Frequently Asked Questions: General

Users of the Library's research areas, including Computer Catalog Centers, and Copyright Office public service areas are each required to have a Reader Identification Card issued by the Library. In addition to gaining access to the Library's research areas, a this card also allows access to the many subscription databases available at the Library, but only if you are onsite. This is also true of any other copyrighted or license-restricted resources.

Access to the Library of Congress Online

The Library's freely-available digital collections and online catalog are accessible to all users via the Library of Congress website. The Library's E-Resources Online Catalog provides access to the Library's subscription databases for onsite users only, but also features a number of freely-accessible digital resources selected by Library staff that may be used by offsite users.

For more information about what may or may not be available on the Library's website, see: How does the Library decide to make collections material available online?

Any researcher, registered or not, can use this service to submit an inquiry to a Library of Congress subject specialist. We are happy to provide research assistance—there is no registration requirement for our help!