Library Of Congress Main Reading Room Access
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It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the united states.
Library of congress main reading room access. The washington firm of smithmeyer pelz designed a magnificent building which opened in 1897. This includes but is not limited to food water umbrellas coats or jackets scissors newspapers and containers or bags purses larger than 9 5 x 6 25. And you don t need to be an academic or congressional staffer. Eight giant marble columns each support 10 foot high allegorical female figures in plaster representing characteristic features of civilized life and thought.
In 1886 congress authorized a new library facility. This historic room is through its catalogs the primary entrance into the library s research collections and the principal reading room for work in the humanities and social sciences including local history and genealogy. The catalog s automated call slip service acs offers delivery of materials only to the library s main science and business european hispanic law and performing arts reading rooms. Every day hundreds of books and bound periodical volumes are delivered from the stacks for use in the main reading room.
View from above showing researcher desks. Library of congress thomas jefferson building washington d c. Learn more about setting up and using your library of congress patron account. Full list of databases the library subscribes to including trial access.
To use this service you will need to set up your library of congress patron account. The library of congress lc is the research library that officially serves the united states congress and is the de facto national library of the united states. Religion commerce history art philosophy poetry law and science. About the main reading room the main reading room is the principal point for gaining access to the library s general collections of books and bound periodicals.
The library is housed in three buildings on capitol hill in washington d c. A library issued photo id gives you access to the vast circular space where 226 desks spiral under a 160 foot high elaborately painted copper dome. The main reading room will be open to the public on the federal memorial day holiday monday may 28 from 10 a m. Go to a z list.
Every day hundreds of books and bound periodical volumes are delivered from the stacks for use in the main reading room. It also maintains the national audio visual conservation center in culpeper virginia. The library of congress doesn t permit you to enter the reading rooms if you re carrying anything that could be used to steal or damage the collection.