View source for Library of Congress

{{Infobox library
| name = Library of Congress
| logo =Logo of the United States Library of Congress.svg
| logo_alt=the word "library" in bold, narrow letters, with "library of congress" to its left in small orange type
| image = Flag of the United States Library of Congress 2.svg
| caption = Flag of the Library of Congress
| location = [[Washington, D.C.]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| coordinates = {{coord|38|53|19|N|77|00|17|W|region:US-DC_type:landmark_scale:10000|display=inline,title}}
| established = {{start date and age|1800|4|24}}
| num_branches = N/A
| collection_size = More than 38 million books and other printed materials, 3.6 million recordings, 14 million photographs, 5.5 million maps, 8.1 million pieces of sheet music and 70 million manuscripts, 5,711 [[incunabula]], and 122,810,430 items in the nonclassified (special) collections:<br>more than 167,000,000 total items<ref name="Fascinating Facts">{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/about/fascinating-facts/ |title=Fascinating Facts |publisher=Library of Congress |accessdate=2018-04-25}}</ref>
| annual_circulation = Library does not publicly circulate
| pop_served = The 535 members of the [[United States Congress]], their staff, and the American citizenry.  
| budget = $684,040,000<ref name="2017annualreport">{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/portals/static/about/reports-and-budgets/documents/annual-reports/fy2017.pdf |title=2017 Annual Report of the Librarian of Congress |publisher=Library of Congress |accessdate=2018-11-27}}</ref>
| director = [[Robert Newlen]]/[[Todd Blanche]] (disputed acting [[Librarian of Congress]])
| num_employees = 3,105<ref name="2017annualreport"/>
| website = {{url|loc.gov|LoC.gov}}
}}
The '''Library of Congress''' is the ''[[de facto]]'' national library of the [[United States]] and the research arm of the [[United States Congress]].
== Roles ==
The primary function of the Library of Congress is to serve the Congress. The Library welcomes public use of its general reference facilities and endeavors to offer the widest possible use of its collections consistent with their preservation and with its obligation to serve the Congress and other government agencies.The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps and manuscripts in its collections. The Library is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office.Libraries are important cornerstones of a healthy community. ... College students often use the library when they are home for the weekend or for holidays. And the reference resources in public libraries are usually unavailable elsewhere in the community. The library is a unique and valuable resource.
== Librarian of Congress ==
{{main|Librarian of Congress}}
The [[librarian of Congress]] is the head of the [[Library of Congress]], appointed by the [[president of the United States]] with the [[advice and consent]] of the [[United States Senate]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/136-1 |title=US Code, Title 2, Chapter 5, Section 136-1 – Appointment and term of service of Librarian of Congress |work=Cornell University: Legal Information Institute |date=November 5, 2015 |access-date=March 17, 2016}}</ref> for a term of ten years.<ref name="limit bill">{{Cite web |first=Blunt |last=Roy |title=S.2162 - 114th Congress (2015-2016): Librarian of Congress Succession Modernization Act of 2015 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2162 |website=congress.gov |date=2015-11-05 |access-date=2015-11-11}}</ref>
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
LOC Main Reading Room Highsmith.jpg|Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress
LibraryCongressWashDC.jpg|Main Library of Congress Building at the start of the 20th century
</gallery>

== Library Of Congress Media ==
<gallery widths='160px' heights='100%' mode='traditional' caption=''>
File:Loc contruction.jpg|A series of photographs depicting the construction of the [[Thomas Jefferson Building]] between 1888 and 1894

File:The Library of Congress in the U.S. Capitol Building LCCN2010649528.jpg|The Library of Congress, then located in the [[United States Capitol|Capitol Building]] in 1853

File:Library of Congress, showing three levels crowded with stacks of books and newspapers LCCN2017646700.jpg|Library of Congress in the Capitol Building in the 1890s

File:Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. - c. 1902.jpg|A 1902 aerial view from the [[United States Capitol]] of the five-year old Library of Congress in its new building that was renamed the [[Thomas Jefferson Building]] in 1980 in honor of [[Thomas Jefferson]]

File:Library of Congress and lawn.jpg|[[Thomas Jefferson Building]], built 1890–1897, the Library of Congress's main building, on [[Capitol Hill]], Washington, D.C., showing West side colonnade of Jefferson Building, viewed from across First Street and the grounds of the East Front of the [[United States Capitol|U.S. Capitol]]

File:Gutenberg Bible.jpg|[[Gutenberg Bible]] on display at the Library of Congress

File:Adams Building 1938 (31274181753).jpg|What is now the Library of Congress's second structure of the [[John Adams Building]] that opened in 1939 on [[Capitol Hill]] in Washington, D.C.

File:South Reading Room, with murals by Ezra Winter. Library of Congress John Adams Building, Washington, D.C. LCCN2007687090.jpg|The Adams Building – South Reading Room, with murals by [[Ezra Winter]]

File:JamesMadisonMemorialBuilding.jpg|[[James Madison Memorial Building]] opened in 1980
</gallery>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== Other websites ==
* [https://www.loc.gov/ The Library of Congress website]


{{USCongress}}


{{US-stub}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Libraries in the United States]]
[[Category:National libraries]]
[[Category:1800 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:19th-century establishments in Washington, D.C.]]