The State Library of Ohio is a state agency that serves state government and all types of libraries.

Our vision

The State Library of Ohio will lead in ensuring the delivery of all information and library services to all Ohio residents, anywhere, anytime.

Our mission

Lead and partner in the development of library services throughout Ohio
Promote and enable resource sharing among libraries and library networks
Provide access to information for Ohio’s state government
Provide specialized services to Ohio’s residents

As Ohio prepares to more aggressively compete in a global economy with better educated and informed residents, the State Library of Ohio is taking charge.  We are leading in the development of collaborative efforts that support Ohioans and libraries by providing high quality resources and services at lower costs. These efforts include providing statewide virtual resources in the areas of education, workforce development and consumer health.  Public libraries provide invaluable service in the areas of education and economic development for their communities.

The State Library of Ohio provides the following services:

Services to State Government

• Provides work-related research and reference services to state legislators and state employees
• Serves as Ohio’s only full regional depository for federal documents and the depository for Ohio state agency documents
• Provides interlibrary loan services
• Provides meeting space and a computer training lab at no cost
• Provides instruction on use of library resources

Services to Ohio Libraries

• Oversees the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant program
• Administers Ohio Libraries Share: MORE, a statewide resource sharing system of 101 public and school libraries
• Supports an automation consortium of 75 library systems at more than 160 locations through the Serving Every Ohioan (SEO) Library Center location in Caldwell
• Coordinates the statewide delivery network
• Maintains statistics about Ohio libraries for analysis, long range planning and comparison
• Assists in developing programs for staff and customers
• Assists in facilities planning

Specialized Services to Ohio Residents

• Coordinates the Ohio Talking Book program for Ohio’s blind and physically handicapped citizens
• Answers general reference questions
• Provides electronic database access
• Provides Internet training through local libraries via the Mobile Training Lab
• Provides virtual reference service through KnowitNow

About Our Collection
Patrons use the State Library of Ohio to research information about congressional hearings and reports, U.S. and State of Ohio legislative history, statistics, facts about the state of Ohio, geological information, military rosters, state institutional and agency reports, census data, and more.

The State Library is the only regional federal depository in Ohio and is also a depository for state information.

We also carry daily newspapers, journals, and magazines. There are some computers available for public use of library resources.

When visiting the library you will find:
  Congressional Records
  House and Senate Journals (proceedings of action taken each day in session)
  Maps: Complete set of United States Geological Survey (USGS) Topographical Maps
  Military Rosters: Spanish-American, Civil War (known as War of the Rebellion at the time), WWI, WWII, Korean, Vietnam
  Ohio Administrative Code (O.A.C.) (rules)
  Ohio Agricultural Reports (includes history of Ohio State Fairs)
  Ohio Executive Documents (i.e. reports of auditor of state, institutions, agencies)
  Ohio Revised Code (O.R.C) (laws)
  Presidential Papers (i.e. speeches, proclamations)
  Reference Materials: example: Statistical Abstracts (reports with data)
  State of Ohio documents
  U.S. Patents

Holidays