Catalogue of the New-York State Library: 1855/56

The 1855/56 Catalogue of the New-York State Library was compiled during a period of significant professionalization for American institutional libraries. Published in Albany, this comprehensive volume served as a systematic inventory of the library's growing collections, reflecting the mid-19th-century endeavor to organize vast amounts of legal, historical, and scientific literature for public and legislative reference. It stands as a vital record of the intellectual priorities and acquisitions policies of New York State during the pre-Civil War era.

The volume’s design adheres to the rigorous bibliographic standards established by mid-century librarians, prioritizing utility and accessibility for researchers of the time. The cataloging efforts were overseen by the library’s curators, who sought to categorize titles with a clarity that prefigured later indexing systems. Upon its release, it was regarded by contemporary scholars and peer institutions as a meticulous contribution to the burgeoning field of library science, reinforcing the library's status as a premier research center.