New Library Website!

The Arkansas State Library has a new website!  All the old information you are used to finding is still there, but in a new design. Spend some time looking around, and let us know what you think. You can use the Ask a Librarian page to send comments or questions, as always.

As a result of the change, the Ask a Librarian page also has a new address.

World Statistics Day October 20

Wednesday, October 20th is World Statistics Day. To celebrate, here are some statistics provided by the Census Bureau.  If you want to learn more, or find some interesting statistics for yourself, check out their Facts for Features pages.

• 74.5 million: The number of children under 18 in the U.S. in 2009.  Source: 2009 population estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/national/asrh/natasrh.html>
• 5.3 million: Estimated number of “stay-at-home” parents in 2009 in the United States: 5.1 million mothers and 158,000 fathers. Source: America's Families and Living Arrangements <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam.html>
• 310 million: Estimated current U.S. population. We reached 300 million in 2006, 200 million in 1967 and 100 million in 1915. When our nation achieved independence in 1776, we had a population of only 2.5 million. *National and state population counts from 2010 Census data will be released by Dec. 31, 2010.
  Source: U.S. and World Population Clocks <http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html> 
• 24.3 pounds: Per capita candy consumption in 2009.  Source: Current Industrial Reports, Confectionery: 2009 <http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/cir/historical_data/ma311d/index.html> 

How to get an Arkansas birth record

For genealogists, vital records, such as birth, death, and marriage certificates, can provide valuable information. If you too are searching for a record of a relative, or perhaps you just need a copy of your own birth certificate, the best place to start is with the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records Office. There, you can find the forms to order certificates, as well as a Frequently Asked Questions section for each type of record. 

Birth and death records are available from 1914 t the present, marriages from 1917, and divorces from 1923.  Some rules do apply about who may request records for individuals, but those circumstances are covered in the FAQ.