Newspapers and Periodicals

Newspapers

The New Jersey State Library currently receives about 20 newspapers covering most of the geographic areas of New Jersey. In addition, the State Library subscribes to a few out-of-state national newspapers such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Philadelphia Inquirer.

There is a collection of approximately 50 historical newspapers on microfilm covering various towns and cities in New Jersey. Trenton area newspaper coverage goes back to the late 1700’s.
To find current and historic newspaper holdings, please visit the Newspaper LibGuide to see newspapers listed by county and years of coverage.

The NJ State Library has a unique collection of newspaper clipping files. From the 1950’s to the 1980’s librarians from the State Library clipped major stories from about 6 prominent New Jersey papers and assigned specific subject headings. The Subject Heading Index is online and is also available in print at the reference desk. Researchers may request and review clipping file material at the NJ State Library on level 4.

Newspapers and newspaper microfilm are located on the 4th floor.

The New Jersey State Archives, which is located near the State Library, also has a large collection of historic newspapers.


Periodicals

The New Jersey State Library has a large collection of periodicals focusing on the needs of state government. About 300 titles are currently received in print. The emphasis of the Periodicals Collection is on the social sciences, medicine, public health, education, politics, government, psychology, the environment and management. In addition, the State Library subscribes to general interest magazines such as Consumer Reports, Time, Harper’s, Kiplinger’s, and Scientific American.

The library has a separate collection of titles relating specifically to New Jersey. These are serials from private publishers that are focused on New Jersey, and include publications such as New Jersey Monthly, New Jersey Business, and Weird N.J.

Periodicals are located on the 2nd floor.


Services

Librarians are available on the 4th floor to assist users in finding newspapers and periodicals, and in using the microfilm equipment if necessary. Printouts can be made from the microfilm readers. There is also a digital microfilm scanner available.
For law periodicals, the librarians in the law reference department on the 3rd floor should be consulted.


Circulation Policy

General periodicals and New Jersey periodicals (J/PERs) do not circulate. Under certain conditions, newspaper microfilm may be loaned to research institutions upon the approval of the Serials Librarian.


Location

New Jersey State Library – Level 2 (periodicals) and Level 4 (newspapers)
185 West State St.
(mailing address: PO Box 520)
Trenton, NJ 08625

Directions and hours.

Telephone: 609-278-2640 x165 (or 609-278-2640 ext. 103, General Reference)
Fax: 609-278-2647
E-Mail: msullivan@njstatelib.org

Librarian: Martha Sullivan, Serials Librarian