The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and number of books.
Library of Congress is the biggest library in the world – 142,544,498 million books
| Collection | |
|---|---|
| Size | 21,814,555 cataloged books in the Library of Congress classification system 5,600 incunabula (books printed before 1500), monographs and serials, music, bound newspapers, pamphlets, technical reports, and other printed material, and 109,029,796 items in the nonclassified (special) collections142,544,498 total Items |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | Library does not publicly circulate |
| Population served | 541 members of the United States Congress, their staff, and members of the public |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $613,496,414 |
| Director | James H. Billington (Librarian of Congress) |
| Staff | 3,624 |
Library of Congress reading room
Today’s Library of Congress is an unparalleled world resource. The collection of nearly 142 million items includes more than 32 million cataloged books and other print materials in 470 languages; more than 62 million manuscripts; the largest rare book collection in North America; and the world’s largest collection of legal materials, films, maps, sheet music and sound recordings.
The Great Hall interior
Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building
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