Library of Congress

Collections and services

Collections include printed books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, motion pictures, sound recordings and digital materials. The Library supports legislative and policy research, offers public reading rooms and exhibitions, and administers programs that select and preserve culturally significant works, such as film and audio registries. It also houses the U.S. Copyright Office and provides copyright registration services and bibliographic control for many formats.

History and development

The institution traces its roots to early congressional collections and was rebuilt after losses in the early nineteenth century. A notable milestone came when Thomas Jefferson sold his large personal library to Congress, forming the nucleus of the modern holdings. Over time the Library expanded, adopted professional conservation techniques, and embraced digital technologies to broaden access to its resources.

Buildings, access and organization

The Library is headquartered on Capitol Hill in a complex of buildings that include historic reading rooms, exhibition halls and conservation laboratories. Major public spaces and specialized divisions support researchers, educators and the general public. Visitors can consult catalogs and many digitized items online, request materials for research, or view rotating public displays that highlight rare and noteworthy items.

Notable roles and leadership

Beyond serving Congress, the Library plays a national and international role in preservation, bibliography and cultural stewardship. It curates national registries, partners with libraries and archives, and promotes literacy and learning. The current head of the Library is the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, who oversees its programs and public services and represents the institution in policy and cultural dialogues. For official descriptions and more information on its mission and services, see the institution's public guidance and research portals linked by the Library itself at research resources.

• Major public buildings and reading rooms
• Conservation and digital access programs
• Legislative research and the Copyright Office