Notice: Appointments are optional, but encouraged. To help us better serve you, request a research appointment to ensure collection material is accessible during your visit at the Library. The Library of Congress asks all visitors to follow our COVID-19 health screening protocols, which are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the Office of the Attending Physician of the U.S. Capitol. For additional instructions, see the Researcher Scheduling page.
All Library of Congress buildings are closed on Sundays; all Reading Rooms, as well as the Adams and Madison buildings are closed to the public on all Federal Holidays.
Building Abbreviations and Codes:
LA = Adams Building | LJ = Jefferson Building | LM = Madison Building | § Appointment Optional
| Reading Room / Reference Center | Monday-Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|
| African & Middle Eastern (LJ 220) § | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | Closed |
| Asian (LJ 150) § | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | Closed |
| Business Reference Services (LA 500) § | 8:30am - 8:30pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm |
| Children's Literature Center (LJ 129) | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | Closed |
| Copyright Office (LM 402) | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | Closed |
| European (LJ 249) § | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | Closed |
| Folklife (LJ G53) § | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | Closed |
| Geography & Map (LM B01) § | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | Closed |
| Hispanic (LJ 240) § | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | Closed |
| Law Library (LM 242) § | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm |
| Local History & Genealogy Reference Services (LJ 100) § | 8:30am - 8:30pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm |
| Main (LJ 100) § | 8:30am - 8:30pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm |
| Manuscript (LM 101) § | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm |
| Microform and Electronic Resources Center (LJ 139) § | 8:30am - 8:30pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm |
| Motion Picture & Television (LM 336) § | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | Closed |
| -- Motion Picture Viewing Facilities § | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | Closed |
| Newspaper & Current Periodical (LM 133) § | 8:30am - 8:30pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm |
| Performing Arts (LM 113) § | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm |
| Duplication Services (LA 128) | 9:00am - 3:00pm | 9:00am - 3:00pm | Closed |
| Prints & Photographs (LM 337) § | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | Closed |
| Rare Book & Special Collections (LJ 239) § | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | Closed |
| Recorded Sound Reference (LM 113) § | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | Closed |
| -- Recorded Sound Listening Facilities § | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | Closed |
| Science Reference Services (LA 500) § | 8:30am - 8:30pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm | 8:30am - 5:00pm |
Requesting Closed-Stack Materials
For delivery of materials from closed stack collections, requests typically must be made at least one hour, and sometimes two hours, before the reading rooms close. Details are available in the reading rooms and on their home pages.
Reference Collections
Each reading room also has a reference collection that is openly available during reading room hours.
