ernment Information Services involves Govern
ment Publications and the Library

GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS & LIBRARY

Shashi P Thapar, Librarian
(410)974-3914

Government Publications Publications and re
ports of State government agencies date to the early
19th century They, with the publications and reports
of county and municipal governments, have been
collected by the State Archives since 1947 The State
Archives also is an official depository for county char-
ters, codes, and laws (Code 1957, Art 25, sec 32A,
Art 25A,secs 3B(3), 7(b),Art 25B, sees 7(b)(3),
12(b)) Municipal charter amendments and annexa
nons, after publication, are deposited annually with
the State Archives by the Department of Legislative
Reference (Code 1957, Art 23A, sec 17C)
Library Organized m 1940, the Library is a
reference source for works that supplement the hold
mgs of the State Archives These include published
records and sources on Maryland history, govern
ment, biography, geography, and natural resources,
county, city and town histories, regional studies,
Chesapeake Bay, research guides, genealogies, and
archives administration, conservation, and preservation
The Library of the Department of Natural Re
sources transferred to the State Archives in June
1987 It includes materials collected since 1942 on
Maryland natural resources, wildlife, fisheries, for
estry, water resources, and the environment

LAND PATENTS
Edward C Papenfuse, State Archivist
<Q~ Commissioner of Land Patents
Richard H Richardson, Deputy Commissioner
(410)974 3916

The State Archives became responsible for the
functions of the Land Office and its collections
in 1965 The Records Management Division,
then a part of the Archives, took charge of re-
cording and filing plats When the Division was
separated from the Archives in 1975, plats and
other Land Office records became the responsi
bility of the Archives
Designated Commissioner of Land Patents, the
State Archivist is responsible for issuing land patents
and conducting court hearings (Chapter 355, Acts
of 1967) In performing these duties, the State
Archivist acts independently of the duties imposed
as State Archivist (Code Real Property Article, sees
13 101 through 13 504)
The land patent process is the mechanism for
granting land in Maryland Land patents were is
sued by the propnetors during the colonial period,
and later by the State Virtually all land in Maryland
has been patented Through survey errors or due
to the inaccessibility of a tract, however, some land

never may have been included in a patent This land,
when it is discovered, may be patented, with title
passing to the patentee upon payment of the fair
market value of the land to the State The land
patent process also provides a simple, convenient
and prompt method of reserving vacant land for the
public use of State, county or local government
bodies through the issuance of certificates of reser
vation (Chapter 290, Acts of 1993)
An applicant for a patent must present evidence
based on a title search of the property in question
proving that no former patent encompasses any
portion of the land Information concerning the
land patent process and an application for a patent
may be obtained from the Commissioner of Land
Patents

PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES
Teresa M Fountain, Director
(410)974 3916

Photographic Services began in 1935 This of
fice supports all aspects of State Archives work by
various forms of imaging An in house photo lab,
Photographic Services helps preserve and make
accessible copies of records through the creation
and duplication of microfiche, microfilm, photo
copy, photography, and digital imaging In this way,
the office assists government agencies, promotes
Maryland scholarship by aiding students, histon
ans, and genealogists, provides evidential materials
for legal matters, and supports State Archives ex-
hibits and publications
Services to Government Agencies Photographic
Services preserves the records of State and county
government agencies while providing those agencies
with working copies In many instances, the office
processes and inspects microfilm from other agencies
Services to the Public Projection prints, photo
graphs, slides, microfilm, and other forms ofimag
ing of archival material may be ordered from
Photographic Services Through this office, micro
film of records is prepared and made available for
interlibrary loans
Preservation Microfilming Records are micro
filmed to archival standards that allow for the best
resolution and density These standards are defined
by the American National Standard Institute
(ANSI) Duplicates are provided on diazo and
vesicular film Other media, such as aperture cards,
also are available
Digital Imaging Photographic Services scans
record material to convert images into electronic
form By this process, a document can be repro
duced in many formats