Situated on the Reference Floor of Dundee Central Library, the Local History Centre has a collection of over 20,000 items, including books, pamphlets and directories relating to the City of Dundee. An extensive collection of prints, photographs, postcards, maps and plans is also held.

Special collections and website features include: a large and varied collection of maps and plans, for Dundee and surrounding areas; Photopolis: Images of Dundee 1880-1910, a major photographic digitisation programme undertaken by Dundee City Council with funding from Scran; the James Bowman Lindsay Collection; the Dundee Central Library Rare Books Collection; the Alexander Wilson Bequest: a collection of several thousand glass negatives of Dundee and the surrounding area dating from 1870-1905; the William McGonagall Collection; the Tay Bridge Disaster Collection; the Ivory Collection of approximately 300 scientific books, dating from the 16th century; the Mary Slessor Collection of books and letters; the Lamb Collection: a unique and varied resource of 450 archive boxes of ephemera, mainly from the latter part of the 19th century; the Family History Collection, including the International Genealogical Index for Scotland and Old Parish Registers and census returns for Dundee and some surrounding areas; and an extensive collection of local newspapers and periodicals dating from 1803.

The Wighton Collection of Old Scottish Music is also located here within the Wighton Heritage Centre for the Study and Appreciation of Scottish Music (see below).

Prints from the Centre's photographic collection may be ordered. Photocopies may be made of most resources, subject to copyright legislation and the condition of the material.

Groups and individuals are welcome to visit the Centre and view material. Groups are requested to book in advance. A booking form may be requested from the Local History Centre.