State Library's Digital Collections

The State Library's digital collection archive systems help researchers find both historic and current digitized collections relating to Massachusetts.

How does the State Library provide access to digital collections?

At the State Library we have two dedicated systems for access to our digital collections. The State Library of Massachusetts Digital Collections is our digital repository that uses DSpace-GLAM to archive collections. Our second and newest digital system for a digital archive launched in June 2026 using AM Quartex--State Library of Massachusetts Digital Archival Collections. 

Our digital archive repository, State Library of Massachusetts Digital Collections, includes thousands of Massachusetts state government reports, legislative materials, maps, photographs, and other historical or cultural materials that either have been digitized by the State Library or other institutions or were “born digital,” meaning that they were published electronically originally and not in print.

Our digital collections publishing platform, State Library of Massachusetts Digital Archival Collections, currently contains a selection of items from our collections that include digitized maps, historic photographs, broadsides and other unique items. 

Please explore the collections and check back often to see what is new in State Library of Massachusetts Digital Archival Collections. Growing the digital archive collections in AM Quartex is an ongoing initiative to include the Acts and Resolves, Legislative Documents, House and Senate Journals, and more as a companion to our DSpace-GLAM digital repository.  There will be opportunities to provide feedback as we continue to add new materials and content. 

History of the digital collections at the State Library

The State Library's digital archive repository was developed to address long-term access and preservation of electronic documents. By the late 1990s, government documents were increasingly being published electronically rather than in print, and the librarians at the State Library began to plan how they could save, store, and provide access to this new digital format. Also at this time, the Library began to digitize its own materials, starting with historic manuscript collections and finding aids in the Special Collections Department.

By 2002, the State Library knew that its growing collection of digitized and born-digital material required an electronic repository and decided to use DSpace, an open-source digital asset management system developed by MIT and Hewlett-Packard. Funding from the Massachusetts Information Technology Division (ITD), today the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS), enabled the State Library to hire a consultant to help implement the software and purchase the necessary equipment.

Since the digital archive repository was formally introduced in 2009, materials such as the Acts and Resolves, Bills and Legislative Documents, House and Senate Journals, city and town reports, annual reports from different state departments and agencies, and photograph collections have been downloaded millions of times by patrons around the world. 

In June 2026, the State Library, with the support of EOTSS and the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (EOANF), launched a second companion platform, hosted by AM Digital, called AM Quartex for our digital collections to enhance exploration, accessibility, and discovery. While the items currently in the platform are historical manuscripts and items in visual formats, content updates are ongoing. Eventually, the State Library of Massachusetts Digital Archival Collections will include the same content as our DSpace GLAM digital archive repository.

What is the State Library's digital collections publishing platform?

The State Library's digital collections publishing platform, State Library of Massachusetts Digital Archival Collections, uses AM Quartex. It is a system hosted by AM Digital designed to enhance exploration, accessibility, and discovery of our digital archival collections for all library users. The platform currently features historical manuscripts and visual materials and is actively expanding to fully mirror the content in our DSpace‑GLAM digital archive repository. It is completely free and open to all users.

What is the State Library's digital archive repository?

Our digital archive repository is an online collection of items that is completely free and open to all users. These items include thousands of Massachusetts state government reports, legislative materials, maps, photographs, and other historical or cultural materials that either have been digitized by the State Library or other institutions or were “born digital,” meaning that they were published electronically originally and not in print. DSpace-GLAM is the name of the open-source software we use for the State Library’s digital archive repository.

Massachusetts Acts and Resolves

The largest and most significant collection in the digital archive repository is the Massachusetts Acts and Resolves, the first collection that you see on the landing page. Also known as "Session Laws," this collection includes the laws that were passed every year by the Massachusetts General Court from 1692 to 2010. 

For Acts and Resolves passed after 2010, you can visit the General Court's website to view the unofficial versions.

Legislative Document Series and House and Senate Journals

In addition to the Acts and Resolves, the State Library has also digitized the bound volumes of the Massachusetts Legislative Documents series, which includes the bills filed in both the Senate and House of Representatives of the Massachusetts General Court. While bills make up the vast majority of the Legislative Documents, this collection also includes legislative reports and other documents filed with the Legislature.

This collection also includes the Massachusetts House and Senate Journals, which act as a procedural record of the Legislature during each session. These Journals were digitized by the State Library from the official print versions in our collections

Bills from the 186th Session of the General Court (2009-2010) and later can be found on the Massachusetts General Court's website.

What else can I find in the digital archive repository?

There is plenty more! Government agencies publish many types of documents, including reports, newsletters, advisories, press releases, meeting minutes, and more. Significant Massachusetts documents collections in the digital repository include annual reports published by individual state government departments, the Governor’s Press Releases, the official reports of the State Auditor, the Massachusetts Register, and the Public Document Series.

Other State Library collections in the digital archive repository

The digital archive repository also includes digitized items from the State Library’s Special Collections Department, including finding aids for Massachusetts state legislator’s papers and manuscript collections, as well as maps, broadsides, photographs, and more. Notably, you can view the entire Bradford manuscript, also known as Of Plimoth Plantation, online or search for portraits of individuals or groups of Massachusetts World War I soldiers who served in the 26th “Yankee” Division.