Using the Connecticut State Library

(860) 757-6500
Hours,  Directions/Parking

Connecticut State Library
231 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106

    

Borrowing Materials  |  Collections  |  Contact Information  |  Copies, Copiers, and Change  |  
E-mail a reference question  |  Internet & Databases  |  Policies for Patrons  |  Using Secured Collections

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As the principal library for all branches of state government, the library provides access to comprehensive collections in law and legislation; public administration and policy; state, federal and local government; CT history and genealogy; newspapers; and archives.

The Library is open to the public, and is frequently used by state agency employees, legislators and their staffs, judges, law clerks, attorneys and legal researchers, historians, genealogists, students, and business people. All patrons are requested to review and comply with the Library's User Conduct Policy.

Reference

The library has three reference service desks: Government Information, Law/Legislative Reference, and History & Genealogy which also provides reference service and access for the State Archives.

We encourage visiting the Library in order to make the most effective use of all resources. The staff will help patrons devise search strategies; use catalogs, indexes, and research guides to identify and locate pertinent library and archival resources; use the collections and electronic resources, use the Internet, and operate photocopiers and microform equipment.

The Division staff responds to telephone, letter, e-mail, and fax inquiries regarding the collections and services, and to brief, factual, questions that pertain to Connecticut government, legal or legislative issues, and the history of Connecticut or its people.

The State Library receives hundreds of telephone calls, letters, e-mail messages, and faxes each month. We attempt to answer all in a timely manner, but in order to serve the thousands of researchers who visit the State Library in person each year, we cannot ensure immediate replies to telephone, e-mail, fax, or mail reference requests. All reference requests are normally answered in the order they are received.

For immediate information about Connecticut, consult the CSL Research Resources page and/or contact a local library.

E-mail your reference question

Genealogical Index Search Service

For a fee, the History and Genealogy Unit will conduct a limited genealogical index search.

Legislative Services

The Division also provides legislative bill status information to the public, provides subject indexing bills passed by the General Assembly, and maintains the General Assembly bill archives.

Collections

The library maintains major collections in law; federal, state, and municipal government publications; public administration and policy; Connecticut newspapers, and Connecticut related history and genealogy. Other Divisions and sections of the Library also maintain collections, including the Museum of Connecticut History, State Archives, and Library Service Centers. Detailed information about the collections is available.

Borrowing Materials

Items that circulate may be borrowed directly by state employees and Connecticut residents, and through Interlibrary Loan by others. However, the majority of the collection does not circulate. Please see Borrowing Materials for complete information.

Use of Secured and Offsite Collections

For information on accessing Secured Collections including archives, manuscripts, materials designated 'SpecColl' in the catalog, and original newspapers, or for books and journals designated "SL Offsite" in the catalog, please see Use of Offsite and Secured Collections.

Mission

The Mission of the library is:
-- to provide high quality library and information services to state government and the citizens of Connecticut, and
-- to preserve and make accessible the records of Connecticut's history and heritage.

The Division also manages the Connecticut Newspaper Project, and provides general library service to the visually impaired and physically handicapped public through the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Rocky Hill.

Contact Information

Reference Tel.:  860-757-6500
Tel: 860-757-6565, Fax: 860-757-6503
Connecticut State Library
231 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106

Revised, 4/2008.