Create a library

A library is a location on a site where you can create, collect, update, and manage files with team members. Each library displays a list of files and key information about the files, which helps people to use the files to work together.

You can create and manage documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and other types of files in a library. The Shared Documents library is created for you when Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services creates a new site. You can customize the library for your purposes, or you can create additional libraries.

Note: To create a library, you must have permission to manage lists on the site where you want to create the library.

1. Click View All Site Content, and then click Create on the All Site Content page.

   Tip: In most cases, you can use the Site Actions menu instead to complete this step.

1. Under Libraries, click the type of library that you want, such as Document Library.

   Types of libraries

   The type of library that you use depends on the kinds of files that you are sharing:

   • Document library     For many file types, including documents and spreadsheets, use a document library. You can store other kinds of files in a document library, although some file types are blocked for security reasons. When you work with programs that are compatible with Windows SharePoint Services, you can create those files from the library. For example, your marketing team may have its own library for planning materials, news releases, and publications.

   • Picture library     To share a collection of digital pictures or graphics, use a picture library. Although pictures can be stored in other types of SharePoint libraries, picture libraries have several advantages. For example, from a picture library you can view pictures in a slide show, download pictures to your computer, and edit pictures with graphics programs that are compatible with Windows SharePoint Services. Consider creating a picture library if your team reuses lots of graphics, such as logos and corporate images, or if you want to store pictures of team events or product launches.

   • Wiki page library     To create a collection of connected wiki pages, use a wiki page library. A wiki enables multiple people to gather routine information in a format that is easy to create and modify. You can add to your library wiki pages that contain pictures, tables, hyperlinks, and internal links. For example, if your team creates a wiki site for a project, the site can store tips and tricks in a series of pages that connect to each other.

   • Form library     If you need to manage a group of XML-based business forms, use a form library. For example, your organization may want to use a form library for expense reports. Setting up a form library requires an XML editor or XML design program that is compatible with Windows SharePoint Services, such as Microsoft Office InfoPath.

   1. In the Name box, type a name for the library. The library name is required.

      The name appears at the top of the library page, becomes part of the address for the library page, and appears in navigational elements that help users to find and open the library.

   1. In the Description box, type a description of the purpose of the library. The description is optional.

      The description appears at the top of the library page, underneath the name of the library. If you plan to enable the library to receive content by e-mail, you can add the e-mail address of the library to its description, so that people can easily find it.

2. To add a link to this library on the Quick Launch, verify that Yes is selected in the Navigation section.

3. If an Incoming E-mail section appears, your administrator has enabled your site to receive content by e-mail. If you want people to add files to the library by sending them as attachments to e-mail messages, click Yes. Then, in the E-mail address box, type the first part of the address that you want people to use for the library.

4. To create a version each time a file is checked into the library, in the Document Version History or Picture Version History section, click Yes.

   You can later choose whether you want to store both major and minor versions and how many versions of each you want to track.

5. Depending on the type of library you are creating, a Document Template section may be available, which lists the compatible programs that are available as the default for creating new files. If content types are enabled, the default template is specified through the content type. In the Document Template section, in the drop-down list, click the type of default file that you want to be used as a template for files that are created in the library.

6. Click Create.

   Notes: 

   • To create a library in a Meeting Workspace site, follow the procedure for customizing Meeting Workspace sites by adding libraries.

   • If multiple content types are enabled, users can choose from different default file types when they create new files. The default file types are specified by the content types instead of the Document Template section when you create the library.

   • The e-mail options are not available by default for wiki page libraries.

Tip: After your library is created, you can further customize it by clicking Settings and then clicking settings for the library that you want to customize, such as Document Library Settings.