California State Library

~ California State Library - Sacramento ~

Updated 13 September 2006.

Address:

Mailing address:

California History Room

California State Library

P.O. Box 942837

Sacramento, CA 94237-0001

Street address:

California History Room

California State Library

900 N Street, Room 200

Sacramento, CA 95814

Directions: The library is located in downtown Sacramento on N Street between 9th and 10th Streets, near the California State Capitol building. You'll find metered on-street parking and parking garages within two to three blocks of the library.

Hours: Mon. - Fri., 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

World Wide Web: http://www.library.ca.gov/

Phone: Reference Desk, (916) 654-0176

Fax: (916) 654-8777

E-Mail: cslcal@library.ca.gov

Collection Scope: Extensive holdings on California history and genealogy, including books, maps, manuscripts, diaries, newspapers and photographs. See the collection guide at www.library.ca.gov/html/CalHist/cal_index.cfm.

Special Collections: The California Information File, an index to almost 1.5 million items from newspapers, periodicals and books about California persons, places and events. Federal census records, 1850-1930, and Soundex through 1920, for California. A transcription of the 1852 state census of California. California cemetery transcriptions made by the D.A.R. D.A.R. indexes to early California vital records and wills. The California Death Index (1905-1995). The California Bride and Groom Indexes (1949-1986).

Library Catalog: The California State Library has its own online library catalog, but its holdings are also listed, along with those of the University of California library system, on the MELVYL Union Catalog. The Web site of the California State Library (Sacramento) at http://www.library.ca.gov/ has links to both online catalogs. You can go directly to the California State Library's catalog at http://www.lib.state.ca.us/ and to MELVYL at http://www.melvyl.cdlib.org. Limit your search on MELVYL to holdings of both the Sacramento and Sutro branches of the California State Library by selecting CA State Library in the Library box. You cannot limit the search to just one branch.

Reference Services: You may submit brief reference questions by mail, telephone, fax or e-mail. Remember that the genealogical resources held by the California State Library, Sacramento, focus on California, while those of the California State Library, San Francisco, (the Sutro Library) cover the rest of the country. Also, keep in mind that the primary mission of both branches is to serve the information needs of residents of the State of California. If you live in another state, you should see if a particular item is available nearby before requesting it from either branch of the California State Library.

Guides: These free flyers are available:

"The California History Room" describes the library's holdings, as well as its reference, photocopy and interlibrary loan services.
"Selected Guide to Sources for Genealogy in the California History Section, California State Library," lists the library's most important resources for genealogical research. This guide is also available at http://www.library.ca.gov/html/genealogy.cfm. "List of Researchers" gives the names and contact information for many professional genealogists in Sacramento and elsewhere in California.

Copies: Copies on site cost between 25 and 50 cents. Copies supplied by mail are subject to a handling fee. Some materials may not be copied due to age, condition or size.

Circulation: Direct loans are limited to state employees.

Interlibrary Loan: Residents of California and other states may borrow many of the California State Library's books, periodicals and microforms on interlibrary loan through their local libraries.