities formed under the laws of the State of Alaska. You can begin your search by navigating to http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/home_corporations.htm, which is a page on the Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing’s website. Then select “Search Corporation’s Database” in the left column of links. Your search results should include some details about matching entities, such as registered agents, dates of creation, and officers and directors. Once you retrieve the more detailed page for an entity, you can use the “Filed Documents” link to access some scanned images of the records the entity filed with the division, such as creation filings or Bienniel Reports. Scanned images of these documents are not always available, particularly for earlier time periods.

To order copies of documents filed by an entity, choose “Copy Request Form” on the web page at http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/home_corporations.htm. There you will also find contact information for the Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing.

Elizabeth Peratrovich and Alaska's 1945 Anti-Descrimination Act

2010-01-15T11:44:00.006-09:00

Question: I am researching Elizabeth Peratrovich and the battle for Civil Rights in Alaska. I am hoping to find information, including a transcript, about Mrs. Peratrovich’s testimony given to the Legislature during its consideration of this Act.

Answer: Transcripts of testimony before the Territorial Legislature generally do not exist. However, pages 536-541 of Haa Kusteeyi Our Culture: Tlingit Life Stories include a possible transcript of the Senate floor debate on what is often referred to as the 1945 Anti-Discrimination Act. The author states the transcript is from "the official Senate Record." We have been unable to verify the transcript text from other sources at the Alaska State Library, such as the Senate Journal, the House Journal and Records of the Alaskan Territorial Legislature (1913-1953). You will find a full description of this book in the WorldCat.org list mentioned below.

Other sources about Ms. Peratrovich and her work include:

Newspapers that reported on Elizabeth Peratrovich’s testimony - Alaska's Digital Archives includes an image of one such article published in the February 6, 1945 Daily Alaska Empire just before the Territorial Legislature passed the Anti-Discrimination Act. You can view the image at http://vilda.alaska.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/cdmg21&CISOPTR=2058&REC=10&DMSCALE=100&DMWIDTH=1440&DMHEIGHT=2000. You might also try browsing Alaska newspapers published in early February of 1945. If your local library does not have the Alaska newspapers you wish to review, it is welcome to submit an interlibrary loan request for the Alaska State Library's newspapers on microfilm; we loan up to four reels of film to any single library at a time. To identify the newspapers you wish to review, use the Chronologies of Alaska Newspapers by city/town at http://www.library.state.ak.us/hist/newspaper/chron.html. You might start with the Anchorage Daily Times, Anchorage Daily News, and Daily Alaska Empire (published in Juneau).
Books about Ms. Peratrovich – The Alaska State Library holds resources relating to Elizabeth Peratrovich. Some of these publications are included in our WorldCat.org list at http://www.worldcat.org/profiles/kfearer/lists/1262806. With the exception of the manuscript collections described in the list, these publications are available online or through interlibrary loan.
The Statewide Library Electronic Doorway (SLED) and the Alaska Periodicals Index - Try entering “Elizabeth Peratrovich” in the search box in the upper left hand corner of the SLED home page at http://www.sled.alaska.edu/.
The Alaska Periodicals Index - Search for “Elizabeth Peratrovich” as keywords in the Alaska Periodicals Index at http://goldmine.uaf.edu/aprindex/. Contact your local library for assistance in obtaining articles you identify through this index.

Maps of Alaska State Courts

2010-01-08T08:00:00.002-09:00

Question: Where can I find a map that shows all of the State courts in Alaska?

Answer: You can find a PDF version at http://courts.alaska.gov/venuemapinfo.htm. It is a large PDF file and may take up to a minute to load. It has boundaries of Alaska's judicial districts and lists all State of Alaska trial venues.

You can order your own paper copy of this 34"x24" map for $25 by contacting one of the Alaska Court System's customer service centers:

Customer Service Division
825 W. 4th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
907-264-0514

Customer Service Division
101 Lacey St.
Fairbanks, AK 99701
907-452-9277

How Wealthy We Are

2009-12-24T06:00:00.004-09:00

Update: URLs checked and updated. 8/1/11

Question: Where does Alaska rank nationally in terms of wealth?

Answer: Wealth can have a number of meanings. Two common measures used by the federal government for wealth are “Gross Domestic Product by State” and “Personal Income per Capita” by state.

According to the Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, Alaska ranks 45th in Gross Domestic Product by state in current (2007) dollars. See table at http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2009/ranks/rank28.html.

In terms of Personal Income Per Capita, Alaska ranked 15th in 2007, the latest year available. Please see the table Personal Income Per Capita in Current and Constant (2000) Dollars by State at http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2009/tables/09s0659.pdf.

More wealth tables from the Statistical Abstract can be found at http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/income_expenditures_poverty_wealth.html.

Libraries in the 21st Century

2009-12-18T10:41:00.004-09:00

Update: The Mystery Photo blog linked below has ceased. Most of the other resources mentioned below, including much of this blog, are sporadically active at most. The School Librarian Handbook and the Alaska State Library twitter feed are both active. 8/1/11

Question: I'm doing some research on State Library activities. Could you provide a list of state library agencies in the US? Also, what is the Alaska State Library doing with social networking or Web 2.0 technologies?

Answer: To answer your questions in reverse: Some of the web 2.0 or social networking activities by the State Library include:

This blog.
Hidden Gems Mined by the Alaska State Library, a blog that highlights some of the paper and online resources we make available.
A Mystery Photo blog which gives the general public an opportunity to help us identify people and locations in our historical photographs.
An education wiki that pulls together materials from the classes we offer.
The Alaska School Librarian Handbook, made available via a wiki.
A Twitter feed, which has some live posts but mostly incorporates several automated feeds, including new book listings, Alaska-related articles, class offerings, and more.

In addition, several of our staff use other Web 2.0 services informally but related to our library work. These include flickr (photo sharing), Facebook, Twitter, blogging using various platforms, wikis, and more. We are still working on our delicious account (social bookmarking), and haven’t publicized it yet.

We use some additional social networking platforms for internal communications.

For information about other state library agencies, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has compiled a listing of state library websites at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/statelib.html. PublicLibraries.com also has a listing at http://www.publiclibraries.com/state_library.htm (please note that this listing includes two links for some states, which may have divided library services between agencies).

One extra note: This question came from outside of the US, and in the process, I found that I needed to translate an Asian language into English. I found that Google language was quite helpful for this. I just clicked on "Language Tools" to the right of the search box on the main Google page, the cut and pasted the text into the provided box and chose the appropriate languages. Handy!

Terrorism Statistics By Country

2009-12-11T08:00:00.001-09:00

Update: URLs checked and updated. 8/1/11

Question: I've heard that the US government publishes annual statistics on terrorism by country. Where can I find these statistics?

Answer: The State Department publishes an annual report called Country Reports on Terrorism which is available at http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/index.htm. As of this writing, the latest version is 2008. The country reports consist of a narrative about the environment for terrorist groups in each country. There are worldwide and Iraq/Afghanistan statistics contained in each year's Annex of Statistical Information. The Annex for 2008 can be found at http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2008/122452.htm.

Terrorism incidents for a specific country can be located using the National Counterterrorism Center's "Worldwide Incidents Tracking System" at http://wits.nctc.gov/.

Another source of terrorism statistics is the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) at http://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/. The GTD is a project of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism and is located at the University of Maryland. According to the GTD website, this database is: "an open-source database including information on terrorist events around the world from 1970 through 2007 (with annual updates planned for the future). Unlike many other event databases, the GTD includes systematic data on domestic as well as transnational and international terrorist incidents that have occurred during this time period and now includes more than 80,000 cases. For each GTD incident, information is available on the date and location of the incident, the weapons used and nature of the target, the number of casualties, and—when identifiable—the group or individual responsible."

Retirement Age for Social Security

2009-12-04T07:32:00.000-09:00

Question: When can I start drawing my full Social Security benefit? When I'm 65?

Answer: It depends. Assuming you otherwise qualify for Social Security, they pay full benefits when you reach "Full Retirement Age." "Full Retirement Age" varies by when you were born. Below is a Q&A that was taken from the Social Security FAQ website at http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/links_retirement.htm:

Question

What age can I begin receiving full retirement benefits?

Answer

Full-retirement age has been 65 for many years. However, beginning with people born in 1938 or later, that age will gradually increase until it reaches 67 for people born after 1959.
The following chart shows the steps in which the age will
increase.

Year of Birth / Full Retirement Age
1937 or earlier / 65
1938 / 65 and 2 months
1939 / 65 and 4 months
1940 / 65 and 6 months
1941 / 65 and 8 months
1942 / 65 and 10 months
1943--1954 / 66
1955 / 66 and 2 months
1956 / 66 and 4 months
1957 / 66 and 6 months
1958 / 66 and 8 months
1959 / 66 and 10 months
1960 and later / 67

Note: Persons born on January 1 of any year should refer to the full
retirement age for the previous year.

Specific questions about your Social Security benefits may be directed to your local Social Security office. Find your local office by visiting https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp.

Got a book?

2009-11-27T14:25:00.000-09:00

Question: Is it common practice for authors to donate books in order to gain exposure?

