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Library of Congress

PUBLIC SERVICES in the Library of Congress

Visitor Services

The Visitors' Center in the Jefferson Building (ground level entrance) is a public information center where visitors find assistance at two information desks and brochures about the Library of Congress. There are information kiosks with touch screens that provide visitors information about the Library, exhibits, tours, and many other services. A new Visitors' Theater shows the Library's 12-minute award winning open captioned film four times each hour.

Five docent-led tours of the architectural features of the building, including the Visitors' Gallery overlooking the Main Reading Room, are available Monday through Saturday. An audio tour of the Library is also available. To schedule group tours, call the Visitor Services Office at 202–707–0919 Voice/202–707–9956 TTY. Visitors hours are from 10:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

An additional information desk is located in the lobby of the Madison Building.

Access for Visitors with Disabilities

In order to assist researchers and visitors with disabilities, the Library of Congress brochure entitled "Services to Persons with Disabilities" describes accessibility, TTY numbers, and reference resources. This brochure is available in large print, Braille, and audio formats at the Information Desks in the Jefferson Building and Madison Building lobby. For more information please contact the Library's ADA Coordinator at 202–707–7544 Voice/202–707–9948 TTY.

Research Information and Reader Registration

The Library of Congress primarily serves the U.S. Congress. In addition, the Library welcomes the use of its facilities by researchers over high school age, although access to some collections may be more restricted. Researchers are expected to conduct preliminary research at an appropriate public, academic, or special library before using the Library of Congress.

In order to use most of the Library's reading rooms, researchers must first obtain a Library-issued user card at the Reader Registration Station in the Madison Building, LM 140. To obtain a user card or to use the collections, researchers must first present a valid photo identification and proof of address. The Library of Congress is a research library, not a lending library, and its collections are in restricted closed stacks. Stack service varies in each of the reading rooms and may end as much as two hours before published closing times for each reading room. Certain materials are stored off-site and must be requested well in advance, usually in writing, in some reading rooms.

To ensure the maximum protection of its unparalleled resources, the Library restricts personal belongings that may be brought into the reading rooms. The limitations vary from reading room to reading room, but researchers are required to check almost all of their belongings at the free cloakroom in the Jefferson Building. Some reading rooms also have adjacent lockers. To simplify this process, researchers are urged to bring to the Library only what is necessary.

For information about using the Library's facilities and resources, go to the Information Desk in the Jefferson Building or the Madison Building lobby or call 202–707–5522 Voice/202–707–4210 TTY. You can also reach the Library on the Internet through the World Wide Web by using the following address: http://www.loc.gov/

Exhibition Areas

The main exhibition areas of the Library of Congress are on the first and second floors of the Jefferson Building. The gallery hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. "American Treasures of the Library of Congress" is on permanent display in the southwest gallery and pavilion. Other exhibition areas are in the Madison Building and are open Monday–Friday from 8:30 a.m.to 9:30 p.m., and on Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted. The Library is closed on Sunday. Information about exhibitions is available by calling 202–707–4604 Voice/202–707–6200 TTY.

Sales Shop

The Sales Shop is located near the Visitors' Center in the Jefferson Building. The hours are Monday–Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visa and MasterCard are accepted.

[image: John Adams Building]

[image: Thomas Jefferson Building]

[image: James Madison Memorial Building]

Location, Telephone Number, and Hours of Reading Rooms and User Facilities
(All Facilities Closed on Sundays and Holidays)

[image: map of the Library of Congress complex]

The Library's mission is to make its resources available and useful to the Congress and the American people and to sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations.

General telephone numbers:
202-707-5000 Voice
202-707-6200 TTY

District of Columbia Relay Service:
202-855-1000 Voice
202-855-1234 TTY

Federal Information Relay Service:
800-877-8339 V/TTY (Toll Free)

Maryland Relay Service:
800-735-2258 TTY

Virginia Relay Service:
800-828-1140 Voice
800-828-1120 TTY

General Fax number:
202-707-5844

Reference telephone numbers:
202-707-5522 Voice
202-707-4210 TTY
(For evening and weekends, TTY Access, call 202-707-9951 TTY)

Reference fax number:
202-707-1389

Library of Congress
World Wide Web
http://www.loc.gov/

Recorded information numbers:
202-707-6400 (reading room hours)
202-707-8000 (visitors)
202-707-4700 (directions)

General mailing address:
Library of Congress
101 Independence Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20540

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