California State Library
@castatelibrary.bsky.social
A leader, innovator, champion, and important source of trusted information to Californians and their libraries since 1850. We like books.
Pinned
Governor Newsom proclaims Disability Employment Awareness Month | Governor of California
www.gov.ca.gov
Be sure to check out Governor Newsom's Proclamation in both English and Braille declaring October 2025 as “Disability Employment Awareness Month.” This is the first time in the history of the state that a proclamation has been issued in Braille. www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/07/g...
“#EveryStoryCounts kicks off this Sunday. If your local library is participating, take the short survey and share your story.” youtu.be/eSjTdTl9zGc
Every Story Counts
YouTube video by California State Library Multimedia
youtu.be
January 22, 2026 at 7:36 PM
“#EveryStoryCounts kicks off this Sunday. If your local library is participating, take the short survey and share your story.” youtu.be/eSjTdTl9zGc
2016 v 2026! Greg visited @ontarioclc during their summer program; Mattie was named the Director of Sutro Library; Greg got a historian passport, our Braille & Talking Book Library had a show and tell for State Senator Ben Allen; and we unfurled a giant map.
January 21, 2026 at 5:32 PM
2016 v 2026! Greg visited @ontarioclc during their summer program; Mattie was named the Director of Sutro Library; Greg got a historian passport, our Braille & Talking Book Library had a show and tell for State Senator Ben Allen; and we unfurled a giant map.
It's Aquarius season! 💧Aquarius, the water carrier, is a constellation that can be found in the sky sometimes known as "the Sea" because of other water based constellations nearby. The image comes from a 17th century astronomy book by Polish scholar Stanisław Lubieniecki held by our Sutro Library.
January 21, 2026 at 12:08 AM
It's Aquarius season! 💧Aquarius, the water carrier, is a constellation that can be found in the sky sometimes known as "the Sea" because of other water based constellations nearby. The image comes from a 17th century astronomy book by Polish scholar Stanisław Lubieniecki held by our Sutro Library.
Vol. 6 of our Shelf Life series explores this 1903 menu celebrating President Theodore Roosevelt’s visit to the San Francisco area. #libraries #menus
January 20, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Vol. 6 of our Shelf Life series explores this 1903 menu celebrating President Theodore Roosevelt’s visit to the San Francisco area. #libraries #menus
From our CA History menu collection, the multipage menu of the German restaurant, Heidelberg Inn, founded in San Francisco on Ellis Street in 1907. During WWI, the owners changed the name to States of Hof Brau to counter the anti-German sentiment. the booths were renamed to states #menus
January 16, 2026 at 10:16 PM
From our CA History menu collection, the multipage menu of the German restaurant, Heidelberg Inn, founded in San Francisco on Ellis Street in 1907. During WWI, the owners changed the name to States of Hof Brau to counter the anti-German sentiment. the booths were renamed to states #menus
It's always sunny at the State Library! When entering the 914 Capitol Mall building, be sure to look up to see the beautiful sunburst paintings on the ceilings in the portico. We're open Monday - Friday, 9:30am-4pm.
January 15, 2026 at 6:33 PM
It's always sunny at the State Library! When entering the 914 Capitol Mall building, be sure to look up to see the beautiful sunburst paintings on the ceilings in the portico. We're open Monday - Friday, 9:30am-4pm.
This 1645 book, "The Eye of Enoch and Elaine: or, the Sidereal-Mystical Planetary Radius" by monk Anton Maria Schyrleus de Rheita (1604-1660), is an example of some of the many early scientific works here at Sutro Library.
January 14, 2026 at 4:41 PM
This 1645 book, "The Eye of Enoch and Elaine: or, the Sidereal-Mystical Planetary Radius" by monk Anton Maria Schyrleus de Rheita (1604-1660), is an example of some of the many early scientific works here at Sutro Library.
The new zebra printer in our Braille and Talking Book Library circulation unit is hard at work printing labels for the accessible materials we send to our patrons for free. #libraries #braille
January 12, 2026 at 5:37 PM
The new zebra printer in our Braille and Talking Book Library circulation unit is hard at work printing labels for the accessible materials we send to our patrons for free. #libraries #braille
The State Library is saddened to share that longtime librarian Gary Kurutz has passed away. Gary retired in 2017 after more than four decades of dedicated service to the California State Library and its Special Collections.
January 9, 2026 at 7:50 PM
The State Library is saddened to share that longtime librarian Gary Kurutz has passed away. Gary retired in 2017 after more than four decades of dedicated service to the California State Library and its Special Collections.
It may be #NationalHotTeaMonth but it's always tea time when you have a good book from the library. ☕📖
January 9, 2026 at 4:48 PM
It may be #NationalHotTeaMonth but it's always tea time when you have a good book from the library. ☕📖
PRESS RELEASE – Rare and historically significant periodicals produced in California penal institutions between 1915 and 1991 are now available to the public through a newly digitized collection at the California State Library. Read the full press release at www.library.ca.gov/uploads/2026...
January 8, 2026 at 6:01 PM
PRESS RELEASE – Rare and historically significant periodicals produced in California penal institutions between 1915 and 1991 are now available to the public through a newly digitized collection at the California State Library. Read the full press release at www.library.ca.gov/uploads/2026...
