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Directions Within the Convention Center

Overview

The convention center has three floors.  L street divides the convention center into two buildings at street level. The North Building is closest to the metro. The South Building is next to Allen Y Place (formerly Mt. Vernon Place). The second floor is connected by a Bridge over L Street. The third floor only uses the South Building.

Entrances and Exits

Regardless of entry location, all attendees will walk through magnetometers, and attendees with a bag will go through a secondary bag screening. Security will direct you after you enter.

Metro Entrance – North Building

The Metro Entrance to the North Building is located near the corner of M Street and 7th Street and is closest to the Metro station. From the Metro station, the convention center entrance doors are directly across from the Metro escalators.  Note that while you may enter the convention center at this entrance, you cannot exit the convention center from this entrance. It is one-way only.

The entrance leads to a short staircase down to the main level. An elevator is available to the right after entering.  Most of the festival activities are located in the South Building. To get there, walk straight from the stairs and through the security checkpoint. Continue down the hallway, past meeting rooms on your right, until you reach the end. Turn right and continue past more meeting rooms on your right and trees on your left.  You will pass an exit to L Street on your left. Continue on, keeping the outer wall on your left. Walk between the wall and the escalator. Turn right to go up the escalator. Do not continue on – there is an escalator in front which leads down and away from the festival.

L Street Exit – North Building

An exit to L Street is located in the North Building. This is the closest exit to the Metro. When coming from the South Building, turn left after you exit the escalator. Walk between the escalator and the outer wall. The exit will be on your right after passing the escalator.

L Street Entrance and Exit – South Building

The South Building Entrance and Exit is located on L Street. This is available from the Metro by walking south on 7th street, crossing L Street and turning right onto L Street. The entrance will be on your left.

After entering, proceed straight forward through security. You will be located on the first floor. The Grand Lobby will be straight ahead on the other side of the building.

Main Entrance and Exit – South Building

The Main Entrance and Exit to the South Building is located on Allen Y. Lew Place (formerly Mt. Vernon Place), between 7th and 9th Streets.  Go to the right after entering and proceed up the ramp. Turn left before you reach stairs and walk across the hallway and into a room. Turn left to go through security and exit through any of the doors. You will be in the Grand Lobby on the first floor.

Orientation

These directions assume you are facing towards the South Building Entrance and Exit (L Street side), unless otherwise stated. For the first floor, they assume you entered the building through the Main Entrance and Exit (Allen Y. Lew Place side) and are standing in the Grand Lobby. You are facing towards the South Entrance with your back towards the Main Entrance. The orientation is the same for all three floors.

If there are lines, volunteers will be available to direct you to the correct path.

Stairs & Escalators

Floor 1 South Building has three sets of escalators. The main escalators and stairs to the second floor are located straight ahead, near the center of the building. Walk past the conference center information desk on the right and the festival information booth in the center of the lobby to reach the stairs. A landing is located between the first and second floors. Proceed straight forward across the landing and up the escalators or stairs to reach the second floor.

Additional escalators are located to the right and left of the center of the Grand Lobby.  A set of stairs to the second floor is to the right. An additional set of stairs and escalators are directly in front of the South Entrance.

Floor 1 North Building escalator directions assume you enter from the Metro Entrance. After passing through security, walk to the end of the hallway and take a right. Walk straight, and you will pass exit doors on the left and then the escalator will be just ahead of you. This escalator will take you to Floor 2 next to the L Street Bridge, in the North building.

Floor 2 and 3 escalators are located in the same location as the left and right escalators on Floor 1, towards the center of the South Building. These are near the overlook of the Grand Lobby on each floor.

Floor 2 and 3 stairs are located on both the right and left against the exterior wall of the building.

Note: Elevators are available if needed but are difficult to locate. If you need an elevator, please ask staff for directions.

Programming Spaces

East Salon (ABC) Stage  - Floor 1, East Salon (ABC)

The East Salon (ABC) Stage is located halfway between the Main Entrance and the South Entrance on the right side. From the Main Entrance, walk forward past the escalators with the festival information booth on your left.  The East Salon is on your right.

West Salon (GHI) Stage  - Floor 1, West Salon (GHI)

The West Salon (GHI) Stage is located halfway between the Main Entrance and the South Entrance on the left side. From the Main Entrance, walk forward past the escalators with the festival information booth on your right.  The West Salon is on your left.

Library Lounge, Floor 1, Room 145

The Library Lounge is located in the North Building. From the Main Entrance, walk forward and go up the escalators just past the information desk to the second floor. Walk across the L Street Bridge between buildings. As you cross the bridge, move left and go down the escalator on the left, just before you get to Hall DE. At the bottom, turn towards the center of the building and walk past the escalator until you reach the L Street North Lobby. The exit will be on your right.  From the center of the Lobby, take a left and walk down the hallway. You will enter a large central space surrounded by meeting rooms. The entrance to the Library Lounge will be on your right side after entering.

Hall DE  - Floor 2

Hall DE is located on Floor 2, opposite the overlook to the Grand Lobby. It extends above the South Entrance into a much larger space than is available on Floor 1 and 3.  From the Main Entrance, walk forward and go up the escalators just past the information booth to the second floor. Walk across the L Street Bridge between buildings and continue straight into the Hall.

Hall DE includes the Library of Congress Pavilion, family-friendly activities by the Library of Congress and Sponsors, Roadmap to Reading, STEM District, Story District, the Book Sales area, and Book Signings. Three aisles run the length of the room. One runs down the center with one to the left and one to the right.

