Legislative Reference Library

About      
The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library (LRL) serves the Legislature and the citizens of Minnesota by assuring access to essential information resources that support the legislative process and promote the understanding of state government. LRL is committed to maintaining a print and electronic collection of current and historical materials to support effective public policy development, and to document the work of the Minnesota Legislature.

The Library maintains an extensive collection of Minnesota state agency documents, including all reports mandated by the Legislature. New materials are highlighted in a monthly publication, Just In: New and Notable Books & Reports.

Our Customers
Legislators and legislative staff are our primary clientele, although the Library is open to the public and is used by citizens, students, lobbyists, and state agency employees.

Special Collections

• Legislative history collection that includes Minnesota Statutes; Laws of Minnesota; House and Senate Journals; recordings and minutes of the House and Senate committee, division, and subcommittee hearings; and recordings of the House and Senate floor sessions.
• Resources on Minnesota Issues: Electronic guides to information in the Library and the Internet on pertinent legislative issues.
• Legislators Past & Present: Biographical information on all legislators back to territorial times.
• News files by subject, 1970s to the present, by subject and on current legislators, former legislators, and prominent Minnesotans.
• Legislative and state government historical information, including searchable databases for gubernatorial vetoes, statements of need and reasonableness (SONARs), executive orders, and constitutional amendments.  Information by legislative session is compiled in the Legislative Time Capsule.