State Library Collections
Government and Heritage Library Collections
The newly named “Government and Heritage Library” at the State Library of North Carolina collects and provides access to a variety of materials, ranging from books to electronic resources. While not all of our collections are listed here, we have highlighted resources that reflect the State Library’s mission to “build the capacity of all libraries in North Carolina” and to “develop and support access to specialized collections for the people of North Carolina.” Questions about any of these collections should be directed to our reference staff.
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Electronic Journals & Databases
The Government and Heritage Library's research databases cover a broad range of topics including history, business, library science, and genealogy. The databases provide users with access to popular and historical newspapers and periodicals. Databases include JSTOR, the African American Experience, Newspaper ARCHIVE, Ancestry Library edition, Lexis Nexis Statistical and more. All are accessible to visitors to the Government and Heritage Library. Many are also available to North Carolina state agency employees with current library cards. Agency employees interested in obtaining a library card should contact the reference staff.
Digital Collections
The State Library of North Carolina Digital Repository provides online access to current and historical North Carolina state government information and North Caroliniana. First made available in the spring of 2008, the Digital Repository supports instructional and research needs related to the history and culture of North Carolina by making many of the unique and valuable holdings of the State Library of North Carolina easily accessible via a full-text searchable, online database.
Genealogy Collection
Genealogical Services maintains an extensive collection of published materials for genealogical research. The collection includes family histories; census records and indexes; abstracts of county, state, and federal records; bibliographies; indexes; and general reference books on genealogy are among the Library's most valuable resources. While the emphasis is on North Carolina, the collection has extensive materials on the colonial and post-colonial periods as well as the areas from which North Carolinians came and to which they migrated.
The Library has microfilm of surviving census records for the entire United States from 1800 to 1890, as well as many of the published indexes. It also has the 1900-1920 census microfilm for North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, as well as the 1930 microfilm for North Carolina only. Soundex indexes on microfilm are available for North Carolina for 1880 and 1900-1930. These microfilm may also be rented through your local library from the National Archives Census Microfilm Rental Program.
In addition to census microfilm and print indexes, the State Library also subscribes to the databases AncestryPlus and HeritageQuest. Both databases offer access to digitized versions of many census records and census indexes, as well as additional information resources such as periodical indexes, military records, directories, and more. Both AncestryPlus and HeritageQuest are available for use in the Genealogical Services Section, and additional computers are also available in the Information Center on the first floor.
Newspaper Microfilm Collection
In 1959, the North Carolina Division of Archives and History (then the State Department of Archives and History) began a program of microfilming North Carolina Newspapers. Newspapers filmed by the department have been described in several editions of Guide to North Carolina Newspapers on Microfilm: Titles Available from the Division of Archives and History. This list updates the 1984 edition of that Guide and includes all titles filmed since 1991 under the auspices of the North Carolina Newspaper Project, a project funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Guide to Newspapers on Microfilm in the North Carolina State Archives (pdf file).
The Government and Heritage Library’s newspaper microfilm collection includes titles filmed by the North Carolina State Archives and by third party vendors. The complete holdings are available by searching the online catalog.
North Caroliniana Collection
The State Library has been collecting materials related to North Carolina for nearly 200 years. Comprised of books, state and federal documents, newspapers, magazines, and vertical files with newspaper clippings and ephemera, this rich and varied collection seeks to chronicle the history and diversity of the state, its people, business enterprises, unique places, and architectural heritage.
State Publications Collection
State publications are defined by G.S. 125-11 as "any document prepared by a state agency or private organization, consultant, or research firm, under contract with or under the supervision of a State agency: Provided, however, the term state publication does not include administrative documents used only within the issuing agency, documents produced for instructional purposes that are not intended for sale or publication, appellate division reports and advance sheets distributed by the Administrative Office of the Courts, the S.B.I. Investigative Bulletin, documents that will be reproduced in the Senate or House of Representatives Journals, or documents that are confidential pursuant to Article 17 of Chapter 120 of the General Statutes." State publications are available electronically online, and in paper and microfiche at the Library. They may also be available at a depository library or through interlibrary loan.
Statistics & Demographic Collection
As a coordinating agency for the North Carolina State Data Center Affiliate Program, the Government and Heritage Library provides technical assistance and consultation in locating and understanding data from the Census Bureau and other sources. This rich collection of demographic and statistical resources about North Carolina contains data compiled by federal, state, and corporate entities. It is utilized by state government employees, businesses, non-profit corporations and other researchers.
Video Collection
The State Library of North Carolina maintains a collection of videocassettes and DVDs designed to support the departments and programs of state government. These videos are also available to residents of North Carolina through their local public library's interlibrary loan program. Many videos are suitable for public programming and continuing education. The collection is particularly strong in the areas of business, human resource development and safety training.
Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped Collection
The NCLBPH offers books and magazines. The same book and magazine titles found in any other public library are available for loan. Materials are in large print, braille, or audio formats. The audio materials are either cassette tapes or record discs. Patrons may read one or more formats of their choice. The cassette tape and records are recorded at slower speeds than commercially available tapes and records. Thus, the library also loans specially designed cassette players and record players to patrons who request tape or record service. More...
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