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Monday 9:30am - 5pm Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm Thursday 9:30am - 5pm Friday 9:30am - 5pm

New York State Library

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New York State Library

Established in 1818, the New York State Library (NYSL) is one of the nation's oldest state libraries. Answering questions since 1818.

08/05/2026

It’s summer in New York State, and our schedule is filling up fast! The best way to keep up with all the exciting events (onsite and virtual) hosted by the NYS Library is to check our events calendar.

New programs are being added all the time, including trainings, book talks, walking tours, and more. Don’t miss our genealogy walking tours, book talks, and a full slate of webinars to help you connect to 250th celebrations in your community.

Check our calendar for programs from across the NYS Library. All programs are free and open to the public. Visit the events calendar at: https://nyslibrary.libcal.com/calendar?cid=13947&t=d&d=0000-00-00&cal=13947&inc=0

08/03/2026

The dream of the 90's is alive on the NYS Library blog—the 1790s, that is!

Looking for the wonderful, the weird, and everything in between? The NYS Library has you covered with our blog! We're carrying on the long-standing tradition of documenting and exploring the topics we're passionate about.

As it happens, our collections contain the work of countless committed diarists and correspondents, such as the singular Elkanah Watson, whose 1790s travel journal is pictured here.

At the NYS Library, we're never bored—and you won't be, either!

Read Elkanah Watson's journal and subscribe to our blog at: https://nyslibrary.libguides.com/blogs/system/from-the-collections-new-york-voices

08/02/2026

While the U.S. typically celebrates the Declaration of Independence every July 4, the document's timeline actually spans before and after the July 4 date, with signing of the official copy taking place on August 2, 1776.

After the Revolution, collectors assembled documents related to significant historical events, including the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Today, only a few dozen "Signers Sets," or collected manuscripts bearing the signatures of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, remain in existence. One of them is held by the NYS Library!

You can explore the NYS Library's Signers Set in our Digital Collections! Pictured here is William Floyd, the first New Yorker to sign the Declaration.

Get to know the signers and their documents at: https://nyslibrary.libguides.com/americanrevolution/signers

07/30/2026

Earlier this month, the Office of Cultural Education celebrated 50 years in the Empire State Plaza's Cultural Education Center.

While this is the largest building that the Library has occupied (and trust us, we need the space), it's also the latest in a long line of iconic Albany spaces that have housed Library collections and welcomed curious New Yorkers.

Take a tour of past Library spaces on our blog: https://nyslibrary.libguides.com/blogs/system/weve-lived-all-over-this-town-history-of-nys-library-spaces

07/29/2026

Dedicating time for self-care and scheduling it like any other ordinary task can help you navigate stressful, anxiety-riddled, and overwhelming situations in the day-to-day.

Consider investing in grounding mindfulness exercises as a tool to put in your toolbox! The NYS Office of Mental Health’s Trauma Informed Network & Resource Center (TINRC) has expanded its free Breath-Body-Mind™ services to all New Yorkers who are interested.

You can read more about this service on our blog as part of our Social Work Perspectives series: https://nyslibrary.libguides.com/blogs/system/social-work-perspectives-do-you-need-grounding

07/28/2026

Several items from the NYS Library's George Washington Collection are currently on view in the Cultural Education Center as part of the NYS Museum's Revolutionary New York Exhibit.

If you can't make it to the Cultural Education Center, or if you're like us and you're just really excited about swords, you can bring some history home with our new NYS Library coloring sheets!

You can download and color several coloring sheets as part of the recently published guide, New York at 250: A Resource Guide for Public Libraries and Partners.

Color our collections at: https://nyslibrary.libguides.com/NY250/Activities

07/24/2026

Don't forget: the NYS Library is making content on our YouTube channel!

We’re sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpses of what it takes to keep a 200-year-old Library of over 20 million items running in 2026, as well as what makes our collections and services so special.

Join us on YouTube as we show off treasures from the stacks, staff expertise, and so much more! Visit our channel at: https://www.youtube.com/

07/22/2026

Don’t forget that in between visits to the NYS Library, you can access our excellent electronic resources 24/7!

Search for books and other materials held by the NYS Library in the catalog or explore our digital collections—we're scanning new items all the time!

The photograph here is from 1896 and makes up part of the Elizabeth Cooper Pruyn Harrison Papers. Read more about the exciting life of Elizabeth Cooper Pruyn Harrison and learn about how you can explore her papers in our Digital Collections, all on our blog: https://nyslibrary.libguides.com/blogs/system/look-at-this-elizabeth-cooper-pruyn-harrison-papers

07/20/2026

The NYS Library is a treasure chest of resources for those tracing their family histories, and we want to help you find some treasure!

This summer, join us for an onsite tour highlighting published genealogies, local histories, church records, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) records, United States and New York State Census records, newspapers on microfilm, city directories, and more.

For a full list of upcoming genealogy programs at the NYS Library, please visit: https://nyslibrary.libcal.com/calendar?cid=13947&t=d&d=0000-00-00&cal%5B%5D=13947&ct%5B%5D=78641

07/15/2026

The 250th celebration doesn’t stop when the fireworks end! We’re combing through our collections to help you beat the heat all summer and keep the 250th vibes going strong!

Book a beach getaway to the Devil’s Belt, or explore our collections related to the Battle of Long Island!

Hoping for more of a Hudson River tour this summer? No problem at all, now that the links of the Great West Point Chain have been removed!

Finally, for the hottest summer gossip (from 1787), check out our Melancton Smith papers, with handwritten notes from New York’s Ratification Convention!

All this and much more summer fun on our blog: https://nyslibrary.libguides.com/blogs/system/tips-for-a-revolutionary-new-york-summer

Address

222 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY
12230

Opening Hours

Monday	9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 5pm
Thursday	9:30am - 5pm
Friday	9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+15184745355

Website

http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/

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