Second Floor

Second Floor Overview

The building is rectangular. The north side of the building is parallel to Independence Ave. The south side of the building is parallel to C St SE. The building is separated into four color-coordinated sections with an additional core for the center of the building. The Blue Core is to the northeast, the Red Core is to the southeast, the Yellow Core is to the southwest, the Green Core is to the northwest, and the Bronze Core is in the center. The hallways widen where colored cores meet. There are elevators, stairs, and restrooms in each core of the building.

The directions to locations of interest assume you are standing just outside the elevators in the Bronze Core facing east. Please refer to the Elevators and Stairs section for directions to locate the Bronze Core elevators from the Main Entrance. In the directions below, symbols are placed after certain location names to indicate closure and restriction updates.

These directions were last updated August 2024.

Entrances and Exits

Visitor Entrance

The Second Floor does not have its own entrance from the exterior of the building. Please refer to the Ground Floor Plan and First Floor Plan directions to locate the Main Entrance and the C St SE Entrance. There are elevators and stairs in each core of the building that grant access to the Second Floor.

Reader Card Registration

Navigation to Reader Card Registration

Reader Card Registration is located on the First Floor in the Newspaper & Current Periodical Reading Room. Please refer to the Newspaper & Current Periodical Reading Room section for directions to Reader Card Registration.

Restrooms

Men’s and Women’s restrooms are located in each core of every floor in the building. Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located in the Blue Core and Yellow Core in the northeast and southwest corners of the building. On weekends, use the restrooms in the Blue Core and Bronze Core only.

Bronze Core Restrooms [ Men’s] [ Women’s]

The Bronze Core Restrooms are located on each floor in the center of the building near the Bronze Core Elevators.

Directions to Bronze Core Restrooms

Step 1: Stand in the elevator lobby for the Bronze Core elevators, facing east so that elevators are to your left and right. Proceed forward and take an immediate left.
Step 2: Proceed forward to the railing overlooking the Main Entrance. Turn right and proceed forward to enter the hallway leading to the Blue Core.
Step 3: The restrooms will be immediately to your right. The Men’s Restroom is first, followed by the Women’s Restroom.

Blue Core Restrooms [ Wheelchair Accessible Wheelchair Access] [ Men’s] [ Women’s]

The Blue Core Restrooms are located on each floor in the northeast corner of the building across from the Blue Core elevators and next to the Blue Core Stairs.

Directions to Blue Core Restrooms

Step 1: Stand in the elevator lobby for the Bronze Core elevators, facing east so that elevators are to your left and right. Proceed forward and take an immediate left.
Step 2: Proceed forward to the railing overlooking the Main Entrance. Turn right and proceed forward to enter the hallway leading to the Blue Core.
Step 3: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Bronze Core meets the Blue Core.
Step 4: Take the first right after the wider section.
Step 5: Continue forward. The Men’s Restroom is on the right, followed by the Women’s Restroom.

Red Core Restrooms [ Men’s] [ Women’s]

The Red Core Restrooms are located on each floor in the southeast corner of the building across from the Red Core Elevators and next to the Red Core Stairs.

Directions to Red Core Restrooms

Step 1: Stand in the elevator lobby for the Bronze Core elevators, facing east so that elevators are to your left and right. Proceed forward and take an immediate left.
Step 2: Proceed forward to the railing overlooking the Main Entrance. Turn right and proceed forward to enter the hallway leading to the Blue Core.
Step 3: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Bronze Core meets the Blue Core.
Step 4: Take the first right after the wider section.
Step 5: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Blue Core meets the Red Core.
Step 6: The Men’s Restroom is on the right, followed by the Women’s Restroom.

Yellow Core Restrooms [ Wheelchair Accessible Wheelchair Access] [ Men’s] [ Women’s]

The Yellow Core Restrooms are located on each floor in the southwest corner of the building across from the Yellow Core Elevators and next to the Yellow Core Stairs.

