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Notice: All Library of Congress Reading Rooms will operate on a delayed schedule Wednesday, February 12, 2025, opening at 10:30 a.m.

Research Centers

Research Anywhere, Anytime

We have several different tools to help you use the Library’s vast physical and digital collections. If you can't find it here, then just Ask!

Digital Collections

  • Cowboy wrangling bull with white horse running alongside.

    Access hundreds of free digital collections. The list of digital collections can be narrowed by topic (for example, American History), division within the Library (for example, Manuscript Division), or format. Each digital collection provides information about the scope of the collection, related resources, and rights and access.

    Browse digital collections

Catalog

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    Search the Library's online catalog for information on much of the Library's collections as it contains over 25 million catalog records for books, serials, manuscripts, maps, music, recordings, images, and electronic resources in the Library of Congress collections.

    Browse the LC Catalog

Research Guides

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    Explore our subject and collections guides prepared by Library of Congress staff. These guides cover Library of Congress materials and databases available on-site, as well as select free online resources. There are multiple ways to find a guide including by subject area, Research Center, title, or keyword search.

    Browse research guides

Finding Aids

  • Men with pickaxes and women and children gathering oysters at coast.

    Use finding aids to understand collections throughout the Library. The finding aids include information on dates of coverage, creator, language, and location of specific collections. Locate a finding aid by keyword search, or browse by collection, name, library location, or subject.

    Browse finding aids

Location

Library of Congress
Thomas Jefferson Building
10 First Street SE
Washington, DC 20540
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Hours

All research centers are open Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm. Evening and Saturday hours vary by research center. All research centers are closed on Sundays and Federal Holidays.