The State Library is California's public research library that helps a diverse people; their governments and their libraries meet their knowledge and information needs. The goal of the State Library is to make information available to users in a coordinated, effective, and efficient manner. The State Library provides services to the Legislative and Executive Branches of state government, to members of the public and to California public libraries; develops and promotes outreach programs such as California Library Literacy Services; and improves access to information through information technology and the use of resource sharing.

Since department programs drive the need for infrastructure investment, each department has a related capital outlay program to support this need. For the specifics on the State Library's Capital Outlay Program, see "Infrastructure Overview."