Answer: I’m not aware of studies or official figures on this topic, but in my experience, some sort of donation is fairly common. Sometimes books are donated directly to libraries. Sometimes they are donated to reviewers, or library or subject area publications for review. These copies often make their way into libraries as well. We do get some donated books from authors or publishers here at the Alaska State Library. We sometimes add donated titles to our own collection. However, we have limited space and a fairly strict collection development policy, so often we are unable to keep donated titles. We also sometimes pass donations onto to other libraries, when we determine that they might be of better use there.

I have worked in other libraries, too, and I’ve noticed that libraries are often unable to add donated books to their collections because they don’t fit within the libraries’ collection development practices. This practice may be somewhat more lax in public libraries, as compared to research libraries. If you are considering donating a book to libraries, I encourage you to start by sending an email or letter, and only send actual copies when the library indicates that they can add the title.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-27T06:31:00.000-09:00

The staff at the Alaska State Library would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our readers a safe and pleasant holiday. We are thankful for so much, including you!

We'll be open regular hours on Friday, November 27th. Stop by and say hi!

Alaska Pipeline Oil Spill Data

2009-11-20T11:41:00.000-09:00

Question: Where can I find oil spill data for Alaska online?

Answer: The best place online for this information is the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Spill Response at http://dec.alaska.gov/spar/index.htm. This agency is required by federal law to log spills and responses. The following are several links to their data:

1. Spills Database Online Query at http://dec.alaska.gov/spar/perp/search/search.asp.
Complete information back to 1995. Prior to that the data may be incomplete and/or inaccurate. Direct contact information for the agency is listed on the page in case you need older data. If you choose to search the database, the “Spill Specific Search” will allow you to limit by location, type of incident, type of substance and more. In addition, you can use two other buttons search by facility or affiliate (company) if you have the information.

2. Oil and Hazardous Substance Spill Data Summaries at http://dec.alaska.gov/spar/perp/data.htm.
These reports are general, but the larger reports will indicate major pipeline spills. You can then take that information and go back to the online database’s “Spill Specific Search” for details.

3. Response Updates back to FY04 (July 2003 – June 2004) http://dec.alaska.gov/spar/perp/response/sr_active.htm.
This is a browse portal without searching capabilities. You can find basic information on the active responses and read detailed situation reports.

Reading about Alaska's history

2009-11-13T13:43:00.000-09:00

Question: Can you suggest books about the history of Alaska and its major cities?

Answer: Before I go into some specific recommendations, I wanted to suggest this book of recommended Alaska titles:

Alaska Historical Society. (2006). The Alaska 67: a guide to Alaska's best history books. Walnut Creek, CA: Hardscratch Press. See holding libraries at http://worldcat.org/oclc/74733103. This has annotations on 67 books related to specific aspects of Alaska history.

Another good source of recommendations for nonfiction and fiction about Alaska is our library's "Some Books About Alaska" guide, which was published from 1994-2000. You can find those issues at http://library.state.ak.us/hist/publications.html#Some%20Books%20About%20Alaska.

Now for some recommendations about specific books:

State History:

Naske, C.-M., & Slotnick, H. E. (1979). Alaska, a history of the 49th State. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. See holding libraries at http://worldcat.org/oclc/4665300. This is considered one of the standard works on Alaska.

Haycox, S. W. (2002). Alaska: an American colony. Seattle: University of Washington Press. See holding libraries at http://worldcat.org/oclc/49225731. This work links Alaska history under Russia and the United States to colonialism.

Whitehead, J. S. (2004). Completing the union: Alaska, Hawai'i, and the battle for statehood. Histories of the American frontier. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. See holding libraries at http://worldcat.org/oclc/55665367. This is the most painless and fun read of the story of how Alaska became the 49th State of the Union.

City Histories:

By 2000 population, our largest five cities are: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan (Source: American Factfinder http://factfinder.census.gov).

Anchorage
Tower, E. A. (1999). Anchorage: from its humble origins as a railroad construction camp. Fairbanks: Epicenter Press. See library holdings at http://worldcat.org/oclc/41603147. I've read this book myself and offer an enthusiastic recommendation.

Fairbanks
Cole, D. (1999). Fairbanks: a gold rush town that beat the odds. Fairbanks, [Alaska]: Epicenter Press. See library holdings at http://worldcat.org/oclc/41579911.

Juneau
De Armond, R. N. (1967). The founding of Juneau. Juneau, Alaska: Gastineau Channel Centennial Association. See library holdings at http://worldcat.org/oclc/2118319. Considered the major work on Juneau history.

Stone, D., Stone, B., & Bradley, P. R. (1980). Hard rock gold: the story of the great mines that were the heartbeat of Juneau. Juneau, Alaska (155 S. Seward St., Juneau, Alaska 99801): Juneau Centennial Committee, City & Borough of Juneau. See library holdings at http://worldcat.org/oclc/7672030.

Sitka

Andrews, C. L. (1922). The story of Sitka; the historic outpost of the northwest coast, the chief factory of the Russian American company. Seattle: Press of Lowman and Henford. See list of holding libraries at http://worldcat.org/oclc/1647149.

Roppel, P. (1982). Sitka, and its ocean/island world. Alaska geographic, v. 9, no. 2. Anchorage, Alaska: Alaska Geographic Society. See library holdings at http://worldcat.org/oclc/8195040.

Ketchikan
Allen, J., & Charles, P. (1992). Spirit!: historic Ketchikan, Alaska. Ketchikan, Alaska: Published by Lind Printing for Historic Ketchikan. See library holdings at http://worldcat.org/oclc/30637949.

Harrington, L. B., & Smith, M. C. (1999). Clams on the beach and deer in the woods: a collection of oral histories from southern Southeast Alaska. Ketchikan, Alaska: Friends of the Public Library. See library holdings at http://worldcat.org/oclc/48247467. If you like personal stories, then this is the book to read about Ketchikan.

History of Alcohol in Alaska

2009-11-06T13:43:00.000-09:00

Question: I'm interested in learning more about the history of alcohol use in Alaska. Can you suggest some resources for me?

Answer: There are a number of resources that may be helpful in studying the historic use of alcohol in Alaska:

Books

Andersen, Thayne I. 1988. Alaska hooch: the history of alcohol in early Alaska. [Fairbanks, Alaska] (Box 80384, Fairbanks 99708): [Hoo-Che Noo. - http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/20626216

Conn, S., & Moras, A. (1986). No need of gold: Alcohol control laws and the Alaska native population : from the Russians through the early years of statehood. Anchorage: School of Justice, University of Alaska. - http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/15790289

Clicking on the links above will give you a list of libraries that hold these books. If you don't live near one those libraries, request the book at your nearest library through Interlibrary Loan.

Articles

Norris, Frank Blaine. Alaskans and the prohibition experiment. Politics and government in Alaska's past, (1995), pp. 81-91.

Watson, Angela. Revenue stamp examples and the history of alcohol control in Alaska. Alaskan philatelist, v. 43, no. 3 (3rd quarter, 2007) p. 65-66.

Web Resources

History of Alcohol Control in Alaska (From Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Dept of Public Safety)
http://www.dps.state.ak.us/ABC/history.aspx - This page gives a brief timeline of alcohol control.

Alcohol Control by Referendum in Northern Native Communities: the Alaska Local Option Law
By Matthew Berman and Teresa Hull
Institute of Social and Economic Research
University of Alaska Anchorage
http://www.iser.uaa.alaska.edu/Publications/Alcohol_Arctic.pdf - This 21 page article has a section on the history of alcohol regulation in Alaska starting on page three.

Female Homesteaders and Pioneers

2009-10-30T13:32:00.000-08:00

Question: Where can I learn more about Judy Ferguson and other pioneering women of Alaska?

Answer: There are at least two books on Judy Ferguson about her and other women's struggle to live a homesteading life in Alaska:

Ferguson, Judy. 2003. Blue hills: Alaska's promised land. Big Delta, Alaska: Glas Pub. Co. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/52253790
Ferguson, Judy. 2002. Parallel destinies. Big Delta, Alaska: Glas Publishing Company. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/49360883

Clicking on the links above will give you a list of libraries that hold these books. You should also be able to get these books from your local library through Interlibrary Loan.
You can find a list of biographies about more of Alaska's pioneering/homesteading women at:
http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=pioneers+women+alaska&=Search&qt=owc_search

Court Records

2009-10-23T13:22:00.000-08:00

Question: I would like to examine some Alaskan criminal trial records. Is this possible and how would I go about it?

Answer: With limited exceptions such as juvenile cases, court records in Alaska are available for public inspection. Here is information on requesting a court record from the Alaska Court System page at http://courts.alaska.gov/trialcts.htm#recs:

Requests for copies of case files should be submitted in writing to the records department or clerk of court where the case was filed. A complete list of Alaska Court System contact information is available on our website. Email requests for copies are not accepted.

Your written request for copies should include:

the names of the parties
the case number
the case type (for example: civil, criminal, probate, small claims)
your name
your address
your phone number

Most court records are available for public inspection. Copies are 25¢ per page. A certified copy of a document is $5.00. There is a $15.00 per hour research fee. A deposit may be required on some copy requests.

Records in some proceedings, such as juvenile matters, are confidential and only parties to the case are allowed access to the file.

