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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    The State Library of Pennsylvania

    Contact Us

    The Office of Commonwealth Libraries provides services Monday through Friday, 9 AM–5 PM (except holidays).

     

    The State Library of Pennsylvania Main Reading Room will be open (except holidays or in the case of a Commonwealth issued delay or closing) as follows: 

     

    Tuesday-Thursday: 10 AM–6 PM

    Library stacks.

    Visit the State Library of Pennsylvania

    The State Library of Pennsylvania is located within the Forum Building in Harrisburg. Spaces include the Main Reading Room, Law Library, Rare Collections, STEMlab, Genealogy Room, and Digitization Department.

    Mailing​ Address

    Forum Building
    607 South Drive
    Harrisburg, PA 17120

    Directions

    Please visit our Google Maps listing.

    Parking

    The Harrisburg Parking Authority includes information on parking garages within walking distance. 

    If you contact the library​ to make an advance reservation for a research appointment, space within the Forum Place Parking Garage may be made available.

    Accessib​​il​​ity

    The Library is accessible through the main entrance. Individuals who need assistance should contact library staff.​

    Additional Contact Information

    Staff provide virtual services and programming Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM and can be contacted directly via phone or email below: 

    Area of InterestEmailPhone
    Circulation/Public Servicera-circulation@pa.gov 717-787-3169
    Interlibrary Loanra-ill@pa.gov717-787-4130
    Reference and Rare Collectionsra-reflib@pa.gov717-783-5950
    Law and Government Documents Referencera-law@pa.gov717-787-3273

    Submit an online reference request for assistance from staff at the State Library of Pennsylvania.

    Ask a question and get answers from a librarian via Chat with a Librarian. The Chat with a Librarian service is a part of POWER Library

    See the current schedule of Events and Programs or view past recordings.

    Visit the State Library STEMlab (by appointment only):
    State Library of Pennsylvania
    607 South Drive,
    Harrisburg, PA 17120
    ​​ra-edmakerspace@pa.gov

    State Library of Pennsylvania Tours

    Main Library Reading Room, Rare Collections Library, and STEMlab spaces

    Thank you for your interest in visiting the historic State Library of Pennsylvania.  Please review the following tour itinerary and email ra-reflib@pa.gov with questions or to reserve a date and time for a tour.

    Tours of the Main Reading Room, Rare Collections Library, and STEMlab are conducted on Wednesday afternoons. Tours are 45 minutes and may be scheduled at the hours of 1 PM, 2 PM, or 3 PM. Tour group size is limited to under 15 persons.

    Tour Itinerary:

    Main Reading Room (15 minutes)

    • Mission and research collections
    • 8th Ward discussion and building architecture
    • Gems of the historic collections - genealogy and newspapers
    • How to access materials

    STEMlab walk-through (15 minutes)

    • Overview of the STEM space and activities within – coding, robotics, LEGO, and STEM professional development/lending library for librarians

    Rare Collections (15 minutes)

    • Introduction to current exhibits in exhibit hall and reading room
    • Discussion of architectural highlights and preservation environment of rare collections space
    • Introduction to types of rare collections held and mission of rare collections

    Please arrive promptly for your assigned tour.  State Library staff may change the tour itinerary when less time is allowed.

    Meeting location:  1st Floor Forum Building Lobby, 607 South Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17120

    If you are interested in an in-depth program in the Rare Collections Library, please contact Michael Lear at mlear@pa.gov.  If you are interested in a team building activity in the STEMlab, please contact wfee@pa.gov.  These programs require ½ to 2 hours of time per session.

    There is no charge for tours, but participants are encouraged to donate to the 1745 Library Foundation, supporting the work of the State Library at The 1745 Library Foundation website.

    Bureau of Library Development

    The Bureau of Library Development (BLD) in the Office of Commonwealth Libraries supports libraries and library services for Pennsylvanians through the administration of state and federally-funded programs and grant opportunities including LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act), Library Access, LAMP (Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians), the Public Library Subsidy, and Keystone Grants for Public Library Facilities. BLD also provides advisory services, professional development, and continuing education for library staff at public, school, academic, and special libraries.

    If you have a request or question that is related the following items, please direct your inquiry to the corresponding email address:   

    • Library Service and Technology Act (LSTA) grants and programs - ra-edbldadmin@pa.gov     
    • State funded contracts (Library Access, Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians) - ra-edbldadmin@pa.gov     
    • Keystone Grants for Public Library Facilities – ra-keystone@pa.gov     
    • State Aid to Public Libraries (Public Library Subsidy) - ra-stateaid@pa.gov     

     All other requests or questions should be sent to ra-libdev@pa.gov.