# Arkansas Freedom of Information Act Handbook, 21st ed. (2025) > *Audited source extract. The dossier was used only as a lead; the underlying source was independently acquired and checked on 2026-07-20.* ## Source metadata - **Publisher:** Arkansas Attorney General and Arkansas Press Association - **Original dossier URL:** https://healthy.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025-FOIA-Handbook-21st-Edition-ver4.pdf - **Resolved/canonical URL used:** https://healthy.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025-FOIA-Handbook-21st-Edition-ver4.pdf - **Publication date:** 2025 - **Underlying event or version:** 2025 - **Archived:** 2026-07-20, from unauthenticated public access; no cookies, tokens, or login state retained - **Wayback snapshot:** save failed on 2026-07-20 after the archive service returned HTTP 403; retry pending ## Verification verdict **supported with narrower wording** — The handbook supports electronic-record coverage, narrow construction of exemptions, public-entity custody of records held by private entities, fact-specific ongoing-investigation treatment, public state-agency contracts, and copies in readily available/readily convertible formats. It does not create an absolute right to a requester's preferred native format. ## Claim boundary This source is authoritative only within the source class and limitations stated above. ## Extract **Extracted-text lines 545-549:** > if the custodian has the necessary duplicating equipment. > (B) A citizen may request a copy of a public record in any medium > in which the record is readily available or in any format to which it is > readily convertible with the custodian’s existing software. > (C) A custodian is not required to compile information or create a **Extracted-text lines 1008-1012:** > not make it a public record under the FOIA. See Pulaski Cnty. v. Ark. > Democrat- Gazette, Inc., 370 Ark. 435, 260 S.W.3d 716 (2007). > (6) The fact that public records may be kept by a private entity or > individual does not make that entity or individual a “covered entity” > under the FOIA. The public entity remains the custodian of the records, **Extracted-text lines 1030-1034:** > governmental interest in disclosure under the FOIA. McCambridge v. > City of Little Rock, 298 Ark. 219, 766 S.W.2d 909 (1989). > (9) Records that are part of an open and ongoing law enforcement > investigation are protected as “undisclosed investigations” under the > FOIA. Martin v. Musteen, 303 Ark. 656, 799 S.W.2d 540 (1990). This is **Extracted-text lines 1299-1303:** > utes in the Arkansas Code. If a public record does not fall squarely > within an exemption, it must be disclosed. Exemptions must be > narrowly construed. Unclear or ambiguous exemptions will be > interpreted in a manner favoring disclosure. At the same time, the > court will balance the interests between disclosure and nondis­ **Wayback failure**: The bounded Save Page Now pass stopped after the archive service returned HTTP 403 on the first request. This source was not individually retried; retry pending. ## Notes - Tier: 2 — Tier 2 primary public record. - The excerpt is bounded to the claims audited here; consult the preserved original for full context. - Cited by: see `citing_pages:` frontmatter; populated after wiki integration.