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The State Library provides a rich tapestry of resources with which to study the history and the present state of Connecticut and United States government.  In addition to its extensive archival materials and collections of local and state histories, the Library is a depository for both Connecticut and U.S. government publications. These depository collections provide access to over two million documents produced by the Connecticut and federal governments, opening a window on over 200 years of history. A copy of the Journal of the Senate, recording the proceedings in the Senate on the very first session of the first Congress "begun at the City of New York, March 4, 1789," can be found in the Library as well as in U.S. House and Senate Journals, 1789-1817, a specialized database.

                                                               

Not only does the Library hold the recorded history of our government back to 1789, but provides access to the most recent government information through digital federal and state documents.

New Web documents show pictures that may be as old as the universe itself:

"Imagine looking through a keyhole and seeing all the way to the edge of the visible universe. This image provides such a view. For 10 days, the Hubble Space Telescope gathered light from a speck-sized spot in the sky to reveal this astonishing array of galaxies."  The Space Telescope Science Institute Leading Astronomical Discovery. [Baltimore, Md. : Space Telescope Science Institute, 2004?]

 

Many databases about municipal, state and federal government, including the texts and often the images of many current and historical documents are also available to users of the Library:

Databases

Researching from home or office?

• Governing.com A resource for information professionals dealing with public policy issues. Key features include news stories, statistics and Web sites.
• National Conference of State Legislatures  Provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on key state issues.
• Stateline.org  Provides information about political activity in the 50 state capitals.

These databases can be accessed at the State Library:

• American State Papers, 1789-1838  United States legislative and executive documents from the earliest Congressional sessions.
• Congressional Research Digital Collection  Public policy issue briefs from the Congressional Research Service. Select CRS Reports.
• CQ Electronic Library  Twelve extensive databases on Congress, public policy, voting and other government topics.
• Government Periodical Index   Detailed subject and author index to U.S. government magazines, journals and newsletters.
• LexisNexis™ Congressional  Comprehensive United States legislative information, both current and historical. Includes fulltext of hearings, reports and documents, Congressional Record and more.
• LexisNexis™ State Capital  For all 50 states, provides access to state bills and laws, constitutions, proposed and enacted regulations, newspapers of record, articles about legislative issues affecting the states, legislature membership.
• LexisNexis™ Statistical  Indexes and abstracts over 100,000 federal, state and private statistical sources.
• Ordinance.com  Municipal codes, zoning and subdivision by-laws, ordinances and maps for Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
• PAIS International and PAIS Archive Index to international literature in public affairs, public and social policies, and international relations.
• Public Documents Masterfile  Federal, state, local, and international public documents, 1789-present.
• STAT-USA  Economic, business, and international trade statistics produced by the U.S. government.
• U.S. Congressional Documents  Bound and daily versions of the Congressional Record and its predecessors, 1789-present.  U.S. Statutes at Large, 1789-2005. Full text of many Congressional historical compilations.
• U.S. Congressional Serial Set, 1817-1980  Documents, reports and journals of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Counties in Connecticut - History

County government was abolished effective October 1, 1960; counties continue only as geographical subdivisions. There are no county seats in Connecticut. For a detailed treatment of this subject, see County Government in Connecticut; Its History and Demise.  Rosaline Levenson. (Storrs, CT: University of Connecticut. Reprinted 1981.) [CSL Call Number GIS Ref ConnDoc Ag83m cg]

Connecticut towns and counties.

Issues in State Government

Public Policy Research Guides 

Statistics