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.
Accessibility
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 Interest | Phone | |
---|---|---|
Circulation/Public Service | ra-circulation@pa.gov | 717-787-3169 |
Interlibrary Loan | ra-ill@pa.gov | 717-787-4130 |
Reference and Rare Collections | ra-reflib@pa.gov | 717-783-5950 |
Law and Government Documents Reference | ra-law@pa.gov | 717-787-3273 |
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.