Catalogue of the Pennsylvania State Library, January 1, 1978: In Two Parts: Part I, Law Books and State Papers. Part II, Miscelaneous Books

The 1978 Catalogue of the Pennsylvania State Library was commissioned as a comprehensive reference guide to the institution's holdings during a period when state libraries were transitioning from traditional manual card indexes to more formal, printed bibliographical records. It was created to provide researchers, legal professionals, and government officials with an organized inventory of the library's expansive collections, reflecting the legislative and scholarly priorities of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at the time.

The design of this two-part volume emphasizes clarity and structured categorization, separating the specialized legal and government documentation from the broader collection of miscellaneous volumes. Produced by the library staff and the State Library of Pennsylvania, it serves as a historical document that captures the archival state of the library's shelves at the start of 1978, functioning both as a practical tool for archival navigation and as a testament to the administrative rigor of the Pennsylvania state government during the late twentieth century.