Visiting the California History Room
We are delighted that you are thinking about visiting us! You can drop by any time during our open hours. If you want to view our rare and fragile materials or to schedule a preliminary research consultation with a librarian, you will need to make an appointment at least 3 business days in advance. If you’re not sure whether you need to make an appointment or if you have other questions, please feel free to contact us directly.
Suggested Visit Preparation
You are welcome to conduct research any time we’re open, but we encourage you to prepare for your visit by:
- Consulting our research guides
- Checking our catalog for materials related to your topic
- Checking our supplemental databases for materials not in our catalog
- Asking us what other resources might help you in your research
Please note:
- To view rare and restricted materials you must:
- Make an appointment at least 3 business days in advance
- Participate in a remote reference consultation
- Provide a list of materials at least 1 business day in advance
You May Wish to Bring
- A camera or phone with camera capability
- A flash drive
- A sweater or jacket
- Note-taking materials including pencils
Location and Hours
900 N Street, Room 200 (2nd Floor)
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tuesday–Thursday, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm (excluding State Holidays)
You can reach the library via driving or public transit. Fee-based street or garage parking is available; see the Sacramento City Parking site for more information.
Copying and Reproduction
In addition to permitting no-flash photography (please no tripods or personal scanners), we are proud to offer a number of self-serve copying options including the following:
- Digital Microfilm Scanners (Free digital copies)
- Digital Book Scanners (Free digital copies)
- Analog copy machine (15 cents per page)
Some of our rare materials have restricted copying but we offer the following services:
- Low-resolution copies or photocopies (depending on material)
- High-resolution digital reproductions
Section Policies
In addition to the State Library’s general policies, we in the California History Section ask you to help us protect the collection and respect other patrons by following these guidelines:
- Storing all purses, bags etc. in our reading room lockers
- Not bringing food or drink into the reading rooms
- Using pencils instead of pens inside the reading rooms
- Silencing your cell phones and stepping outside the reading rooms when you conduct a call
- Following staff instructions regarding how and where to view/use materials
- Following pandemic precautions including wearing masks and staying home if sick
- Enjoying your research!
Registration
To use the majority of our materials, you will need to register as an in-house patron. This requires completing a short form and showing us a driver’s license or other photo ID. Registration is valid for two years.