Library of Congress
Also known as LC, loc.gov, LOC, LoC, Congressional Library, United States. Library of Congress, US Library of Congress
(de facto) national library of the United States of America
AI overview
The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States, serving as the official research library for the U.S. Congress and the American people. It preserves and provides access to millions of books, documents, and other materials that form an essential resource for education, research, and understanding American history and culture.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Wikidata facts
- Official name
- Library of Congress
- Employees
- 3242
- Official website
- loc.gov
- Image
- Thomas Jefferson Building Aerial by Carol M. Highsmith.jpg
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- Commons category
- Library of Congress
- inception
- 1800-04-24
- Commons Institution page
- Library of Congress
- collection or exhibition size
- 171636507
- budget
- 719400000
- web feed URL
- www.loc.gov/rss/pao/news.xml
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Article
The Library of Congress (LC or sometimes LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the de facto national library of the United States. It also administers copyright law through the United States Copyright Office, and it houses the Congressional Research Service.
Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. It is housed in three buildings on Capitol Hill, adjacent to the United States Capitol, along with the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, Virginia, and additional storage facilities at Fort George G. Meade and Cabin Branch in Hyattsville, Maryland. The library's functions are overseen by the librarian of Congress, and its buildings are maintained by the architect of the Capitol. The LC is one of the largest libraries in the world, containing approximately 173 million items and employing over 3,000 staff. Its collections are "universal, not limited by subject, format, or national boundary, and include research materials from all parts of the world and in more than 470 languages".
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1800 establishments in Washington, D.C.Agencies of the United States CongressArchives in the United StatesBuildings of the United States government in Washington, D.C.Capitol HillDeposit librariesGenealogical libraries in the United StatesGovernment agencies established in 1800History museums in Washington, D.C.Independence Avenue (Washington, D.C.)Legislative libraries