Directions to Yellow Core Restrooms

Step 1: Stand in the elevator lobby for the Bronze Core elevators, facing east so that elevators are to your left and right. Turn left as you exit the lobby.
Step 2: Proceed forward and take a left to enter the hallway leading to the Green Core.
Step 3: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Bronze Core meets the Green Core.
Step 4: Take the first left after the wider section.
Step 5: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Green Core meets the Yellow Core.
Step 6: The Men’s Restroom is on the left, followed by the Women’s Restroom.

Green Core Restrooms [ Men’s] [ Women’s]

The Green Core Restrooms are located on each floor in the northwest corner of the building across from the Green Core Elevators and next to the Green Core Stairs.

Directions to Green Core Restrooms

Step 1: Stand in the elevator lobby for the Bronze Core elevators, facing east so that elevators are to your left and right. Turn left as you exit the lobby.
Step 2: Proceed forward and take a left to enter the hallway leading to the Green Core.
Step 3: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Bronze Core meets the Green Core.
Step 4: Take the first left after the wider section.
Step 5: Continue forward. The Men’s Restroom is on the left, followed by the Women’s Restroom.

Services and Security

Security

All visitors must be screened by security immediately upon entering the building through any entrance. Researchers and Staff entering through a Researchers entrance will be asked to present their I.D. badge or Reader Card. Please refer to Services and Security for directions to the Security and Screening process.

If you will need accommodations for a future visit, please request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at 202-707-6362 or email ADA@loc.gov. If you need assistance the day of your visit please ask an officer at the Security screening for assistance.

Elevators and Stairs

Bronze Core Elevators [Elevator]

The Bronze Core Elevators are located on each floor in the center of the building.

Directions to Bronze Core Elevators

Step 1: After passing through security at the Main Entrance on the First Floor, continue forward, passing a hallway to your right.
Step 2: Take the next right to reach the elevators. There will be three elevators to the north and three elevators to the south.

Blue Core Elevators and Stairs [Elevator] [Stairs]

The Blue Core Elevators and Stairs are located on each floor in the northeast corner of the building near the Blue Core Restrooms.

Directions to Blue Core Elevators

Step 1: Stand in the elevator lobby for the Bronze Core elevators, facing east so that elevators are to your left and right. Turn left as you exit the lobby.
Step 2: Proceed forward to the railing overlooking the Main Entrance. Turn right and proceed forward to enter the hallway leading to the Blue Core.
Step 3: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Bronze Core meets the Blue Core.
Step 4: Take the first right after the wider section.
Step 5: Continue forward. The entrance to the Blue Core Elevators is first the opening on the left.

Directions to Blue Core Stairs

Step 1: Stand in the elevator lobby for the Bronze Core elevators, facing east so that elevators are to your left and right. Turn left as you exit the lobby.
Step 2: Proceed forward to the railing overlooking the Main Entrance. Turn right and proceed forward to enter the hallway leading to the Blue Core.
Step 3: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Bronze Core meets the Blue Core.
Step 4: Take the first right after the wider section.
Step 5: Continue forward. The door to the Blue Core Stairs will be on the right.

Red Core Elevators and Stairs [Elevator] [Stairs]

The Red Core Elevators and Stairs are located on each floor in the southeast corner of the building near the Red Core Restrooms.

Directions to Red Core Elevators

Step 1: Stand in the elevator lobby for the Bronze Core elevators, facing east so that elevators are to your left and right. Turn left as you exit the lobby.
Step 2: Proceed forward to the railing overlooking the Main Entrance. Turn right and proceed forward to enter the hallway leading to the Blue Core.
Step 3: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Bronze Core meets the Blue Core.
Step 4: Take the first right after the wider section.
Step 5: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Blue Core meets the Red Core.
Step 6: Continue forward. The entrance to the Red Core Elevators is first the opening on the left.

