June 23, 2021 Library of Congress to Celebrate the Return of Visitors to the Thomas Jefferson Building in July
Press Contact: Leah Knobel lknobel@loc.gov
Website: Visit the Library

The Library of Congress will re-open its doors to visitors with free but limited timed and ticketed entry three days a week, starting on Thursday, July 15. Guests will be able to explore the spectacular Thomas Jefferson Building and several exhibits, including Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words, Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight For the Vote, Thomas Jefferson’s Library, Exploring the Early Americas, and Mapping a New Nation: Abel Buell’s Map of the United States, 1784. The Library will also host a series of five Movies on the Lawn on Thursday nights, starting July 8 and running through August 5.
“We are thrilled to welcome visitors back to the iconic Jefferson Building in July,” said Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden. “We hope that by introducing a free but ticketed experience, we can safely and responsibly begin to share the Library’s great treasures with the American people once again.”
A limited number of free timed entry passes will be available on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with last entry at 3 p.m. For information on reserving tickets, visit loc.gov/visit – visitors can review “Know Before You Go” guidelines and reserve their free passes. Each visitor must have a printed paper pass or a digital copy of the pass available on a mobile device for entry. All visitors, regardless of age, must have a timed pass for entry, and each visitor will be able to reserve up to (6) passes. Passes will be released on a rolling, 30-day basis, so for visitors planning to visit within the next month, please visit the reservation site for availability.
In advance of the reopening on July 15, the Library will invite a limited number of timed ticketed visitors to visit the Jefferson Building on July 8-10, and guests during these first few days will have access to several spaces in the building, including the building’s Great Hall, the Gutenberg Bible, and the overlook into the Main Reading Room.
Masked Library staff will be available to scan tickets and help visitors navigate the building. The Library will also offer virtual volunteer services to visitors while they are on-site to answer questions and provide information about the building and exhibits.
While in Library buildings, regardless of vaccination status, all visitors and staff engaging with the public should follow social distancing policies and wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth and fits snuggly against the sides of the face. The Library also requires visitors to complete an online health self-assessment for symptoms of COVID-19 when they are issued their tickets. The Library’s health and safety policies may be modified as conditions change, so it is important for visitors to read the information provided with their tickets before coming to the Library.
Earlier this month, the Library reopened some of its reading rooms to allow research access for a limited number of registered readers, by appointment only. This appointment system is separate from the timed and ticketed access that the Library is announcing for general visitors today.
Visitors who require ADA accommodations for their visits must make a request at least five business days before their planned visit by contacting ADA@loc.gov or (202) 707-6024.
Later this summer, the Librarian’s Ceremonial Office, Here to Stay: The Legacy of George and Ira Gershwin exhibit, and the Herblock Gallery will also reopen. Later this year, the Library will open a revitalized Young Readers Center and Programs Lab, and reintroduce Library sponsored on-site events and group reservations for tours. The Library will also continue to make many Library resources and events available remotely through loc.gov, Ask a Librarian and Congress.gov.
Earlier this week, the Library announced that it will host the fourth annual “LOC Summer Movies on the Lawn” outdoor film festival this summer, starting on July 8. The series of five movies, which showcases iconic films from the Library’s National Film Registry, will be presented on Thursday evenings at sundown between July 8 and Aug. 5 on the north lawn of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building, across the street from the U.S. Capitol.
About the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the world's largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.
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PR 21-036
2021-06-24
ISSN 0731-3527