New York State Library

General information

Since its founding in 1818, the New York State Library has given New Yorkers access to research and information that captures the state's legal, cultural, political, and social history. The Library holds extensive law and bio-medical collections, as well as, strong collections in state and local history, genealogy, American history, New York State newspapers, education, science (biology, zoology, geology), civil engineering, and industry standards. The State Library holds the largest collection of New York State Government documents and is the only complete repository for Federal publications in New York State. In addition, NYSL is one of only 63 United States Patent Depository libraries in the entire nation. The Library's 20 million items are augmented by extensive digital resources, including full-text electronic journals, newspapers, databases, historical and research electronic collections.

The Manuscripts and Special Collections (MSC) Unit of the New York State Library is located on the 11th floor of the Cultural Education Center. The collections housed in the MSC Unit document the history of New York State from the 17th century to the present and illustrate the history of many topics related to American history, literature, science and the arts. Collections accessible in MSC include manuscripts, rare books, older maps and atlases, prints and photographs, broadsides and posters, musical scores and ephemera.

Free WiFi onsite. For more information, go to www.nysl.nysed.gov/wireless.htm .

Public Access Computers: 47 computers, networked printing (10 cents per page, black & white), Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Access, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint), Internet Access, online databases, e-journals & e-newspapers.

Library Development provides statewide leadership, advisory services for libraries, and State and Federal funding for library systems and libraries. For information on the services available from Library Development, go to http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/ .

The New York State Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) lends braille and recorded books to eligible residents of upstate New York. For information on services and collections available from the TBBL, go to http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/tbbl/ .

The New York State Library is part of the Office of Cultural Education, New York State Education Department. For more information, go to http://www.oce.nysed.gov/ or http://www.nysed.gov/ .

LIBRARY SATURDAY CLOSURES 2017:
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Saturday, July 1, 2017
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Saturday, December 30, 2017

**These are additional closure dates not listed as yet on the main website. Please find all other calendar and hours info at: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/contact.htm#hours