If you are not sure what court has the case file you are interested, visit the Alaska Trial Courts search page at http://www.courtrecords.alaska.gov/.

Life in Fairbanks during the Korean War

2009-10-16T13:10:00.000-08:00

Question: How can I find out how life in Fairbanks was during the Korean War?

Answer: From our searches it doesn't seem like there are many books specificially about Fairbanks during the period of the Korean War (1950-1953). However the books below are general histories of Fairbanks and should have something to say about the 1950s:

Fairbanks : a gold rush town that beat the odds

by Dermot Cole

Historic Fairbanks : an illustrated history

by Dermot Cole

Backwoods Broadway : theatre in Fairbanks, Alaska, 1905-1997

by Charles H Parr

You should be able to borrow the above books through your local library using Interlibrary Loan.

Another option for learning about Fairbanks life in the early 1950s would be to examine some of the newspapers of the time. Fairbanks newspapers covering the period 1950-1953 include:

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Region: Interior Publication dates:
1909-present
Frequency: daily

Farthest-North Collegian
Region: Interior
Publication dates: 1923-1958
Frequency: frequency varies

History: Began in Feb 1923 and was published at least through the Jul 1958 issue. Was the official campus newspaper of Alaskan Agricultural College and School of Mines which became the University of Alaska.

Jessen’s Weekly
Region: Interior
Publication dates: 1942-1968
Frequency: weekly
Editors: E.F. Jessen,

Midnight Sun (Ladd Field)
Region: Interior
Publication dates: 1946-?
Frequency: biweekly
History: Began with the Mar 22, 1946 issue. Date when publication ceased is unknown. It continued the LADD FIELD MIDNIGHT SUN (1942-1946). It was published in the interest of the military personnel of Ladd Field, Alaska. Microfilm holdings: 1951-1952

The above newspapers are available in microfilm at a number of Alaskan librarians and are available for interlibrary loan.

Resources for People with Disabilities

2009-10-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Question: After decades in the work force, I recently became ill. Due to my disability, I am no longer able to work. I am having difficulty connecting with the available services and am having trouble navigating the Medicaid and Medicare system. Can you help me?

Answer: I am sorry to hear about your circumstances and hope that the following will be useful to you.

Disability.gov at http://www.disability.gov/ is a portal to resources available on both a national and state specific level. At the very top of the page is a search box to locate more than 11,000 resources on their website. The Advanced Search link to the left of the box allows you to control the search even further. On the left side of the main page, you will find links to topics such as technology, health, civil rights, education and more. Just below that is a drop box to select a state or U.S. territory and identify services specific to your locale of choice. In the middle are links to services categorized by the things you would like to accomplish by visiting the site. Scroll a little further down and you will find the latest news and events gathered by the agency. In addition, you can connect with Disability.gov's information via their email updates, newsletter, RSS feeds, blog and Twitter account by using the links on the right side of the page.

To assist with your questions about Medicare and Medicaid you might want to visit the health insurance section at http://www.disability.gov/health/health_insurance. You will discover a great amount of information separated into topics such as agency contacts, prescription drug program, health plans that are available in your location, insurance eligibility, and much more.

The amount of information on this site is tremendous but it is well organized by category, topic or location. Best wishes to you as you seek the appropriate services to meet your needs.

Charter of the United Nations

2009-09-25T13:41:00.000-08:00

Question: Where I can find a copy of the United Nations Charter?

Answer: The Charter of the United Nations is available through the United Nations website at http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/index.shtml.

The Charter has also been published a number of times since its creation in 1945. To see libraries that hold the 1945 edition of the UN Charter, please visit http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3837545.

Alaska State Flag colors

2009-08-14T10:06:00.002-08:00

Question: What are Pantone colors, and what do they have to do with the Alaska State Flag?

“Pantone” is a trademark of Pantone, Inc., and refers to the Pantone Matching System used in commercial color printing and has now expanding out to web design, textiles, paint, and plastics. Pantone colors help maintain standardization of color schemes, keeping colors consistent print after print.

The Pantone colors for the Alaska State Flag are OG blue pms 2768 and Spanish yellow pms 1235. Alaska State Statute Sec. 44.09.020 describes the colors as “The stars shall be the color of natural yellow gold and the field of blue shall be of the same shade of blue used in the official manufacture of the national emblem of the United States.”

Below is the exact layout of our flag, as specified by Alaska Statute.

Finding Historical Fiction

2009-08-14T09:17:00.000-08:00

Question: Can you recommend some good historical fiction based in Alaska?

Answer: We have created a list on WorldCat called Alaska Historical Fiction at http://www.worldcat.org/profiles/akstatelibrary/lists/934781. Click on any title for a list of libraries holding that item, or to explore other works by the same author or subject. This list was created by reviewing books listed on the former Alaska State Library Historical Collection publication Some books about Alaska, which was web posted from 1994 to 2000. Some books about Alaska listed both fiction and non-fiction books and all were reviewed by at least one librarian.

If you are interested in historical fiction, but don't want to be limited to Alaska, check out the other historical fiction lists on WorldCat. The State Library is not endorsing these lists, just offering links for information.

Need to Mend a Fishing Net?

2009-08-07T15:26:00.001-08:00

Question: I am looking for fishnet mending techniques. Is there a source on the internet for this type of information?

Answer: The National Sea Grant Library’s searchable database of Sea Grant-funded documents includes resources on fishing net repair. Information about the database is available at http://nsgd.gso.uri.edu/. You can search the database at http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/search/. A search for the terms "net mending" retrieves three documents. Two are available in PDF format. These include: (1) Hillier, A. J., & Recksiek, C. W. (1982). Introduction to net mending. [Kingston, R.I.]: University of Rhode Island (described in WorldCat.org at http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/9674341); and (2) Lorimer, P. D., & Sea Grant. (1976). Net mending and patching. Pacific Sea Grant Advisory Program, PASGAP 9. [Corvallis]: Oregon State University Extension Service, Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program (described in WorldCat.org at http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4157254). See http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/ordering/ for ordering information for the third document, which is a 1989 revision of Lorimer's 1976 document titled "Net Mending and Patching" (described in WorldCat.org at http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/47702996).

End of Term Palin/Parnell Web Snapshot

2009-07-30T11:14:00.000-08:00

Questions and Answers about the Alaska State’s Library web snapshot of the Palin/Parnell Administration
Prepared By
Daniel Cornwall and Sheri Somerville, Alaska State Library
July 30, 2009

Q: Where can I find the end-of-term Palin/Parnell web snapshot collected by the Alaska State Library?

A: The Palin/Parnell end-of-term website snapshot is hosted by Archive-It.org and is available at http://www.archive-it.org/collections/1200.

Q: What can I find on the end-of-term Palin/Parnell web snapshot?

A: You should be able to find every web page, photo, video and audio file hosted on the web servers of either Governor Palin or then Lt. Governor Sean Parnell. Because no web spidering software is perfect, there may have been some inadvertent omissions. Some links of interest include:

Q: Why do you have so many URLs on your start page at http://www.archive-it.org/collections/1200?

A: On our start page we offer a browseable version of the following URLs:

• http://gov.state.ak.us/
• http://ltgov.alaska.gov/speeches.php
• http://ltgov.state.ak.us/
• http://ltgov.state.ak.us/newsletters/
• http://www.gov.state.ak.us/
• http://www.ltgov.state.ak.us/

The ltgov.alaska.gov/speeches.php and ltgov.state.ak.us/newsletters/ URLs are there because our initial efforts to retrieve then Lt. Governor Parnell’s web presence failed to collect his speeches or newsletters. We are still analyzing why this happened. We added the specific URLs for his speeches and newsletters in hopes that this would succeed in retrieving these materials. We were successful.

We have both www.gov/gov and www.ltgov/ltgov because our initial retrieval efforts indicated that each address had unique content. That is, some material that was available at gov.state.ak.us was NOT available on www.gov.state.ak.us and vice versa. In an effort to be comprehensive in collecting content, we retrieved documents from both of the addresses given for the Governor and Lt. Governor.

Q: Why did the Alaska State Library collect an end-of-term web snapshot for the Palin/Parnell administration?

A: Under AS 14.56.090-180, the Alaska State Publications Program, known in statute as the “State library distribution and data access center”, has a responsibility to acquire, describe and provide permanent public access to state government information. It was in compliance with these responsibilities that we produced an end-of-term web snapshot for the Palin/Parnell administration.

Q: Is this the first time that the Alaska State Library collected an end of term web snapshot for an outgoing Governor/Lt. Governor?

A: No. We also produced a web snapshot for the Knowles/Ulmer administration and for the Murkowski/Leman administration. Due to technological and resource constraints, these were put onto optical discs:

Knowles-Ulmer:

Alaska State Publications Program. (2003). Knowles-Ulmer web site as of November 26, 2002. [Juneau, Alaska]: Alaska State Library, Alaska State Publications Program.

See libraries holding this disc at http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/52370720.
------

Murkowski-Leman

Alaska State Publications Program. (2007). Alaska Governor/Lt. Governor web sites as of November 30, 2006 Governor Frank H. Murkowski (12/5/2002 - 12/4/2006), Lt. Governor Loren (12/5/2002 - 12/4/2006). [Juneau, Alaska]: Alaska State Publications Program.

