California State Library

California State Library A leader, innovator, champion, and important source of trusted information to all Californians.

The State Library is one of California's oldest public research libraries that helps a diverse people, their governments, and their libraries meet their knowledge and information needs

08/18/2026

A librarian’s job is never done! Went looking for some cute baby items in our CA history collection and found progressively unhinged babies in turn of the century clothing ads.

08/17/2026

This one’s for the birds! A little bird told us that Sutro Library had a spectacular book about pigeons that we just HAD to feature in a Shelf Life episode. Do you have a favorite?

Think you know your California places? Here's another photo from our collection where you can guess the decade and and l...
08/13/2026

Think you know your California places? Here's another photo from our collection where you can guess the decade and and location in CA. Let us know your answer in the comments!🐟

08/12/2026
08/11/2026

Greg visited Territory awhile back and got a cool tour of Doc Ricketts’ lab on Cannery Row with Monterey Public Library Director Brian Edwards. Thank you for hosting Greg while he’s on the go!

08/10/2026

This week’s shelf life shares some recent donations! Morris Roberts Wilkinson, born on April 17, 1825, in London Grove, Chester County, Pennsylvania, sailed on the ship Levant from Philadelphia around Cape Horn to California in 1849 to seek gold. The nine letters in this collection confirm that he was in California between at least 1849 and 1851 approximately, but he later returned to the East Coast. The original letters as well as their transcriptions were recently donated to the California History Section by Wilkinson’ great-great-granddaughter.

08/10/2026

Ever wonder what the inspiration was for Batman? Greg shares some great trivia tidbits from our 31st President’s reading habits and his personal author friend.

08/10/2026

Join California State Librarian Greg Lucas at for a conversation about the current programs, services, and resources that the State Library provides.

Mr. Lucas and other members of the State Library team will also discuss the new vision for California libraries and how--when connected and supported statewide--California libraries can work together to strengthen educational success, health and wellbeing, lifelong learning, creativity, cultural and civic engagement, and community resilience.

📚To join the conversation, register for the California Library Association Annual Conference, happening October 22-24, 2026 in Riverside, CA.

www.cla-conference.org

08/09/2026

Happy , from our shelves to yours! 📚💞

Our furry coworker recommends some light reading for . Be sure to take plenty of cat naps while you read!😺
08/08/2026

Our furry coworker recommends some light reading for . Be sure to take plenty of cat naps while you read!😺

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914 Capitol Mall And 900 N Street
Sacramento, CA
95814

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Tuesday 9:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 4pm
Thursday 9:30am - 4pm
Friday 9:30am - 4pm

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