U.S. Department of Labor's Wirtz Labor Library

The U.S. Department of Labor Library provides members of the general public as well as Department of Labor employees with access to both historically significant and current resources pertaining to labor. Library users can access labor related resources via the World Wide Web or by visiting the library located in Washington DC.

The U.S. Department of Labor Library, established in 1917, is one of the oldest Cabinet-level libraries. The Library was created with the consolidation of the libraries of the former Children's Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Large segments of the Library's collection, which document the history of labor, labor unions and the growth and development of the labor movement in a national and world context, are unique either in their nature and content or in the length and completeness of their coverage. The Library's role as an information repository and access point is central in supporting the day-to-day regulating, monitoring, and analytical work of the Department.

The Library's online catalog provides access to all materials that have been acquired by the Library since 1975, as well as access to selected pre-1975 items. All catalog records, however, have not been converted to electronic format and a card catalog still provides access to most holdings acquired prior to 1975.
The Library's journal collection, which is predominantly historic, is distinguished by a large collection of labor union newspapers and periodicals, numbering more than 3,000 titles. Labor union newspapers representing more than 60 national unions, some no longer in existence, date to the 1860s. More than 400 American trade unions are represented by their constitutions, proceedings, reports and journals. Foreign union publications are extensively represented as well.

On March 28, 2000, the Library was dedicated in honor of former U.S. Secretary of Labor Willard Wirtz and his wife Mrs. Jane Wirtz to become the Wirtz Labor Library of the U.S. Department of Labor. In the same year, the Library was designated a Millennium Library by the White House Millennium Council in recognition of its unique historical holdings.



On March 28, 2000, the Library was dedicated in honor of former U.S. Secretary of Labor Willard Wirtz and his wife Mrs. Jane Wirtz to become the Wirtz Labor Library of the U.S. Department of Labor.	The U.S. Department of Labor Library, established in 1917, is one of the oldest Cabinet-level libraries. The Library was created with the consolidation of the libraries of the former Children's Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.	The library's holdings include a large historic collection, legal resources, and current labor related materials. Digital initiatives are bringing the unique collection to a global audience.


The library currently subscribes to over 200 paper journals, and over 4,000 electronic journals largely in the areas of employment, economics, industry, business, and labor.	The U.S. Department of Labor showcases a unique collection of original paintings of former U.S. Secretaries of Labor that are located throughout the Wirtz Labor Library. The latest addition to this collection is a portrait of Elaine L. Chao (2001-2009).	The James Taylor Collection comprises some of the Wirtz Labor Library's most valuable and historical materials.


The library has labor-related materials geared towards children and young adults.	The law library's staff provides reference and research assistance including an extensive print, electronic, and microform collection of federal labor law resources both primary and secondary in nature.	The Law Library supports the research needs of the DOL's Office of the Solicitor and client agencies within the Department. The Law Library also serves the needs of private law firms, academic institutions, and corporate establishments across the US.


Once a month the library holds orientation sessions.	The Wirtz Labor Library maintains both online and card catalogs. The online catalog comprises holdings added to the Library after January 1975.	All catalog records, however, have not been converted to electronic format and a card catalog still provides access to most holdings acquired prior to 1975.


The Digital Archive collection is intended to bring the diversity of the Wirtz Labor Library's collections to those not able to reach the library in person.	The Wirtz Labor Library's dedicated and knowledgeable staff	Layout of the Wirtz Labor Library