Library of Congress

The Library of Congress (LC) is the de facto national library of the United States. It is a research library that serves the United States Congress. It is the country's oldest government cultural institution. The library has three locations on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as well as a conservation center in Culpeper, Virginia. The Librarian of Congress is in charge of the library's operations, while the Architect of the Capitol is in charge of its buildings. The Library of Congress is one of the world's largest libraries. Its "collections are worldwide, encompassing study resources from all corners of the globe and in more than 470 languages."

The British burned most of the original collection during the War of 1812, prompting the library to undertake restoration operations in 1815. The library bought Thomas Jefferson's complete personal library of 6,487 books, and it gradually enlarged its collection over the years, despite another fire in the Capitol chambers in 1851. A huge portion of the collection was destroyed, including many of Jefferson's books.

The Congressional Research Service, which is part of the library's principal function, conducts research on congressional inquiries. The United States Copyright Office is also housed and overseen there. The library is open to the public for study, but only senior government officials and library personnel are permitted to check out books and materials.

Location: Washington, D.C., U.S