The State Library at 914 Capitol Mall is open Monday-Friday, 9:30am- 4pm. Come check out our hallowed halls, crack open an old book, or join us on Tuesdays at 10am for a tour! And browse our website for more: www.library.ca.gov
January 7, 2026 at 6:39 PM
The State Library at 914 Capitol Mall is open Monday-Friday, 9:30am- 4pm. Come check out our hallowed halls, crack open an old book, or join us on Tuesdays at 10am for a tour! And browse our website for more: www.library.ca.gov
Get to know a Braille and Talking Book Library volunteer through this short interview. #libraries #braille
January 6, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Get to know a Braille and Talking Book Library volunteer through this short interview. #libraries #braille
Volume 4 of our new weekly series Shelf Life has us taking time to smell the flowers or look at the flowers rather! The Temple of Flora by Robert John Thornton shows stunning images of flowers in their native habitat.
January 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Volume 4 of our new weekly series Shelf Life has us taking time to smell the flowers or look at the flowers rather! The Temple of Flora by Robert John Thornton shows stunning images of flowers in their native habitat.
Reposted by California State Library
The WNRL is honored to receive a $5,000 grant from the Groundwork Grants program to help us participate in the Ready or Not: California Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project. Thank you to the @castatelibrary.bsky.social and Myriad Consulting and Training for investing in our library.
January 3, 2026 at 4:17 PM
The WNRL is honored to receive a $5,000 grant from the Groundwork Grants program to help us participate in the Ready or Not: California Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project. Thank you to the @castatelibrary.bsky.social and Myriad Consulting and Training for investing in our library.
It's Braille Literacy Month!
This month we celebrate braille, a vital form of communication for those who are low vision, blind, and deafblind. Below BTBL Director Mike shows us how to use a refreshable braille display device.
Over six million people around the world use braille to communicate.
This month we celebrate braille, a vital form of communication for those who are low vision, blind, and deafblind. Below BTBL Director Mike shows us how to use a refreshable braille display device.
Over six million people around the world use braille to communicate.
January 2, 2026 at 4:58 PM
It's Braille Literacy Month!
This month we celebrate braille, a vital form of communication for those who are low vision, blind, and deafblind. Below BTBL Director Mike shows us how to use a refreshable braille display device.
Over six million people around the world use braille to communicate.
This month we celebrate braille, a vital form of communication for those who are low vision, blind, and deafblind. Below BTBL Director Mike shows us how to use a refreshable braille display device.
Over six million people around the world use braille to communicate.
Close out 2025 with these fantastic meals from our historic menu collection. #library #menu #newyearseve
December 31, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Close out 2025 with these fantastic meals from our historic menu collection. #library #menu #newyearseve
The CA State Library will be closed in observance of New Year's Day on January 1, 2026.
December 30, 2025 at 7:27 PM
The CA State Library will be closed in observance of New Year's Day on January 1, 2026.
Will this Witkin's Laughable Law will bring you a jolly laugh!? CA Vehicle Code § 24003 states "No vehicle shall be equipped with any lamp or illuminating device not required or permitted in this code" but we've seen vehicles decked out in string lights, so perhaps they squeaked by w/ holiday magic
December 30, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Will this Witkin's Laughable Law will bring you a jolly laugh!? CA Vehicle Code § 24003 states "No vehicle shall be equipped with any lamp or illuminating device not required or permitted in this code" but we've seen vehicles decked out in string lights, so perhaps they squeaked by w/ holiday magic
Volume 3 of our weekly Shelf Life series takes a look at our copy of the Grapes of Wrath and original photos of the real life Joad family. #libraries #books
December 29, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Volume 3 of our weekly Shelf Life series takes a look at our copy of the Grapes of Wrath and original photos of the real life Joad family. #libraries #books
From the Sutro Library- This 1895 Victorian souvenir album is of a trip from New Orleans to Mexico. The Mexican railroad connecting Vera Cruz to Mexico City was completed in the 1870s. The album starts with Mardi Gras in New Orleans and all throughout the beautiful interior of Mexico. #trains
December 26, 2025 at 6:13 PM
From the Sutro Library- This 1895 Victorian souvenir album is of a trip from New Orleans to Mexico. The Mexican railroad connecting Vera Cruz to Mexico City was completed in the 1870s. The album starts with Mardi Gras in New Orleans and all throughout the beautiful interior of Mexico. #trains
From our CA History collection, Los pastores (The shepherds), a CA Christmas play reproduced from the original manuscript at the Bancroft Library at UC Berkley. Las Pastorelas were popular Mexican folk plays performed during the Christmas season in early CA history
December 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
From our CA History collection, Los pastores (The shepherds), a CA Christmas play reproduced from the original manuscript at the Bancroft Library at UC Berkley. Las Pastorelas were popular Mexican folk plays performed during the Christmas season in early CA history
Gather round for a seasonal message looking ahead to 2026 with State Librarian Greg Lucas. Hear about our Braille and Talking Book Library, public tours and more! Watch the full video at youtu.be/RdaHPp5489c?...
End of the Year Message from California State Librarian Greg Lucas.
YouTube video by California State Library Multimedia
youtu.be
December 22, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Gather round for a seasonal message looking ahead to 2026 with State Librarian Greg Lucas. Hear about our Braille and Talking Book Library, public tours and more! Watch the full video at youtu.be/RdaHPp5489c?...
Bah humbug….to not reading Dickens for the holidays. Vol. 2 of Shelf Life unwraps our illustrated copy of a Christmas Carol from our CA History collection. #libraries #charlesdickens #christmascarol
December 22, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Bah humbug….to not reading Dickens for the holidays. Vol. 2 of Shelf Life unwraps our illustrated copy of a Christmas Carol from our CA History collection. #libraries #charlesdickens #christmascarol
Yesterday, the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report on the condition of libraries in the US, with a focus on the impact on deferred maintenance.
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov
December 19, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Yesterday, the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report on the condition of libraries in the US, with a focus on the impact on deferred maintenance.
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov/products/gao...