THE Library of Libraries!

Today's History Lesson

For centuries, the role of the library has been a repository for books. As decades passed, books continued to rule but found by their side additional print materials, such as maps and magazines. Photographs were added and of course, film when motion pictures hit the silver screen. In the 21st century, libraries face an ever increasing challenge as more and more attention is placed on digital media. There are libraries that go beyond the epitome of imagination that can never be replaced with a keyboard and monitor.

This Day in History: April 24, 1800

From then...

Construction of the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., April 19, 1893
Image Source: History of the Library

The first proposition for creating a congressional library is credited to James Madison in 1783. The Library of Congress was established by an act of Congress on April 24, 1800. President John Adams signed a bill providing for the transfer of the seat of government from Philadelphia to the new capital city of Washington.The first library provided a reference library for Congress only, containing "such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress - and for putting up a suitable apartment for containing them therein…" 

The initial books, ordered from London, arrived in 1801. The first library catalog, dated April 1802, listed 964 volumes and nine maps. After the original library was lost to fire during the War of 1812, congress purchased Thomas Jefferson's personal library (6,487 volumes). In 1851, a second fire destroyed about two-thirds of the then existing 55,000 volumes. Within a few years, the majority of the books were replaced, except for those, of course, that were irreplaceable.

'Til now...

Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building 2010
Image Source: Library of Congress Photos

Today's Library of Congress is an unparalleled world resource. It is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress, but which is the de facto national library of the United States. The collection of more than 158 million items includes more than 36 million cataloged books and other print materials in 460 languages; more than 69 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. 

When photography became the hot new item in the mid-1800s, images were added vividly representing life and the world. A Prints & Photographs Division takes care of 14 million of the Library's pictures and features more than one million through online catalogs. Historical photo collections are shared through Flickr providing a wider accessibility to some of the most popular images.

Inside the Library...

Library of Congress Great Hall

Library of Congress Main Reading Room

Library of Congress Hallway

Magnificent, isn't it?