See libraries holding this disc at http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/123425349.

Q: How much is the subscription to Archive-It cost each year?

A: We paid $5,000 to subscribe to Archive-It. The subscription provides the Alaska State Library the ability to manage our archived collections and preserve selected data for long-term public access. Anyone with Internet access can keyword search all web content found on Archive-It.

Q: What makes Archive-It different from the Wayback Machine at www.archive.org?

A: The Wayback Machine was established in 1996 as a mechanism to create an Internet Library. In past years, the Wayback Machine has successfully archived State of Alaska web sites. Archive-It allows the Alaska State Library to fulfill its statutory mandate to preserve publications for long-term public access through periodic captures of select web sites. In this way, we are better able to manage the materials that are archived.

Q: What else is the State Library doing/planning to do with Archive-It?

A: We are exploring our use of Archive-It, not only for preservation of state documents for library purposes, but also in support of the individual needs of State agencies. The plan is to continue capturing material for our current collections and adding new collections based on single events or topics of particular interest. If you would like to discuss Archive-It or make collection suggestions, please contact Sheri Somerville at sheri.somerville@alaska.gov.

Q: Who is Archive-It?

A: From the Archive-It “about us” page at http://www.archive-it.org/public/about-us:

“Archive-It is a subscription service developed in 2005 by the Internet Archive. The Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was founded in 1996 to build an 'Internet library,' with the purpose of offering permanent access for researchers, historians, and scholars to historical collections that exist in digital format.”

Q: Do other state libraries and state archives work with Archive-It?

A: Yes. The folks at archive-it work with a number of state libraries and state archives. They have worked with most of them longer than they have with us. Current state library and state archive users of Archive-It include:

State Libraries

Alaska State Library
Idaho Commission for Libraries
Montana State Library
State Library of Ohio
South Dakota State Archives and South Dakota State Library
Tennessee State Library and Archives
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

State Archives

State Archives of Alabama
Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Delaware Government Information Center
Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries
Nebraska State Historical Society
State Archives of North Carolina and State Library of North Carolina
South Carolina Department of Archives and History
Utah State Library/Utah State Archives and Records Service
Library of Virginia

The 49 stars flag

2009-07-15T14:36:00.004-08:00

Question: On January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state of America. Why did we wait until July 4, 1959 to fly the 49 stars flag?

Answer: We waited to fly our new flag because of the laws in place. A joint resolution of Congress, made on April 4, 1818, states that we will add a new star for every additional state included into the union, and the new flag will fly on the following Fourth of July.

http://qmfound.com/us_flag_49th_and_50th_star.htm

The 49 stars flag flew for only a year. Hawaii received statehood on August 21 of 1959, and the 50 stars flag flew on July 4, 1960.

RVing by ferry?

2009-06-26T14:22:00.000-08:00

Question: Since there is no road into Juneau, are there any RV parks there?

Answer: Although you cannot drive into Juneau, you can bring your RV with you on the Alaska Marine Highway System. To serve these folks, as well as local campers, Juneau boasts both public and commercial RV parks:

Auke Bay RV Park
11930 Glacier Hwy
Juneau AK 99801
907) 789-9467

Spruce Meadow RV Park
10200 Mendenhall Loop Rd.
(907) 789-1990
http://www.juneaurv.com/

Mendenhall Lake Campground (9 full service hookup sites)
8510 Mendenhall Loop Rd.
(907) 586-8800
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/recreation/rec_facilities/jnurec.shtml (This link covers additional public campgrounds in Juneau as well.)

For more information about visiting Juneau, whether or not you intend to camp, see also the Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau at TravelJuneau.com.

A SLEDing Summer

2009-06-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Question: Can SLED help me find stuff to keep my children entertained and maybe educated during summer vacation?

Answer: The librarian-selected resources on SLED cover a wide range of subjects. While we can't guarantee results for any specific child or adult, we think SLED has something for nearly everybody:

Use SLED's Daily Living section to pull up the Internet Movie Database and figure out what movies to watch or rent.
Use the Digital Pipeline on SLED to read magazines like:

Do a search on "paper airplanes" in the the SLED search box and find Amazing Paper Airplanes from the Internet Public Library Kidspace.

Is there a general topic you're interested in? Let us know in comments and we'll check to see if SLED has something for you.

To SLED, Or Not To SLED?

2009-05-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

Question: Can SLED help me find a copy of Richard III by Shakespeare? I also could use some commentary on the play.

Answer: Yes, SLED can help you with Richard III or any other Shakespeare play. The fastest way would be to use the SLED search box in the upper left hand corner of the SLED home page. Type in [richard III shakespeare] for your search and you'll find:

Add the word "criticism" and you'll get:

If you're needing information on more than just one play or perhaps a different writer, it would be helpful to click on SLED's category of Arts, Literature & History. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and check out some of the following sites:

Coming back to the title of this post, I hope you'll choose to SLED when thinking about literature in or out of Alaska.

Let SLED Help Your Garden Grow

2009-05-19T14:41:00.000-08:00

Question: What is SLED and can it help me with my gardening?

Answer: SLED is a public service providing easy and equitable access to electronic information. SLED was developed by the Alaska State Library and the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks. It stands for Statewide Library Electronic Doorway, but everyone who knows about SLED calls it SLED. The sites on SLED are picked by an advisory committee that includes librarians from around the state and a member of the general public.

SLED can help you with many things, including your gardening. If you go to SLED at http://sled.alaska.edu and click on Daily Living, Recreation & Sports, you'll find an entries for the Alaska Master Gardener Association and for Cooperative Extension Service Publications from the University of Alaska. Both of these sites have a wealth of Alaska-related gardening information.

If you use the search box that appears in the upper left hand corner of SLED, you can ask it gardening questions. Try searches using these terms:

best time plant anchorage
growing tomatoes
growing fruit fairbanks

Good luck and good growing!

State Library Twitter Account Explained

2009-05-12T09:04:00.003-08:00

Question: Is your Twitter account at twitter.com/akstatelibrary real? What kinds of things do you post? How do you decide whom to follow?

Answer: The akstatelibrary account is ours.

WHAT GOES INTO YOUR TWITTER FEED?

Most of our tweets are automatically posted from our RSS feeds. You can tell these tweets apart from any spontaneous comments we make because they have a prefix. Here are the types of automated tweets you will see on our account:

Bookmark: - The Alaska State Library Information Services Section has a delicious account where we put our reference bookmarks. Tweets with this preface denote items we've bookmarked. Bookmarking does not mean we endorse the site, only that we have found it useful in answering reference questions.

For Alaskans Only: - Thanks to the Digital Pipeline, we have been able to set up an alert in a database with thousands of journals for articles whose main topic is Alaska. Tweets with this prefix link to an Alaska-themed journal article. With our vendor license, these articles may be viewed by any Alaskan, but not by people from outside the state.

Have you seen?: The Alaska State Library Historical Collections maintains a blog of Mystery Photos that they have requested help in identifying. The link in these tweets will take you to the photo. - UPDATE 5/25/2011. This blog has ceased.

New@ASL: - This indicates a new item added to our catalog. The link will take to you the catalog record for the title. If you don't live in Juneau, most of these items will be available to you through Interlibrary Loan. Just ask at your local library.

We Answered: - This is posted from the blog you are reading - Since You Asked. The hyperlink in the tweet takes you to the full answered question.

We Liked: - These Tweets come from our Staff Picks list on WorldCat.org. These are books that at least one of the library staff members found interesting.

In addition to these automated ways of feeding our Twitter account, we will occasionally post bits of news about the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums like upcoming trainings. We may also post informational items about hot topics, like Mt. Redoubt or the recent H1N1 influenza outbreak.

We monitor direct messages (DM's) daily and look for @akstatelibrary a few times a week.

WHO DO YOU FOLLOW?

We follow people and institutions we become aware of who meet one of these criteria:

An Alaska State Agency (for example: Public Health Nursing)

An Alaskan elected official (for example: Governor Parnell, Senator Murkowski)

Alaskan libraries, archives & museums (for example: Egan Library)

Traditional media outlets (i.e. radio, TV, newspaper outlets)

Other state libraries and cultural institutions of national interest

If you've got questions our comments about our twitter feed, please either leave a comment here, or e-mail asl@alaska.gov.

Status of Women in Alaska

2009-04-10T11:12:00.001-08:00

Question: Where can I find a comprehensive report on the status of women in Alaska?

Answer: The Institute for Women’s Policy Research published a 79-page report in 2004 titled The Status of Women in Alaska. The report is available at http://www.iwpr.org/publications/pubs/status-of-women-in-alaska. The next most recent comprehensive report that we have found was published in 1984 by the Alaska Women’s Commission, an organization which no longer exists. The 1984 report, titled Alaska Women: A Databook, can be ordered from the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Institute for Social and Economic Research and may also be available through your local library.

Historic List of Alaska Legislators

2009-04-01T08:17:00.000-08:00

Question: I heard about a list of Alaska State Legislators through history but cannot find it online. Can you help me?

