Top of page

Research Center Rare Book and Special Collections Reading Room

Location & Contact Information

The Rare Book and Special Collection Reading Room, LJ 239, and is located on the second floor (rear) of the Jefferson building.

There are information booths just inside the Jefferson building entrance to help you find your way to the Rare Book Division.

plan view of Thomas Jefferson Building 2nd floor plan with room names and numbers identified
Second floor Thomas Jefferson Building - Library of Congress

Location

10 First Street, SE
Thomas Jefferson Building, Room L J 239
Washington, D.C. 20540-4740
View map External link

Reading Room:  (202) 707-3448

Hours:
Weekdays, 8:30am-5:00 pm
* Final book requests at 4:15pm
Closed Sat/Sun & Federal holidays

Email reference queries may be sent to the Rare Book and Special Collection Reading Room by using Ask a Librarian.

Schedule an appointment in the RBSCD

There is a 2-hour wait time for all walk-in requests. This amount of time is required to safely locate and transport material to our Reading Room. For more immediate service, please request an appointment or send a message through the Library's Ask a Librarian service.

Division Staff

Dr. Stephanie Stillo, Chief
Mark Manivong, Curator for Poetry, Literature, Children's Antiquarian Literature, and Diversity Materials
Shirley Liang, Information Technology Specialist (Automation Operations Coordinator)

Reading Room Staff

Rare Book Reading Room
(202) 707-3448

Michael North, Head, Reference and Reader Services
Eric Frazier, Reference Librarian
Marianna Stell, Reference Librarian
Amanda Zimmerman, Reference Librarian
Monica Varner, Collections Manager
Allison Buser, Collections Technician
Daniel Freudiger, Collections Technician

Mail

Mail can be sent to the address below. Please note, however, that US Postal Service mail delivery to Capitol Hill may experience significant delays due to security protocols. For the most prompt response, please contact us through Ask a Librarian.

101 Independence Ave. SE
Rare Book and Special Collections Division mail stop 4740

Thomas Jefferson Building, 
Washington, D.C. 20540-4740

Location

Library of Congress
10 First Street, SE
Thomas Jefferson Building, LJ 239
Washington, DC 20540-4810
View map External link


Hours

Public Hours
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Final book requests at 4:15pm
Closed Weekends & Federal Holidays