Public Service
Through its 21 general and specialized research centers, the Library provides free access to a collection of over 164 million items, in hundreds of different languages and virtually every format--not just books and journals, but also prints, drawings, government documents, photographs, microforms, films, sound and video recordings, manuscripts, and others.
General Information
Research and Reference Services
Our collections are the largest in the world and represent a wide variety of physical formats and languages. Library of Congress staff are able to help you identify and request materials in general and specialized reading rooms. Anyone 16 years or older can come in to use the Library (learn more about how to obtain a free Reader Identification Card).
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