Answer: The list is called the Roster of Members and is found on the Alaska State Legislature's publications page. You will find the link for the publication about halfway down on the righthand side. It includes information on the participants in the Alaska Constitutional Convention and Legislative member details from the first Territorial Legislature in 1913 through the 25th State Legislature for the 2007 and 2008 sessions.

Aviation Accidents and Incidents

2009-02-23T13:17:00.001-09:00

Question: A relative of mine was involved in a plane crash near Juneau in the summer of 1987. Where can I find more information about the crash?

Answer: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) publish information about aviation accidents and incidents. You can search NTSB’s Accident Database and Synopses, which covers aviation accidents and some incidents occurring after 1962, at http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/Query.asp. Available data includes type of aircraft, date and location, airline, type of air carrier operation, severity of any injuries, NTSB’s report status, and preliminary or final report. The full reports are generally not available for events occurring before 1993. Selected major accidents occurring more than ten years ago are also listed at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/A_Acc2.htm. NTSB retains detailed records and files relating to its accident investigations. For information about reviewing and ordering these documents, see http://www.ntsb.gov/info/sources.htm#PIB.

If the “crash” you are researching was not investigated by NTSB, you may find it in the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), at http://www.nasdac.faa.gov/. At this page, select the Data & Information tab, then the link for the Accident/Incident Data System. This database covers general aviation and commercial air carrier incidents since 1978. FAA defines “incidents” as “events that do not meet the aircraft damage or personal injury thresholds contained in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) definition of an accident.”

In addition, you may find articles about the crash in the Juneau Empire or other Alaska newspapers. We have an extensive collection of Alaska newspapers on microfilm. More information about our newspaper collection, including information about ordering microfilm through interlibrary loan, is available on this blog at http://askasl.blogspot.com/search/label/newspapers.

Green building funding

2009-02-20T11:14:00.000-09:00

Question: I want to find funding for my personal green building project. Where should I look?

Answer: Depending on the intended use of the building and the status of the builder, there may be different types of funds available.

The EPA has a fairly comprehensive database of funding opportunities. http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/tools/funding.htm They list websites that would be useful to consumers, government, non-profit organizations, and other industry. The site is organized by general, national, state, and local funding programs.

The U.S. Small Business Administration http://sba.gov/ has additional resources for small business funding, as well as information on the different types of financial assistance available.

If you’re looking for non-profit funding, the Foundation Center http://foundationcenter.org/ has resources and online training available. If you happen to be in Juneau, our downtown Juneau Public Library is a participating library and has access to additional resources. You can find a list of other participating libraries at http://foundationcenter.org/collections/.

Finding Mineral Maps

2009-02-05T11:53:00.000-09:00

Question: Where can I find statewide maps of Alaska's oil and mineral resources?

Answer: The best place to go for this kind of map is Alaska's Division of Geology and Geophysical Resources. They have a page for statewide maps at http://www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us/index.php?menu_link=publications&link=statewide&sub2_link=statewide. The maps available here include:

Generalized Geologic Map of Alaska
Oil and Gas Basins Map of Alaska
Map of Alaska's Coal Resources
Map of selected mines, coalfields, and significant mineral resources of Alaska
Map of prospective mineral areas and significant mineral resources of Alaska
Geothermal resources of Alaska
Volcanoes of Alaska
Map of industrial minerals occurrences in Alaska

The Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys publishes many maps and reports related to Alaska mineral resources. Most are available online and also in paper format at the Alaska State Library.

Castner's Cutthroats

2009-01-29T11:25:00.001-09:00

Update: We are no longer able to access the KTUU story online. 8/1/11

Question: Where can I learn more about the WWII Alaska Scouts also known as Castner's Cutthroats?

Answer: Castner's Cutthroats were officially known as the 1st Combat Intelligence Platoon (Provisional). The unit was active at Fort Richardson from 1941 to 1946 and members were recruited from Alaska Natives and sourdough prospectors.

The Alaska State Library has a number of items with information about Castner's Cutthroats, including:

Rearden, Jim. 1990. Castner's Cutthroats: saga of the Alaska Scouts. Prescott, Ariz: Wolfe Pub.
For list of holding libraries see: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/22150002

Rearden, Jim. 2005. Forgotten warriors of the Aleutian campaign. Missoula, Mont: Pictorial Histories Pub. Co.
For list of holding libraries see: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/62595816

Reiss, Marguerite. Alaska miners at war -- part 01. Alaska miner 1993, v. 21, no. 12 (Dec. 1993) pp. 7+.

Rearden, Jim. Castner's cutthroats. Alaska magazine 1991, v. 57, no. 12 (Dec. 1991) . p. 34

If these books and articles aren't available in your local library, please ask your library to get them by Interlibrary Loan.

To find websites and other internet based resources, We suggest that you visit SLED at http://sled.alaska.edu and type Castner's Cutthroats into the search box. That yields a number of results including the KTUU story, "Castner's Cutthroats: defenders of the Last Frontier". There is also a decent looking Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castner's_Cutthroats.

Classification Codes

2009-01-21T13:32:00.001-09:00

Update: Links have been checked and updated. 8/1/11

QUESTION: How does the state of Alaska assign classification codes to state government documents?

ANSWER: At this time, the State of Alaska does not have a standardized classification scheme for state publications. At the Alaska State Library, we use the Library of Congress system to catalog most of our materials, including our state documents. For more detailed information on Library of Congress, visit http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/.

If a state agency implements a classification system, it will sometimes refer to a report series, the date of publication, the publication sequence, an assigned agency code and other internal filing or coding systems. At times, state agency newsletters and journals will include standard periodical classification such as volume number, issue number, and publication date.

Here are a few examples:

1.) State of Alaska, Dept. of Fish & Game, Technical Fishery Reports at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=librarycollections.publicationsreports.

2.) State of Alaska, Legislative Audit, Audit Report Lists at http://www.legaudit.state.ak.us/.

3.) State of Alaska. Dept. of Natural Resources, Div. of Geological & Geophysical Surveys’ Publication Series at http://www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us/pubs/pubs?reqtype=pubseries&publisher=DGGS.

4.) State of Alaska, Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development’s “Alaska Economic Trends” journal at http://labor.state.ak.us/trends/.

Death Certificates

2009-01-13T15:19:00.001-09:00

Question: I’m looking for the death certificate and burial information of a relative who died in Alaska. Where can I find this information?

Answer: You can request a copy of Alaskan death certificates from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. For more information on the process, instructions and forms please go to: http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dph/bvs/death/default.htm

Additionally, if you would like a copy of an Alaskan obituary let us know the date and newspaper that it was published in and we can see if it’s available to make a copy of for you. You can find a list of what Alaskan newspapers we have access to here:
http://library.state.ak.us/hist/newspaper/newspaper.html

Even if you don't have the all of the information we need to look up an obituary for you, we may be able to help. Try looking at our genealogy resource guide, online at http://library.state.ak.us/pub/online/akgene.html, for additional sources.

January 3, 1959

2009-01-02T13:30:00.000-09:00

Question: What was the most popular search on Since You Asked in 2008?

Answer: Last year, about half of the traffic to this blog came to us a result of searches on Google and other search engines. By far the most popular search was for "When did Alaska become a state?" The answer to that question is January 3, 1959, when President Eisenhower signed Alaska into the Union in this Internet Archive video 49th Star.

For more information about how Alaska became a state and other related materials, please see:

Books and more – http://www.worldcat.org/profiles/akstatelibrary/lists/420908
Photos and more – http://vilda.alaska.edu/cdm4/statehood.php
Statehood Celebration events and ideas - http://www.gov.state.ak.us/ASCC/

On this first workday of 2009, the Alaska State Library wishes you a safe, healthy and well-informed New Year.

Naming Geographic Features

2008-12-24T14:51:00.000-09:00

Question: How can I get a name assigned to a glacier in the United States?

Answer: Anyone may propose a name, or name change, to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) for geographic features in the United States. The BGN is (quoting from its web site) a Federal body established to "maintain uniform geographic name usage throughout the Federal Government." BGN offers a web form and brief instructions for people who’d like to propose names at http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/name_form.htm. The Principles, Policies and Procedures that BGN uses in considering proposed names are published at http://geonames.usgs.gov/docs/pro_pol_pro.pdf; it would be prudent to review this document before submitting a proposal. You can learn more about the Board on Geographic Names and find information about naming geographic features outside of the United States from BGN’s web site, at http://geonames.usgs.gov/index.html.

States typically also have boards or programs established to consider names for geographic features. In Alaska, the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Office of History and Archeology, operates a Geographic Names Program. You can find more information about the Program, and download an application to propose a name for a geographic feature in Alaska, at http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/oha/histcomm/aknames.htm. The Alaska Historical Commission, within the Office of History and Archeology, reviews applications and sends its recommendations to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names for final decision.

Family Records

2008-12-22T14:00:00.000-09:00

Question: Can you assist me in finding my marriage license? I was married on a military post in Alaska in 1953.

Answer: These records are maintained by the Alaska Division of Vital Statistics. You can find information about how to request a search for a marriage certificate and/or a copy at http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dph/bvs/marriage/default.htm. You can email them at BVSResearch@health.state.ak.us with any questions. This web page also includes a link to information on obtaining military records.

Alaskans With Library Cards

2008-12-19T09:29:00.001-09:00

Question: How many Alaskans have library cards?

