The Library of Congress

Illustration: The main Reading Room of the
Library of Congress

Imagine over 20 million books, 30 million manuscripts, every imaginable map, musical recordings, prints, photographs, and films. More than 80 million items in all, in 470 different languages. All of this is collected at the Library of Congress, one of the worlds largest libraries.

The library was founded by Congress in 1800 for the use of it's members. Originally housed in the Capitol, it now occupies several buildings of it's own. It's collections are open to the public and may be borrowed through interlibrary loans.

By law, the library must receive and register a copy of every new book copywrighted in the United States. The Library of Congress also supplies book-cataloging information for other libraries. And it publishes books in braille for the blind, as well as the National Union Catalog, which is a list of the holdings of 2,500 research libraries. The Librarian Of Congress, Who directs these activities, is appointed by the President with the approval of the Senate.

DID YOU KNOW....The Library of Congress' first collection was destroyed during the War of 1812, when British troops burned the Capitol. In 1815, Congress bought Thomas Jefferson's 6,000 volume library as the basis of it's new collection.

If you would like to know more about the Library of Congress CLICK HERE

---

---

This site and its contents, text and graphics unless otherwise posted are copyright (c) 2002
G. Stevens/Design Unlimited - All Rights Reserved.
No part of this site may be distributed, reproduced or transmitted or posted
in any manner without the express written permission of the authors.

A Special Thanks To Groiler Books.

BACK