We are thrilled to welcome you to the Library of Congress for onsite research! Before you come onsite, take a moment to review our information about navigating the buildings, research areas, and reading rooms at the Library.
Research at the Library
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Building Access We’re excited to welcome you to the Library of Congress. To access the onsite research centers you will need to register for a library card.
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Get Your Library Card The Library of Congress research centers are open to anyone 16 years or older possessing a valid government issued photo identification (e.g. driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport).
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User Policies Specific policies may vary by research center. For more information about a particular research center’s policy, visit that research center’s site.
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Hours for Research 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. All research centers are open to walk-in researchers. Appointments are not required but may be helpful to ensure material is accessible during your research visit. See the Researcher Scheduling page for more information.