Unique Collections of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

What is the Library of Congress?

The Library of Congress looks more like a palace than a library. And in a way, it is — a palace. It’s also the largest library in the world and a unique collection working for the well-being of an entire nation. It’s one of Washington’s main attractions, holding vast collections of books, manuscripts, and historical artifacts.

Learn more about its history, architecture, and unique exhibits in our article. Exterior view of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

History of the Library of Congress

Originally, the library was housed within the Capitol building — it opened alongside the Capitol in 1800. Only the president, members of the Senate, and Congress could use it. Much of its collection came from the personal library of Thomas Jefferson, the third president and one of the founding fathers of the United States.

Later, during the War of Independence, the British set fires that nearly destroyed both the White House and the Capitol. Along with them, the invaluable books were lost. It was decided to separate and expand the library by placing a new building directly across from the Capitol. Today, you can walk from the Capitol to the new Library of Congress building through an underground gallery. Reading Room inside the Library of Congress

Infrastructure

Physically, the Library of Congress consists of three separate buildings connected by underground passages. The main building is named after Jefferson and is what visitors see when entering from Independence Avenue. It opened in 1897, marking a new chapter for the United States' premier library.

The Library of Congress has an extensive network of representations (even in Moscow) and electronic resources. Nearly every book, newspaper, or journal has a digitized copy available on the official website. Nevertheless, every year the library publishes a bibliographic catalog of its publications, spanning 610 volumes. Magnificent interior architecture of the Library of Congress

Collection and Awards

Since 1870, a copy of every book published in the United States has been added to the Library of Congress collection. It also collects virtually all printed periodicals. Hence, it has everything about everything. The collection grows by a couple of million items each year. Today, it houses over 142 million items: books, newspapers, magazines, films, audio recordings, maps, and manuscripts.

The Library of Congress awards several prizes. While the Kluge Prize for lifetime achievement in the humanities and social sciences is to be expected, there’s one particularly unusual award.

Since 2007, the Library of Congress has annually awarded a prize for contributions to popular music. Librarian James Billington believed that popular music positively influences society, and politicians supported the initiative. Thus, the library aimed to modernize and humanize the monumental institution. Although this event receives less attention than the Grammy Awards, the goal was achieved — youth acknowledged and respected the library. Over the years, the award has been given to Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, and Tony Bennett. Dome of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.