The State Library fulfills this role directly by building and managing quality collections and through the delivery of services to state government, libraries, and residents; cooperatively with the library community and library resource sharing networks such as OhioLINK, INFOhio, and OPLIN; and virtually with online and on-the-go access to research assistance and access to digital information resources.

A Congressionally-designated depository for U.S. Government Publications, the State Library is also the depository for Ohio state agency documents including digital and print formats. The State Library partners with state agencies to help residents access their government services through public libraries.

The State Library assists all types of libraries through consultations, staff training, initiatives and projects, grants awarded through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) program for Ohio, and development of programs and services for library staff and their customers.

In partnership with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, the State Library coordinates the Ohio Talking Book Program for Ohio’s blind and physically disabled residents including children and veterans of war.

One of the first state agencies in Ohio, the State Library was established in 1817 to serve the information and research needs of state government. The Library is governed by the State Library Board whose members are appointed by the Ohio Board of Education and serve five-year terms. The day-to-day administration of the State Library Board is the responsibility of the State Librarian who serves at the pleasure of the Library Board.

A line item in the State Library budget, OPLIN receives pass-through funds and extensive fiscal and logistical support service from the State Library of Ohio and contracts with the Ohio Office of Information Technology for assistance with network management. The OPLIN Board is appointed by the State Library Board to govern OPLIN as it delivers a statewide network for Ohio's public libraries.