Answer: According to information compiled by our Library Development section, 379,206 Alaska residents had library cards in 2007. This number is subject to a few cautions according to Patience Frederiksen, our public library statistician. She notes:

One odd thing about this data is that many of the libraries do not have an online catalog and some do not give out library cards at all, so I gave those libraries their entire population as library card holders.

Another odd thing is that many of the libraries give out temporary seasonal cards to tourism, cruise ship, and fish canning and processing employees, so sometimes they give out more cards than they have residents living in their local service area.

People interested in other statistics about Alaska's libraries should check out the Alaska Public Library Statistics page at http://library.state.ak.us/dev/plstats/plstats.html. The statistics web page is under revision and the FY2006 and FY2007 statistics should appear in January

Overseas Birth Certificate

2008-10-21T08:40:00.001-08:00

Question: My son was born in 1966 in the Netherlands while his father was serving in the USAF in that country. I need to obtain a duplicate birth certificate of his birth. I would like to know how I go about doing this. His birth certificate was issued by the Department of State Foreign Service of the USA.

Answer: The U.S. Department of State page at http://www.state.gov/m/dghr/flo/c25862.htm indicates that "in the case of a child born overseas, the parents should apply at the American Citizens Services Unit in the country where the baby was born for a 'Consular Report of Birth Abroad,' which is the record of the birth abroad of a U.S. citizen. Under U.S. law, the document is full proof of U.S. citizenship and although not a birth certificate, may serve as a birth certificate in the U.S."

The Consulate General of the United States in Amsterdam/The Netherlands addresses "Consular Reports of Birth Abroad" on their vital statistics page at http://amsterdam.usconsulate.gov/vital_records.html. Click on the http://www.usbirthcertificate.net link to purchase a copy of the document. The tab at the top titled "US Citizens Born Abroad" will take you to the appropriate page for overseas birth records. The company provides guidance as to which form to use.

Fix a book

2008-10-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

Question: Do you have Artemis BonaDea's book, "Conservation Book Repair: A training manual," which was published by the Alaska State Library, available for purchase?

Answer: The State Library no longer has paper copies of this title available for sale. However, the entire book is available online at http://www.library.state.ak.us/hist/conman.html, and the introduction specifically allows some copying:

The contents of this manual may be reprinted in whole or in part, with proper credit, to accommodate users, library board members, and personnel of libraries. Reproduction of this manual in whole or in part, for resale, except to recover actual costs, is not authorized.

Not banned books

2008-09-12T15:11:00.000-08:00

Question: Where can I find a list of the books that Sarah Palin tried to ban from the Wasilla Public Library when she was mayor?

Answer: As far as we know, there is no such list. Fake lists have been circulating around the internet and are documented on the Urban Legends Page at http://www.snopes.com/politics/palin/bannedbooks.asp.

Alaskan nominees

2008-09-12T14:54:00.000-08:00

Question: Before Gov. Sarah Palin's nomination, were any other Alaskans ever nominated for President or Vice President of the United States?

Answer: Presidential Elections Since 1789, 4th edition*, lists one previous nominee from Alaska: in 1960, Raymond L. Teague was nominated for Vice President by the Theocratic Party.

In searching for the answer to this question, I found that it was difficult to determine the home state for many of the minor party candidates, so it's possible that more Alaskans have served their country in this way.

* Congressional Quarterly, Inc. Presidential Elections Since 1789, 4th Ed., Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, 1987.

Transition Reports to the Governor

2008-08-22T12:27:00.001-08:00

Question: I looked online for transition reports to Governor Palin and could not find them. Do you have copies that I may check out?

Answer: We have circulating copies of all of the Alaska State agency transition reports produced for Governor Palin in 2006. You can view the entire collection by visiting our catalog online at http://library.state.ak.us/. Click on the library catalog link in the left column. Enter the words “transition report governor” into the Word or Phrase search box, enter 2006 into the publication year (Pubyear) box and click the search button. You should retrieve a list of fifteen reports to the Governor.

In addition, we have transition reports for previous Alaska governors going back to 1982. To generate the full list, use the search above, but leave out the Pubyear.

If you are in Juneau, you can browse the transitional reports in our Circulating collection by going to the section JK 9538. If you are outside of Juneau, you can request the reports through Interlibrary Loan at your local library.

Corrected to change the location of our catalog link from right column to left column. 8/1/11

USS Juneau Memorial

2008-08-06T15:12:00.001-08:00

Update: URLs checked and updated. 8/1/11

Question: The USS Juneau was hit by two Japanese long lance torpedoes on Friday on 11/13/42, one at 2:00 AM and a second one 10 hours later, completely destroying the ship. The 150 survivors out of a crew of 700 were left for eight days in shark infested waters. In the end, all but 10 of her crew were lost, including the five Sullivan Brothers. Does Juneau, Alaska have a memorial to the USS Juneau?

Answer: The City and Borough of Juneau dedicated a memorial plaque to the USS Juneau on July 5, 1987. It is located on the cruise ship dock in downtown Juneau and is # 19 on the Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau map found online at http://www.traveljuneau.com/downloads/map_downtown_big.jpg.

If you are looking for more information on the naval ship, the Alaska State Library has books, videos and vertical files with news clippings. You can contact the Alaska State Library at (907) 465-2920 or asl@alaska.gov. The Juneau-Douglas City Museum has a vertical file with information on each of the three of the ships bearing the name USS Juneau, including news clippings, photographs, personal narratives, log books, and dedications. The museum contact information can be found at http://www.juneau.org/parkrec/museum/contact.php.

Alaska Commissioners of Labor 1959 - Present

2008-07-25T08:38:00.001-08:00

Update: URLs checked and updated. 8/1/11

Question: What were the names and terms of the Commissioners of the Alaska Department of Labor since Statehood?

Answer: See below for names and terms of office. The Alaska Department of Labor changed its name to Department of Labor and Workforce Development in 1999 as a result of ch. 58, SLA 1999.

Commissioners of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, 1959 – Present

Compiled by Daniel Cornwall, Alaska State Library
August 2007 (Updated July 2008)

Lewis M. Dischner (1959-1960); Source: Alaska Blue Book 1973, p. 48
Bjorn “Gil” Johnson (1960-1966); Source: Alaska Blue Book 1973, p. 48
Thomas J. Moore (1967-1970); Source: Alaska Blue Book 1973, p. 48
Henry A. Benson (1970-1972); Source: Alaska Blue Book 1973, p. 48
Robert A. Smith (1972 – December 1974(?)); Source: Alaska Blue Book 1973, p. 48, end date implied by Alaska Blue Book, 1981.
Edmund Orbeck (January 1975 – November 28, 1982(?)); Source: Alaska Blue Book 1981, p. 15-16, includes small b&w photo. End date is implied by Alaska Blue Book 1985
Jim Robison (November 29, 1982 – January 5, 1987(?)); Source: Alaska Blue Book 1985, p. 40, includes small b&w photo. End date is implied by Alaska Blue Book 1989-90
Jim Sampson (January 6, 1987 - January 1, 1991(?)); Source: Alaska Blue Book 1989-90, p. 14, includes small b&w photo. End date is implied by Alaska Blue Book 1991-92.
Nancy Bear Usera (January 2, 1991 – February 23(?), 1992); Source: Alaska Blue Book 1991-92, p. 14, includes small b&w photo. End date is implied by Alaska Blue Book 1993-94.
Charles Mahlen (February 24, 1992 – February 12, 1995(?) ); Source: Alaska Blue Book 1993-94, p. 14, includes small b&w photo). End date is implied by Alaska House Journal 1995, p. 399.
Tom Cashen (February 13, 1995 - December 1998 ); Sources: Alaska House Journal 1995, p. 399 and Governor’s Press Release 99-006 (for end date).
Ed Flannagan (Appointed January 12, 1999 - 2002); Sources: Governor’s Press Release 99-006 and Internet Archive copies of Alaska Department of Labor at http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.labor.state.ak.us/commish/home.htm
Greg O’Claray – 2003 – 2007; Source: Internet Archive copies of Alaska Department of Labor at http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.labor.state.ak.us/commish/home.htm
Click Bishop – Appointed January 11, 2007; Source: http://wayback.archive-it.org/1200/20090706235146/http://www.gov.state.ak.us/archive.php?id=68&type=1, Governor News Release 07-008). Serving as of July 2008.

Alaskan Pictures

2008-07-23T14:45:00.000-08:00

Question: How do I get Alaska Native photographs that are available for our presentation?

Answer: There are several places where you can find photos online that might be useful for your presentation. For historical photos (and other resources), you might want to try Alaska's Digital Archive, online at http://vilda.alaska.edu/. This includes digitized materials from several different Alaskan repositories, including the State Library and University of Alaska.

You can find additional resources at our website on royalty free and public domain materials, online at http://library.state.ak.us/is/free_images_sounds.html. I would recommend scrolling down the page to the Photos heading. In particular, you might try the first option, the Alaska Images Library.

Another good resource is the Alaska Photo Library from the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, online at http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/apl/home.cfm. Many of these photos are licensed, so be sure to check for the license agreement to make sure that your use is allowed.

