Collections

The State Library’s General Collection consists of more than 185,000 nonfiction books intended as a resource for state agency activities. Materials selected are used in conjunction with the Library’s special collections to provide state employees with the informational resources needed in their daily work. It is particularly strong in social sciences, health, history, business and management. It is not intended to support in-depth historical research in most subjects. It is divided into a Browsing Collection, located on Level 3, which covers more recent publications, primarily from 2001 to the present, and a General Collection, located on Level 1, consisting of items published earlier. eBooks are also acquired and available for online use.

Collection Policy

All items in the General Collection are available for loan and circulate for 4 weeks. Up to two renewals are possible if no one else is waiting for the item. Borrowers may place reserves on books that are in circulation or on order. When the item becomes available, the requestor will be notified and the book held one week for pickup. State employees may arrange to receive books via interoffice mail. In order to allow all borrowers the greatest access to materials, the State Library cannot provide permanent or semi-permanent office collections to other state agencies or libraries. Titles needed indefinitely, should be purchased by that agency rather than borrowed on long-term loan from the Library. All materials in the General Collection are also available via interlibrary loan. Titles selected are in English, at a reading level from general adult to graduate or professional level, depending on the specific subject area. In most cases only one copy is purchased; however multiple copies will be purchased if demand warrants it.

Location

New Jersey State Library – Level 1 and Level 3
185 West State St.
The mailing address: PO Box 520
Trenton NJ 08625-0520

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Contact

Telephone: 609-278-2640 x103
Fax: 609-278-2647
E-Mail: refdesk@njstatelib.org