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Explore the world's largest library with online and in-person access to historic collections, exhibitions, events and more. Learn about the Library's role in U.S. history, culture and copyright.
- Chronicling America
Library of Congress
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The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world,...
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Thomas Jefferson's Library. Southwest Pavilion, Second...
- Chronicling America
The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., that serves as the library and research service of the U.S. Congress and the de facto national library of the United States. Founded in 1800, the library is the United States's oldest federal cultural institution.
- 3,105
- 173 million items
- April 24, 1800; 223 years ago
- Washington, D.C.
- Office of The Librarian
- Congressional Research Service
- Copyright Office
- Law Library
The Office of the Librarian is the administrative branch of the Library of Congress and has overall management responsibility for the Library. It sets policy and directs and supports programs and activities to accomplish the Library’s mission.
CRSexclusively serves Congress by providing confidential, objective and authoritative research and analysis to help inform the legislative debate.
The U.S. Copyright Officeadministers the Nation’s copyright laws for the advancement of the public good, offers services and support to authors and users of creative works, and provides expert impartial assistance to Congress, the courts and executive branch agencies on questions of copyright law and policy.
Congress established its Law Libraryin 1832, recognizing its need for ready access to reliable legal materials. The Law Library has grown over the years to become the world’s largest law library, with a collection of over three million volumes spanning the ages and covering virtually every jurisdiction in the world.
Apr 21, 2024 · Library of Congress, the de facto national library of the United States and the largest library in the world. Its collection was growing at a rate of about two million items per year; it reached more than 170 million items in 2020.
- James H. Billington
Congress.gov is the official website for U.S. federal legislative information. It provides access to bills, laws, reports, hearings, calendars, and more from the Library of Congress.
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Research guides to the Library's collections, as well as subject guides prepared by Library of Congress staff, are listed below. More online guides covering other Library of Congress collections are available via the LC Bibliographies, Research Guides and Finding Aids page.
Jan 25, 2018 · Learn about the history, collections and facts of the Library of Congress, the national library of the United States and the largest library in the world. Find out how it was founded, expanded, acquired historic documents and became a digital resource.