If you don't find what you want online, there are also some wonderful repositories within the state. Many participate with Alaska's Digital Archive, but have additional collections at their locations. You can find a list of participants with links to their copy policies and contact information at http://vilda.alaska.edu/cdm4/faq_op.php#answer5. To access their photos, you may need to go to their location and there may be associated fees. If you still don't see what you want, check out the Alaska Library Directory http://library.state.ak.us/dev/library_directory.cfm?category=A.

Accessing Older Alaska Newspapers

2008-07-16T14:04:00.000-08:00

Question: I am looking for an article published in a February 1966 issue of The Frontiersman.

Answer: The Alaska State Library holds microfilm of issues of The Frontiersman published in 1966. Information about our collection of Alaska Newspapers on microfilm is available at http://library.state.ak.us/hist/newspaper/newspaper.html.

You can place an ILL request for an article in The Frontiersman or the microfilm through your local library. Your local library then contacts us and we transmit the article or ship the film to your library for your review. We can loan up to four reels of our newspapers on microfilm to any single library at any one time.

Repeat Criminals in Alaska

2008-07-14T15:43:00.000-08:00

Question: Where I can find information on repeat offenders in Alaska?

Answer: Here are couple of recent reports that cover repeat offenders in the State of Alaska:

Criminal Recidivism in Alaska (January 2007)
http://www.ajc.state.ak.us/Reports/1-07CriminalRecidivism.pdf

Recidivism in Alaska's Felony Therapeutic Courts (February 2007)
http://www.ajc.state.ak.us/Reports/RecidivismTherCt2-13-07.pdf

Questions to ask yourself that might lead to additional resources include:

1) Whom do you consider a repeat offender? Are you looking for a certain kind of offender?
2) Is there a particular type of crime that you are interested in?

I want crab. Just for me and mine.

2008-07-07T15:40:00.000-08:00

Question: I want to fish for crab for my own use. Can I do that?

Answer: The Fish & Game department has a page specifically about Personal Use Fisheries at: http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/special/special_fisheries/personal_use.php. This page has a link to 5 AAC 77.664. Personal use king crab fishery.

As odd as it sounds, the personal use fisheries are regulated by the Division of Commercial fisheries, so it would be best to check with the local ComFish office about permits and possible fishing closures that may take place under the regulations linked above. ComFish office locations and phone numbers can be found at http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/geninfo/contacts/offices.php.

Where can I find the second verse of the Alaska Flag Song?

2008-06-30T14:39:00.000-08:00

Question: Where I can listen to the second verse of the Alaska Flag Song? I already know where to hear the first verse and get lyrics at http://www.museums.state.ak.us/eightstars/stars.html.

Answer: The Alaska Youth Choir sang both verses for the opening session of the Alaska House of Representatives on January 14, 2002. Their song can be found on this archived audio file from Gavel to Gavel:

http://archive.ktoo.org:8081/gavel/B63EB5B6/2002/01/HFLS020114A.mp3

The song with two verses can be found on this file from 7 min 41 sec TO 10 min 16 sec. We have not found a stand-alone recording of both verses of the song. If you are aware of an online version of both verses, please leave a comment.

How do I make a FOIA request?

2008-06-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

Question: What government form do I use to make a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request of the federal government?

Answer: There is no one standard FOIA form good for all agencies. While all federal executive agencies are required to comply with FOIA, they are allowed to have different procedures for accepting requests. Many agencies will accept a letter written in a specific format. You can see sample letters at the University of Missouri School of Journalism at http://www.nfoic.org/foi-center/. You can generate your own FOIA request letter if you are willing to fill out an online form using the FOI Letter generator at http://www.rcfp.org/foi_letter/generate.php.

Depending on what you're looking for, you might not need a FOIA request. For example, if you're looking for Albert Einstein's FBI record, just visit the FBI's Electronic Reading Room at http://foia.fbi.gov/. Many other agencies have FOIA electronic reading rooms. For a selection,
please visit http://archive-it.org/collections/924.

For more information on the Freedom of Information Act, please see the "FOIA primer" from the National Security Archive at http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/foia/guide.html.

Alaska Statehood Celebrations!

2008-06-17T13:22:00.002-08:00

Update: Links in this post were updated on 8/1/11. The Juneau Empire no longer has a dedicated page for Alaska Statehood, but you can find articles by searching their archives.

Question: I read somewhere that people who were in Alaska 50 years ago could contribute stories for the Alaska Statehood celebrations. Do you know where we can share these?

Answer: The Alaska Statehood Celebration Commission links to sites from the Anchorage Daily News and the Juneau Empire, along with others. Both of these newspaper sites solicit stories, photos and more.

In addition to information about how to share your perspective of Alaska history, the Alaska Statehood Celebration Commission also includes links to celebration plans around the state, information about Alaska and how it became a state, and traveling exhibits from the Alaska State Museum.

How much did the U.S. spend for Alaska and when?

2008-06-13T13:09:00.000-08:00

Question: How much did the U.S. spend for Alaska and when?

Answer: Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7,200,000. For brief background on the purchase, please see the American Contact with Russian America chapter of the Alaska History Course. For a copy of the canceled check, please visit the National Archives at http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/alaska/cancelled-check.html.

The Alaska State Library is rich with resources on Alaska under Russian rule. See our catalog for details.

Maps of Alaska

2008-06-13T13:02:00.000-08:00

Question: I need a map showing Alaska superimposed over the lower 48.

Answer: The Division of Community and Regional Affairs has a map like this at http://www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/lga/Ak_on_US.htm.

If you're interested in other Alaska maps, here are a few places to visit:

Statewide Maps from Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys
http://www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us/index.php?menu_link=publications&link=statewide&sub2_link=statewide

National Atlas
http://nationalatlas.gov - Do a search on Alaska to get an interesting set of maps.

If you're interesting in topographic maps of Alaska, stop by the library. We have a full set, plus several Alaska-specific atlases.

Panning For Gold

2008-06-13T10:49:00.000-08:00

Question: Where & how can I prospect for gold in Alaska?

Answer: The Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys have put together a great set of information circulars related to individuals looking for gold in Alaska. The circulars can be read online at http://www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us/pubs/pubs?reqtype=series&abbrev=IC&abbrevID=202&seriesname=Information%20Circular. If you have additional questions, please contact a Department of Natural Resources Public Information Center.

When Did Alaska Become A State?

2008-06-13T10:37:00.000-08:00

Question: When did Alaska become a State?

Answer: Alaska officially became a state on January 3, 1959. This and other basic facts about Alaska are available through the Student Information Page provided by the Alaska Office of Economic Development.

If you're interested in a brief history of Alaska Statehood, check out the Alaska history page from the University of Viginia at http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/BARTLETT/49state.html.

More information on Alaska's path to statehood is available through books, videos and other materials that you can locate through WorldCat, the world's library catalog.

If you'd like a visual journey of Alaska's path to statehood, try out the Alaska Digital Archives "Movement to Statehood" page at http://vilda.alaska.edu/cdm4/statehood.php.

Finally, Alaska is gearing up to celebrate it's 50th birthday as a State. More information about these efforts can be found at the Alaska Statehood Celebration Commission website.

Getting Information about Alaskan communities

2008-06-13T10:24:00.000-08:00

Question: I need information on Dillingham, Alaska.

Answer: Here is some basic information about Dillingham provided by the Alaska Community Database Online:

Dillingham

(DILL-eeng-ham); a.k.a. Curyung; Kanakanak

Current Population: 2,397 (2006 DCCED Certified Population)
Incorporation Type: 1st Class City
Borough Located In: Unorganized
Taxes: Sales: 6%, Property: 13.0 mills, Special: 10% Alcohol Tax; 10% Gaming Tax; 10% Accommodations Tax
National Flood Insurance Program Participant: Yes
Coastal Management District: Bristol Bay CRSA

This resource also provides information on Location and Climate; History, Culture and Demographics; Facilities, Utilities, Schools and Health Care; Economy and Transportation; and Organizations with Local Offices.

---------------
The Community Database is produced by the Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs. For more extensive information about Dillingham, check out what's available through WorldCat.

Another good source of information for Alaska's community is the SLED - Alaska Communities Page. The Alaska Communities page on SLED (the Statewide Library Electronic Doorway) contains an extensive list of city, town and borough web pages. There are also links to municipal codes online.

Alaska Temp Records and Other Superlatives

2008-06-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

Question: What is the highest temperature ever recorded in Alaska?

Answer: According to the SLED's FAQAlaska:

"The highest recorded temperature for Alaska is 100 degrees at Fort Yukon in June 1915. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) records through 1977 show that Alaska and Hawaii hold the record for the lowest high temperature marks in the U. S. Both have 100 degree highs. Every other state has a highest temperature of over 100. California has the highest recorded temperature at 134 degrees."

FAQAlaska has an annotated listing of weather records and other superlatives about Alaska at http://sled.alaska.edu/akfaq/aksuper.html.

How much was the PFD for the past 5 years?

2008-06-12T16:52:00.000-08:00

Question: How much was the PFD for the past 5 years?

