The State Library of Louisiana has several collections of materials:
The General Collection
The materials in the general collection are located on the first, third and fourth floors of the library. It is a research collection designed to serve the needs of state government and to supplement the holdings of the state’s public, academic, school, institutional and special libraries in support of the informational and recreational needs of Louisiana residents. It covers the broadest spectrum of subject matter and strives to represent the best authorities in all fields and to present a balance of differing points of view on controversial issues. While books comprise the majority of the collection, magazines, newspapers, government publications, microform and electronic resources are also included. All materials in the general collection are listed in the library’s online catalog and most can be borrowed. For help using the online catalog, click on the 
button on the upper right corner of each page in the online catalog.
Special materials in the general collection include:
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Federal documents
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Foreign language materials encompassing major literary works, fiction, folktales, and some vocational/technical works
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Grants directories and grant-writing materials
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Library and information sciences materials
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Study guides for civil service, high school equivalency, college entrance and licensing examinations
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Study materials for learning English and passing the examination for U.S. citizenship
The general collection does not include:
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Juvenile materials unless they provide introductory level information that is usable by adults
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Most textbooks and highly specialized or technical materials
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Popular fiction unless the title has literary merit
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The Louisiana Collection
The materials in the Louisiana collection are located on the fifth floor of the library. It is a research collection related to the State of Louisiana. Current information in the areas of law, study guides and travel are included with other materials that record the history and culture of Louisiana. Although the emphasis is on print format, microform and electronic materials are included. Most of the material in the Louisiana collection is listed in the library’s online catalog . For help using the online catalog, click on the button on the upper right corner of each page in the online catalog.
Louisiana-related audiovisual materials are housed in the State Library’s audiovisual collection.
Special materials in the Louisiana collection include:
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Acts of the Louisiana Legislature, 1810 to current
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Current and historical city directories and telephone books for Louisiana cities and towns
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Current and historical Louisiana maps
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Current and historical Louisiana state government publications
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Documents relating to the Historic American Building Survey in Louisiana
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Documents relating to the Louisiana Historic Standing Structures Survey
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Documents relating to the Louisiana Works Progress Administration
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Louisiana-related federal government documents
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Newspapers from major Louisiana cities in print, on microfilm and in electronic format
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U. S. Census, ship passenger lists, military service and parish records on microfilm
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Vertical files of newspaper articles and ephemeral materials
Criteria for selection include:
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Subject relevant to Louisiana
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Written or illustrated by a native or resident who is closely identified with the state of Louisiana
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Fiction of literary quality with a Louisiana setting and popular fiction by Louisiana authors
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Popular books and compilations of Louisiana law and jurisprudence
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Genealogy materials related to Louisiana and southeastern U.S.; journals published by state genealogical and historical societies
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Juvenile books by Louisiana authors or with a Louisiana setting
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Dissertations dealing with Louisiana history, culture or biography
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Study guides for state-specific licensing examinations
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Standard annual series of Louisiana travel guidebooks
The Louisiana Gumbo Project
The Louisiana Gumbo Project is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through a grant awarded to the State Library of Louisiana in partnership with the Louisiana State Museum, The Historic New Orleans Collection, and LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network. The Louisiana Gumbo Project provides digital resources to K-12 students and educators. The resources will also be of interest to researchers, writers, and genealogists. These digital resources as well as many others are available at the LOUISiana Digital Library: http://www.louisianadigitallibrary.com/
State Library of Louisiana Conditions Governing Rights and Reproductions
Here are the State Library's two collections in this project:
Louisiana Works Progress Administration Collection at the State Library of Louisiana
http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm4/index_LWP.php?CISOROOT=%2FLWP
This collection features predominantly black and white photographs from 1930's to 1970's. There is a strong emphasis on photographs of notable Louisiana personalities governors, artists, authors and musicians. Historic buildings and other architectural gems, such as plantations and churches, are included.
State Library of Louisiana Conditions Governing Rights and Reproductions
Louisiana Historical Photographs Collection of the State Library
http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm4/index_LHP.php?CISOROOT=%2FLHP
The WPA collection covers the state and includes traditional songs, beliefs, customs, sayings, stories, recipes, legends, jokes, and accounts of local history.
State Library of Louisiana Conditions Governing Rights and Reproductions
Lesson Plans and Educational Materials Using Louisiana Gumbo Resources
http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/lagumbo/lagumbo_lessons.htm
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Audiovisual Collection
Audio visual materials are located on the first floor of the library. The collection includes videocassettes, DVDs, unabridged audio books on cassette and CD, foreign language study programs on cassette and CD and recorded music on CD. The video collection includes all subject areas with a strong emphasis on Louisiana-related items. The audio book collection focuses on popular fiction and classic literature but also includes biography and history. The recorded music collection is eclectic and features historically important musicians, composers and genres. Emphasis is placed on Louisiana artists in all musical genres. All audiovisual materials are listed in the library’s online catalog and can be borrowed. For help using the online catalog, click on the button on the upper right corner of each page in the online catalog.
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Materials for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Materials for the blind and physically handicapped are located on the fourth floor of the library. The collection includes both recorded books on cassette and books in large print. Borrowing recorded books on cassette is limited only to patrons registered for services with the Blind and Physically Handicapped Section. The focus of the large print collection is recreational reading. The majority of the titles are on the adult reading level, but some books for children and young adults are included. Books in large print are available for borrowing by any registered State Library patron and through interlibrary loan. The large print collection is located in the north end of the fourth floor.
All large print books are listed in the library’s online catalog. Recorded books on cassette are not listed in the library’s online catalog. For help using the online catalog, click on the button on the upper right corner of each page in the online catalog.
State Library of Louisiana Collection Development Policy
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Catalog of Die Cut Boards
This collection of approximately 500 die cut boards was given to the State Library by the Northeast Texas Library System. Each die cut template is available through interlibrary loan at your local public library. Please request the template by Die Cut Number and name (e.g.DC97306, Large Apple). In order to make best use of the templates, you will need to have an Ellison or Accu-Cut die cutting machine.To see if the die cut block you want is available, search the State Library's catalog.
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