Librarian Marie Wiechman, shows children one of the State Library's many hidden doors
The Nebraska State Library is the oldest public library in the state. In 1855 (before the territory of Nebraska became a state), Congress appropriated monies to the territory of Nebraska for library resources. In 1871, the Nebraska Legislature enacted a statute specifically relating to the creation of the Nebraska State Library. The Library was separated into two sections, law and miscellaneous. The Legislature named the Clerk of the Supreme Court as the librarian, and the judges of the Nebraska Supreme Court as the board of directors of the law collection. The Secretary of State was the librarian for the miscellaneous collection and the Governor, Secretary of State and Auditor as the board of directors for the miscellaneous collection. Both collections were put under the supervision of the Supreme Court in 1913. In 1968, the miscellaneous collection was given to other libraries, leaving only the law books in the State Library. At the present time, the Nebraska State Library contains approximately 130,000 volumes. The shelving in the library, if placed end-to-end, would make one continuous shelf nearly six miles long.
The Nebraska State Library serves the needs of the Nebraska Supreme Court, the Nebraska Court of Appeals, attorneys within the State of Nebraska, members of the Nebraska Legislature and their respective staffs, members of other state agencies, pro se litigants, and interested members of the general public. The Nebraska State Library is primarily a reference/research library as opposed to a circulating library.
Contact Information
The Nebraska State Library
State Capitol Building
Room 325, on the third floor, south side
P.O. Box 98931
State Capitol Bldg.
15th & K Streets
Lincoln, NE 68509-8931
Phone (402) 471-3189
FAX (402) 471-1011
nsc.lawlibrary@nebraska.gov
This file last modified Wednesday October 15, 2008 11:24:29