The Connecticut State Library is the state library for the U.S. state of Connecticut, and is also an executive branch agency of the state. It is located in Hartford, Connecticut. The State Library provides a variety of library, information, archival, public records, museum, and administrative services to the citizens of Connecticut, as well as the employees and officials of all three branches of state government. Students, researchers, public libraries and town governments throughout the state are also served by the State Library. In addition the State Library directs a program of statewide library development and administers the federal Library Services Technology Act state grant.
The Connecticut State Library was established by an act of the Connecticut General Assembly in May 1854. Dr. James Hammond Trumbull was appointed the first State Librarian for Connecticut in that year. In its 150-year history there have been only 10 State Librarians. The collections were first kept in the State Houses in Hartford and New Haven and then in the present day Capitol. In 1910 they were relocated to the State Library and Supreme Court building in Hartford where they are housed today.
The Connecticut State Library is an Executive Branch agency of the State of Connecticut. The State Library Board determines policy for the State Library and provides for the supervision of the State Library by a State Librarian appointed by the Board. The State Library Board is within the Department of Education for administrative purposes only.
The State Library Board consists of:
The terms of appointed members are coterminous with term of their appointing authority. The State Librarian, who serves as the chief administrative officer of the Board, is appointed by the Board.
Statutory Charge and Responsibilities Section 11-1 of the Connecticut General Statutes assigns to the Board the responsibility for:
Under the direction of the State Library Board, the State Librarian is responsible for developing and directing a public records management program.
The State Library Board approves rules and regulations for the state publication despository library system; the retention, destruction and transfer of documents; the "borrowIT CT" (formerly known as Connecticard) program; and statewide library programs.
The mission of the Connecticut State Library is: The Mission of the Connecticut State Library is to preserve and make accessible Connecticut's history and heritage and to advance the development of library service statewide.