Library Services for New York State Government Employees

We can find information for you.

You can use our online catalog to search the State Library's collection. Or call our Reference Desk at 518-474-5355, and we can help you find any book, periodical, article or other item in our collection. If we don't have an item that you need for work, we can probably get it from another library through interlibrary loan.

Programs and Classes: Each month the Library offers several brief, 30- to 60-minute presentations on various topics. All presentations are FREE and open to all New York State employees.

We can give you access to electronic databases.

Databases available: Registered borrowers can access many of our research databases , from work or from home, including thousands of newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals and other reference resources. (If you aren't already a registered borrower, but are a permanent State employee, you can apply for a borrower's card.)

Requesting articles: Many of our subscription databases contain full-text articles, but if your search turns up some citations to articles that seem relevant, but whose text is not available online, you can probably get the article from the Library. You can check Excelsior, our online catalog, to see if the Library has the book, journal, or other item you're looking for, and even request it electronically. If we don't have what you're looking for, we can try to obtain it for you through interlibrary loan.

We can answer questions for you.

Our Reference Desk staff can answer questions and even help you with work-related research. You can ask a reference question in person, over the phone, or online. Our online form is best suited to quick questions that have a specific answer, while more open-ended, research-oriented questions are best asked in person or over the phone. Call us at 518-474-5355.

If you have a visual, reading or other eligible disability, we can lend you recorded or braille books.

You are eligible to receive recorded and/or braille books through the Talking Book and Braille Library if you have a visual or other physical limitation that prevents reading printed materials, or holding a book, or turning its pages. (Note: This service is available to all New Yorkers, not just State employees.)

You must live in upstate New York to receive talking or braille books through the State Library. If you live in New York City or on Long Island, you can receive the same service from the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library.