Renovations of the Law/Government Documents Area of the State Library are Finished!

The area is scheduled to reopen to the public for Law Day on May 1, 2018 at 9:30 am. Come and see our beautiful space that the Capitol Preservation Committee restored back to the original grandeur of the 1930s. You are going to need your sunglasses just to stand in the room!

Laws for all fifty states and other law-related materials are available for Commonwealth employees and the public. Government documents have been part of the collection since the State Library began in 1745. The Library was designated as a depository of U.S. documents in 1858.

Do you need to know historic U.S. Census information? The State Library was named an Historic Census site because of the wealth of data that we have not only on Pennsylvania but other states in the U.S. Our depository is one of the oldest in the country. The Pennsylvania state agency documents go back quite far as well. Records and Briefs for the Pennsylvania Supreme, Superior, and Commonwealth courts are available. An onsite access point for Westlaw and other electronic legal/governmental resources is also available for public use.

Visit the Law Reading Room Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30 to 5 beginning on May 1, 2018.