Create or delete a libraryApplies to: Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010

A SharePoint library is a location on a site where

you can create, store, update, and collaborate on

files with team members. Each type of library —

document, picture, form, wiki page, asset,

translation management, report, record, data

connections, and slide — displays a list of files

and key information about the files, such as who

was the last person to modify the file, which helps people to use the files to work together.

Once you are done with a library, you can archive files, delete the unused library, and save

server disk space.

 NOTE    To create or delete a library, you must have permission to create lists.

Learn more about libraries

You can create and manage documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and other

types of files in a SharePoint library. Some libraries are created for you when you create a

new site, such as the Shared Documents library in a team site. You can customize these

libraries for your purposes, or you can create your own additional libraries. Each type of

library has a specific purpose and some have a different set of behaviors and features.

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 not blocked,

you can create those files from the library. For example, your marketing team may have its

own document 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 compatible graphics

programs, such as Microsoft Paint. Consider creating a picture library if you want to store

pictures of team events or product launches. You can also link to pictures in your library

from elsewhere on your site, such as from wikis, and blogs.

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 form design program, such as

Microsoft InfoPath. The form that people fill out is just an .xml file that contains the data

(and only the data) that was entered into the form, such as the expense date and the

amount. Everything else that makes up the expense report is provided by the form

template. After people fill out forms, you can merge the form data or export it for analysis.

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 also add wiki pages that contain pictures, tables, hyperlinks, and

internal links, to your library. 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.

Asset library     To share and manage digital media assets, such as image, audio and video

files, use an asset library. An asset library makes it easier for users to discover and reuse

digital media files that others have already created, such as logos and corporate images. An

asset library also provides content types with properties and views for managing and

browsing media assets, such as thumbnails and metadata keywords. For example, you may

want to manage and store branded images and reusable content fragments from

applications so they are available throughout your enterprise and consistently used.

Data Connections library     To simplify the maintenance and management of data

connections, use a data connection library. A data connection library (DCL) is a centralized

way to store Office Data Connection (ODC) files. Each of these files (.odc) contains

information about how to locate, log on, query, and access an external data source.

Centralizing ODC files in a data connection library also makes it possible to share, manage,

and search data connection files from within a SharePoint site, and helps ensure that

business data and reports, especially spreadsheets, maintain a consistent set of values and

formula results as "one version of the truth".

Slide Library     To effectively and efficiently share presentation slides, use a Slide Library.

Slide Libraries help you share, store, and manage slides from Microsoft PowerPoint, or a

compatible application. When you publish a presentation to a Slide Library, the slides upload

as individual files, so they can be independently modified and tracked. The Slide Library

maintains a link to the presentation, so that you are notified when slides change. The library

allows you to sort slides, check them out, and can help keep track of history. Slide Libraries

also provide special features for finding, managing, and reusing slides.

Record library     To keep a central repository for storing and managing your organization's

records, or important business documents, use a record library. For example, your

organization may need to adhere to compliance regulations which require an organized

process for managing pertinent documents. A Records Center site can contain a number of

record libraries for storing different types of records. For each library you can set policies

that determine what records to store, how to route and manage the documents, and how

long these records must be retained.

Report library     To simplify the creation, management and delivery of web pages,

documents and key performance indicators (KPI) of metrics and goals, use a report library.

The report library is a central place where you can create and save reports, such as Excel

workbooks, and dashboard pages. When you publish an Excel workbook to a reports library,

©2009 Microsoft Corporation.

it is single-click enabled to open in browser view, which is a convenient way to see the

workbook without adding it to a Web Parts Page.

Translation Management Library     To facilitate the manual document translation

process, use a Translation Management Library which helps organizations create, store, and

manage translated documents by providing both views and specific features to support that

process. The Translation Management Library tracks the relationship between a source

document (an original version of a document) and its translations, and it groups all of these

documents together to make them easy to find. The Translation Management Library can

also be configured with a special Translation Management workflow that is designed to help

manage the manual document translation process.

Data Connections Library for PerformancePoint    To simplify the maintenance and

management of data connection files for PerformancePoint, use the data connection library

for PerformancePoint. In this library, you can store Office Data Connection (ODC) and

Universal Data connection (UDC).

Process Diagram Library (Metric and US Units)    To store and share diagram process

documents, such as those created with Microsoft Office Visio 2010, use a Process Diagram

Library. The Metric and US Units libraries are tailored to their respective measurements.

 NOTE    Depending on your site and configuration, additional system libraries, such as the

style library, site assets library, and site pages library, are automatically created by

SharePoint Server 2010. However, you cannot create these specific libraries through the

user interface.

Create a library

 NOTE    The procedure for creating a library in a Meeting Workspace site is different than

the following procedure. Find links to more information about creating and customizing a

Meeting Workspace in the See Also section.

1. Navigate to the site where you want to create the library.

2. Click Site Actions  , click View All Site Content, and then click Create  .

 NOTE     A SharePoint site can be significantly modified in appearance and navigation. If you

cannot locate an option, such as a command, button, or link, contact your administrator.

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

Library or Picture Library.

4. 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.

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

optional.

©2009 Microsoft Corporation.

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.

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

the Navigation section

7. Some libraries support the integration of incoming e-mail. 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.

Find links to more information about configuring e-mail settings for a library in the See

Also section.

8. 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.

9. For some libraries, a Document Template section may be available, which lists the default

programs for creating new files. In the Document Templatesection, 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.

 NOTE    If content types are enabled, the default template is specified through the content

type. If multiple content types are enabled, you can choose from different default file types

when you create new files. In this case, the default file types are specified by the content

types instead of theDocument Template section when you create the library.

10. Click Create.

 NOTE    You can also set up a Translation Management workflow when you create a

Translation Management Library. Find links to more information about creating a Translation

Management Library in the See Also section.

Delete a library

 IMPORTANT    When you delete a library, you also delete documents, metadata about the

documents, version history, library settings and specific permission levels that are

associated with the library. Before deleting a library, you should make sure that no one is

currently using the library and that no one is going to need the documents. You should also

ensure that you understand your organization's process and policies for deleting libraries,

which may restrict the permission to delete libraries.

©2009 Microsoft Corporation.

1. Click the name of the library on the Quick Launch, or click Site Actions, click View All Site

Content, and then under the appropriate Libraries section, click the name of the library.

 NOTE     A SharePoint site can be significantly modified in appearance and navigation. If you

cannot locate an option, such as a command, button, or link, contact your administrator.

2. Do one of the following:

For a picture library, On the Settings menu  , click<library type> Library

Settings.

For other libraries, under Library Tools, click the Library tab, and then in

the Settings group, click Library Settings.

3. Under Permissions and Management, click Delete this <library type> library.

4. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click OK if you are sure that you want to

delete the library. TIP    Depending on how your site is set up, you may be able to recover a library that you

accidentally deleted by using the Recycle Bin.

©2009 Microsoft Corporation.