  • The Library of Congress Pavilion is at the front of the entrance to the Hall, with the central aisle running to the left of it.
  • The Story District and other Library of Congress family-friendly activities are on the left of the center aisle after the Library Pavilion
  • Sponsors and Exhibits are on the right of the center aisle after the Library Pavilion
  • Food and Beverages are on the right of the center aisle past the Sponsors and Exhibits, along the Book sales perimeter.
  • Book sales are on the right of the center aisle past the Sponsors and Exhibits.
  • The Roadmap to Reading is located along the left side of the Hall.  Turn left after entering to reach the left aisle.
  • The STEM district is located along the right side of the Hall. Turn right after entering to reach the right aisle.
  • Book Signings are in the back of the Hall. Proceed down the central aisle.

Room 202 Stage  - Floor 2, Room 202

From the Main Entrance, walk to the escalators on the right and go up the to the second floor.  Turn left. The entrance to Room 202 will be in front of you.

Room 204 Stage  - Floor 2, Room 204

From the Main Entrance, walk forward and go up the escalators just past the information booth to the second floor. You will take two separate escalators with a landing in between to reach the second floor. Turn right and go around the escalator. As you walk forward you will enter a hallway.  The entrance to Room 204 will be on the right, though the line begins at the end of the hallway.

Room 209 Stage  - Floor 2, Room 209

From the Main Entrance, walk forward and go up the escalators just past the information booth to the second floor. You will take two separate escalators with a landing in between to reach the second floor. Turn left and go around the escalator. As you walk forward you will enter a hallway.  The entrance to Room 209 will be on the left, though the line begins at the end of the hallway.

Who Knew? Library of Congress Trivia – Floor 2, L Street Bridge

The Who Knew? Trivia is located on the L Street Bridge. From the Main Entrance, walk forward and go up the escalators just past the information both to the second floor. You will take two separate escalators with a landing in between to reach the second floor. Walk onto the bridge between buildings. The Who Knew? stage will be on your left towards the center of the Bridge.

Main Stage - Floor 3, Ballroom ABC

From the Main Entrance, walk to the escalators on right and go up two levels to the third floor. You will take two separate escalators with a landing in between to reach the third floor.

When approaching the Main Stage from the escalator, go around the end of the escalator so you are walking towards the center of the building. The entrance to the Main Stage will be located on the right. Use the first set of doors to enter or follow directions from volunteers to the end of the line.

Food

A coffee shop is available in the Grand Lobby on the first floor and a food court is available on the L Street Bridge on the second floor.

To get to the coffee shop from the main entrance, walk to the left side of the lobby. The coffee shop is in the front corner of the lobby.

To get to the food court from the main entrance, walk forward and go up the escalators just past the information both to the second floor. You will take two separate escalators with a landing in between to reach the second floor. Walk across the bridge between buildings. The food court will be on your right at the end of the bridge, before you enter the Hall DE.

Restrooms

Floor 1 restrooms are located:

  • Walk to the left side of the Grand Lobby. There will be a coffee shop on the left. The restrooms are behind the coffee shop on your left

Floor 2 restrooms are located:

  • Immediately after entering Hall DE, take a left. The restrooms will be located on your left.
  • At the far end of Hall DE, the restrooms will be located to the left of the book signing area.
  • When standing at the exit of Room 202, the restrooms will be directly to the right of the room.
  • When standing at the exit of Room 204, take a left and walk until the end of the hallway. Take another left, and the restrooms will be on your left.
  • When standing at the exit of Room 209, take a right and walk until the end of the hallway. Take another right, and the restrooms will be on your right.

Floor 3 restrooms are located:

  • When in the hallway, facing the entrance of the Main Stage, take a right. Walk to the end of the hallway and take a left. The restrooms will be on your left side.
  • When in the hallway, facing the entrance of the Main Stage, take a left. Walk to the end of the hallway and take a right. The restrooms will be on your right side.
  • When inside the Main Stage, exit through the first set of doors closest to the front of the room. Turn right. Walk the end of the hallway and take a right. The restrooms will be on your right side.

Information

Information stations are located on:

  • Floor 1 in the center of the Grand Lobby, and
  • Floor 2 in the center aisle of Hall DE, just behind the Library of Congress Madison area.

Accessibility Support

Accessibility support is available at the information booth on Floor 1 in the center of the Grand Lobby.

Medical Assistance

Medical Assistance is available on Floor 2 in Hall DE and Floor 3 in Room 303:

  • When entering Hall DE on Floor 2, immediately take a right. Medical Assistance will be in the front right corner of the room.  
  • From the Main Entrance, walk to the escalators on right and go up two levels to the third floor.  Turn left and proceed down the hallway. Medical assistance will be in the third room on the right, just before you reach the end of the hallway.
    If exiting the Main Stage, take a left. Walk until the end of the hallway and take another left. Medical Assistance will be in the third room on your right.  

Mother’s Room

  • A Mother’s Room is available on Floor 3 in Room 302. From the Main Entrance, walk to the escalators on right and go up two levels to the third floor.  Turn left and proceed down the hallway. The Mother’s Room will be in the second room on your right.
    If exiting the Main Stage, take a left. Walk until the end of the hallway and take another left. The Mother’s Room will be in the second room on your right.

Lost & Found

Lost and Found is located in room 208B. From the Main Entrance, walk forward and go up the escalators just past the information booth to the second floor. Turn left and go around the escalator so you are facing the opposite direction. As you walk forward with the opening to the first floor lobby on your left, the lost and found will be in a room on your right.

If you have any suggestions on how we can improve these directions, please email ada@loc.gov.