Answer: The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation has a page listing the dividend amounts all the way back to 1982 at http://www.apfc.org/alaska/dividendPrgrm.cfm. Amounts for the last five years were:

2007 $1654.00
2006 $1106.96
2005 $845.76
2004 $919.84
2003 $1107.56
2002 $1540.76

The Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) is a payment to Alaska residents from investment income generated by Alaska's Permanent Fund.

Relocation to Alaska

2008-06-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

Question: I'm thinking about moving to Alaska. How much is food, housing, etc. How do I find a job? What should I bring with me?

Answer: The Department of Labor and Workforce Development pulls together a number of great resources aimed at people thinking about moving to our great state. Their page is located at http://www.labor.state.ak.us/research/relocate/relocmap.htm.

It might also be helpful to read the newspaper(s) of the towns you are interested in. Alaska's SLED project has a list of Alaska newspapers that have web versions.

Daylight in Alaska

2008-06-12T16:38:00.000-08:00

Question: How many hours of daylight does Seward have in September?

Answer: According to the history feature of the Weather Underground, daylight in Seward, Alaska varies from 14h 09m on September 1st to 11h 32m on September 30th.

Daylight in Alaska is another thing that varies across our large state. For an overview of how much it can vary, check out the Alaska Geophysical Institute's page on Daylight in Alaska at http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/visitor/dayl.html.

Land Ownership in Alaska

2008-06-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

Question: What is the percentage of privately owned land in Alaska?

Answer: About 1%, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Here are some figures about other owners of Alaska's land:

Federal government

222 million acres, 60% of the total area of Alaska.

State government

Currently the state has received patent to approximately 90 million acres of the 105 million acres granted at statehood. This represents roughly 25% of the total area of Alaska.

Native lands

These are private lands held by regional and village Native corporations. 44 million acres are owned by Native corporations.

For more information on land ownership in Alaska, visit the Division of Mining, Land and Water's Web page at: http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/mlw/.

Fossils and Other State Symbols

2008-06-12T16:18:00.000-08:00

Question: What is Alaska's state fossil?

Answer: As established by the 14th Alaska Legislature in 1986, the State Fossil of Alaska is the Wooly Mammoth. This and other interesting facts about our other state symbols can be found on the Student Information page provided by the Alaska Office of Economic Development.

Famous Alaskans

2008-06-12T16:05:00.000-08:00

Question: I need a famous Alaskan to write a paper on.

Answer: Alaska has generated a number of notable people, including Elizabeth Peratrovich, Ernest Gruening, Mike Gravel, Jewel and Carlos Boozer. The Alaska Office of Economic Development keeps a list of notable Alaskans with brief details at http://www.dced.state.ak.us/oed/student_info/learn/famousalaskans.htm. For more in-depth information about a particular famous Alaskan, try a search in our catalog, or WorldCat, the global library catalog. Wikipedia can be helpful too, especially for pop culture figures, but be sure to check the information you find there against other sources.

If you live in Alaska and are looking for recent information about living notable Alaskans, it's worth it to give the Digital Pipeline a try. For example, as of June 2008, a quick Pipeline search brought up 166 articles on basketball player Carlos Boozer.

Geneaology Assistance

2008-06-12T15:52:00.000-08:00

Question: Uncle Joe died in Alaska in the 1950's, how do I get an obituary?

Answer: Under some circumstances, the Alaska State Library is very happy to provide you with a copy of an obituary. If you know Joe's last name, where in Alaska he died and his death date to within a week, we will look for an obituary in the appropriate Alaska newspaper. If we find one, we will send it to you.

If you can't get that specific, then the following resources might be helpful to you:

Alaska Historical Collections Finding Aids
This is a page to a set of online personal name indexes produced by our Historical Collections.

SLED - Alaska Arts, Literature & History Page
The Arts, Literature & History page on SLED (the Statewide Library Electronic Doorway) has many links to web pages dealing with Alaska history.

The AlaskaGenWeb Page
This page is a part of the USGenWeb Project and includes links to local and statewide genealogical resources.

How to find your Gold Rush relative guide
Sources on the Klondike and Alaska gold rushes (1896-1914)
This guide is presented by the Alaska Gold Rush Centennial Task Force and is intended to provide a basic list of Alaska and Yukon genealogical resources for individuals who were in the north during the Klondike and Alaska Gold Rushes (1896-1914).

Alaska Genealogy Guide from the Alaska State Library
This Guide offers a basic list of Alaska related genealogy resources available to researchers. There are Internet based resources listed including the Alaska Periodicals Index which includes some Alaska obituaries. http://library.state.ak.us/pub/online/akgene.html

Alaska Newspapers on Microfilm: 1866-1998
A guide to Alaskan newspapers currently available on microfilm. This guide is available on-line in .pdf format.

How do I become an Alaska Resident?

2008-06-12T15:03:00.000-08:00

Question: How do I become an Alaska resident?

Answer: This is another "It Depends!" answer because State agencies have different criteria to define Alaska residency. The following are the most frequently requested.

For questions about Alaska Student Loans residency requirements, contact AlaskAdvantage Programs. You can find contact information at http://alaskadvantage.state.ak.us/forms/contact.aspx
Residency requirements for the Alaska Permanent Fund are located on the Basic Eligibility Requirements for the Alaska Permanent Fund page at:http://www.pfd.state.ak.us/eligibility/
Voting eligibility requirement in Alaska can be found on the Division of Elections FAQ Elections Questions page at: http://ltgov.state.ak.us/elections/faqs.php
Hunting and fishing license residency requirements can be found on the Alaska Fish and Game page at: http://www.admin.adfg.state.ak.us/license/faqlic.html#1
Residency requirements to take part in Alaska State Land Offerings can be found on the State Lands page at: http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/mlw/landsale/sale_faq.htm

What time is it up there?

2008-06-12T14:27:00.000-08:00

Question: What time zone is Alaska in?

Answer:

Most of Alaska is located in the Alaska Time Zone. The far reaches of the Aleutian Chain and St. Laurence Island are located in the Hawaiian-Aleutian Time Zone.

To calculate what time it is currently in Alaska, you'll need to subtract a certain number of hours from Universal Time (UTC). Universal Time is usually known as Greenwich Mean Time.

Alaska Daylight Time: subtract 8 hours from UTC
Alaska Standard Time: subtract 9 hours from UTC
Hawaii-Aleutian Daylight Time: subtract 9 hours from UTC
Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time: subtract 10 hours from UTC

Alaska Standard Time is 4 hours behind Eastern Standard Time and 1 hour behind Pacific Standard Time.

For more information on U.S. time zones and Universal Time, visit the U.S. Naval Observatory's home page at http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/frontpage.html

Alaska Time Zone history

On October 30, 1983, when daylight time reverted to standard time, Alaska changed from four time zones to two time zones. Before the change, Alaska's time zones were:

Pacific time (southeastern Alaska)
Yukon time (Yakutat)
Alaska time (from just east of Cold Bay and west of Yakutat northward, including Nome)
Bering time (the north coast of Alaska and the Aleutian chain)

The change was done to facilitate doing business in Alaska, improve communications and unify residents.

Weather in Alaska

2008-06-12T12:01:00.000-08:00

Question: I'm traveling to Alaska in May and am wondering how warm it will be?

Answer: Because of Alaska's vast size, the answer is "It Depends!" May in Ketchikan (rainy) is different from May in Barrow (chance of snow).

The Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks has a climate page with good information about specific conditions in different parts of the state. That page is at http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/visitor/index.html.

If you know which towns in Alaska you'll be visiting, check out Alaska Community Database from our Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. The community profiles include information about climate as well has local history and demographics.

How many of "Feature X" exist in Alaska?

2008-06-12T10:08:00.000-08:00

Question: How many rivers are there in Alaska? How many lakes? How about islands?

Answer: This is a type of question without a straight answer. It depends on how you define rivers and lakes, whether places that appear to islands at high tide count and on the fact that parts of Alaska has not been mapped in high detail. Then there are physical processes that wipe out old features and create new ones.

With these cautions in mind, estimates of rivers, lakes and islands can be found at the Alaska Office of Economic Development's Alaska geography site at http://www.dced.state.ak.us/oed/student_info/learn/aboutgeography.htm.

For more information about mapping, geography and geology in Alaska, check out these three resources:

Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys
http://www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us/

United States Geological Survey information about Alaska
http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=AK

Domestic (Geographic) Names from USGS
http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/index.html - Handy resources for learning about place names in Alaska and the other 49 states.

What are the names of Alaska's glaciers?

2008-06-12T09:43:00.000-08:00

Question: Where can I find a list of the glaciers in Alaska?

Answer: We have compiled a list of named glaciers located in Alaska at http://www.library.state.ak.us/asp/alaska_glaciers.html. This list does not represent all glaciers in Alaska because not every glacier in Alaska is named. If you're looking for reading/viewing material on glaciers in Alaska, check out this list in WorldCat, the world's catalog of library catalogs.

Homesteading in Alaska

2008-06-11T11:08:00.000-08:00

Question: I've heard that there is free land in Alaska through the homesteading program. Where can I find out more?

Answer: At this time, there are no homesteading or other free land programs for the public. The federal program ceased in 1986. There are periodic sales of state lands.

For more information about federal land in Alaska, please visit http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/res/pub_room/faqs.html.

For more information about the availability of state land for individuals, please visit http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/pic/faq.htm.