Directions to Red Core Stairs

Step 1: Stand in the elevator lobby for the Bronze Core elevators, facing east so that elevators are to your left and right. Proceed forward and take an immediate left.
Step 2: Proceed forward to the railing overlooking the Main Entrance. Turn right and proceed forward to enter the hallway leading to the Blue Core.
Step 3: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Bronze Core meets the Blue Core.
Step 4: Take the first right after the wider section.
Step 5: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Blue Core meets the Red Core.
Step 6: The door to the Red Core Stairs will be on the right.

Yellow Core Elevators and Stairs [Elevator] [Stairs]

The Yellow Core Elevators and Stairs are located on each floor in the southwest corner of the building near the Yellow Core Restrooms.

Directions to Yellow Core Elevators

Step 1: Stand in the elevator lobby for the Bronze Core elevators, facing east so that elevators are to your left and right. Turn left as you exit the lobby.
Step 2: Proceed forward and take a left to enter the hallway leading to the Green Core.
Step 3: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Bronze Core meets the Green Core.
Step 4: Take the first left after the wider section.
Step 5: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Green Core meets the Yellow Core.
Step 6: Continue forward. The entrance to the Yellow Core Elevators is the first opening on the right.

Directions to Yellow Core Stairs

Step 1: Stand in the elevator lobby for the Bronze Core elevators, facing east so that elevators are to your left and right. Turn left as you exit the lobby.
Step 2: Proceed forward and take a left to enter the hallway leading to the Green Core.
Step 3: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Bronze Core meets the Green Core.
Step 4: Take the first left after the wider section.
Step 5: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Green Core meets the Yellow Core.
Step 6: The door to the Yellow Core Stairs will be on the left.

Green Core Elevators and Stairs [Elevator] [Stairs]

The Green Core Elevators and Stairs are located on each floor in the northwest corner of the building near the Green Core Restrooms.

Directions to Green Core Elevators

Step 1: Stand in the elevator lobby for the Bronze Core elevators, facing east so that elevators are to your left and right. Turn left as you exit the lobby.
Step 2: Proceed forward and take a left to enter the hallway leading to the Green Core.
Step 3: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Bronze Core meets the Green Core.
Step 4: Take the first left after the wider section.
Step 5: Continue forward. The entrance to the Green Core Elevators is the first opening on the right.

Directions to Green Core Stairs

Step 1: Stand in the elevator lobby for the Bronze Core elevators, facing east so that elevators are to your left and right. Turn left as you exit the lobby.
Step 2: Proceed forward and take a left to enter the hallway leading to the Green Core.
Step 3: Proceed forward down the hallway. Continue past the wider section where the Bronze Core meets the Green Core.
Step 4: Take the first left after the wider section.
Step 5: Continue forward. The door to the Green Core Stairs will be on the left.

Researcher and Staff Locations of Interest

Law Library Reading Room [Researchers Researcher] [ Wi-Fi]

The entrance to the Law Library Reading Room is located on the Second Floor on the east side of the building.

Directions to Law Library Reading Room

Step 1: Stand in the elevator lobby for the Bronze Core elevators, facing east so that elevators are to your left and right. Turn left as you exit the lobby.
Step 2: Proceed forward to the railing overlooking the Main Entrance. Turn right and continue forward to enter the hallway leading to the Blue Core.
Step 3: Proceed forward to the wider section where the Bronze Core meets the Blue Core. The entrance to the Law Library Reading Room is the glass door to the right in the wider section of the hallway.

La Follette Congressional Reading Room [Congress] [ Wi-Fi]

The entrance to the La Follette Congressional Reading Room is located on the Second Floor on the north side of the building, in the Bronze Core.

Directions to La Follette Congressional Reading Room

Step 1: Stand in the elevator lobby for the Bronze Core elevators, facing east so that elevators are to your left and right. Turn right as you exit the lobby.
Step 2: Proceed forward to the end of the room. Turn right to reach the glass doors to the La Follette Congressional Reading Room.