The California State Library is the state's information hub, preserving California's cultural heritage and connecting people, libraries and government to the resources and tools they need to succeed and to build a strong California.

Founded in 1850, the California State Library is the oldest and most continuous cultural agency in the State of California. Decades before there was a university system or a public library system, there was the California State Library.

The California State Library has responsibility to:

• Collect, preserve, and connect Californians to our history and culture.
• Support a transparent government by collecting, preserving, and ensuring access to California state government publications, federal government information, and patent and trademark resources.
• Ensure access to books and information for Californians who are visually impaired or otherwise physically handicapped and unable to read standard print.
• Support the capacity of policy leaders to make informed decisions by providing specialized research to the Governor's Office and the Cabinet, the Legislature and constitutional officers.
• Provide services that enable state government employees to have the information resources and training they need to be effective, efficient and successful.
• Lead and promote innovative library services by providing and managing state and federal funding programs to ensure all Californians have access via their libraries to the information and educational resources they need to be successful.
• Develop and support programs that help Californians (from birth through adulthood) have the literacy skills they need to thrive in the 21st Century.