The Research Center Library and Archives functions as Minnesota Discovery Center's collecting arm. The Research Center identifies and collects records that preserve the history of the Iron Range. Materials that are added to the collections are processed and cataloged in order to make them easily accessible. Various formats are retained, including written materials, oral history recordings, video and photographic images, and microfilmed documents.

The Research Center library has proven to be immensely popular with genealogists, both amateur and professional, and has established itself as one of the best destinations in the upper Midwest for genealogical research. For those with an interest in the local history of the Iron Range, the library contains numerous published resources, while the archives contain thousands of cubic feet of unpublished materials, including government records, personal records, and the records of numerous businesses and social organizations.

The Research Center Library and Reading Room is open 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and until 9:00 pm on Thursdays.