Frequently Asked Questions: General

The Library of Congress has the largest collections in the world representing a wide variety of physical formats and languages. Library of Congress staff are able to help you identify and request materials in both general and specialized reading rooms; we invite you to explore our resources, both online and in person at the Library.

Reader Registration and Access

Anyone 16 years or older can come in to use the Library, and all researchers must have a Library-issued Reader Identification Card to use the collections. All collections are stored in areas that are closed to the public and to staff without authorization. This "closed stack policy," like the reader identification program, ensures the security of the Library's collections.

Reading Rooms and Research Centers

The Library of Congress has twenty reading rooms and research centers, some of which hold special formats, such as maps or photographs, while others are based on language or geographic regions.

If you know which reading room contains collections useful for your research, you may wish to contact that reading room or research center in advance to make certain the materials you need to consult are on-site and accessible.

If you are not certain what research center may be able to assist you, please send a question to the Ask a Librarian service.

Additional Information

To find additional information about reading rooms and librarians who can help with your research, please see our Getting Started page, which contains links to brief introductory videos and tutorials.