Library of Congress

Logo ( above) and emblem ( below) Library of Congress

The Library of Congress (LoC ) ( German: Library of Congress ) is the publicly accessible research library of congress ' of the United States. It is spread over several buildings in Washington, DC The LoC is on media stocks, the second largest, in terms of books stock the largest and overall one of the most important libraries in the world.

The LoC is working closely with the Congressional Research Service ( " Congress 's think tank" ).

Importance

With more than 155 million media units, it is the second largest library in the world. Only the British Library in London is home to 170 million media an even larger collection. The structure of the Washington Library include

  • 31 million books and other printed materials in 470 languages ​​,
  • 50 million manuscripts,
  • 12 million photographs,
  • 4.8 million maps and plans,

Also the largest collection of rare books in North America, including a Gutenberg Bible and Adolf Hitler's book collection. The catalog of the LoC is an important bibliographic source for university libraries.

History

It was founded as a research library of the U.S. Congress on 24 April 1800 after President John Adams had transferred the seat of government from Philadelphia to Washington, D. C.. Since 1802, is responsible for its administration the United States Congress Joint Committee on the Library. There were asked $ 5,000 for the purchase of books for the use of Congress and the establishment of suitable premises in the new Capitol available. The library had grown to about 3,000 volumes, as they 1814 British -American War was a prey to the flames. Then Thomas Jefferson offered his private library at the Congress as a replacement for sale. He had amassed in 50 years almost 6500 books on philosophy, literature and science in different languages. This diversity went far beyond the scope of the original collection. Nevertheless, the Congress approved the purchase of the collection for a price of $ 24,000, thus laying the foundation for a national library. Jefferson's belief that the American legislation are all topics of importance, still the basic principle of the Library of Congress.

On December 24, 1851 fire destroyed 35,000 books and other furnishings, including an original portrait of Christopher Columbus. Later was able to expand their holdings as depositary for copyright protection of works much the library. Those who wanted to protect his work by the American copyright, had to leave free at the library two copies of his work. This regulation was in 1859 transferred to the newly established Patent Office. This fact and a devastating fire which destroyed two-thirds of the then stock, brought the Library of Congress in serious financial difficulties. Ainsworth Rand Spofford won the 1864 Copyright Deposit back and secured the library the financial support of both Congress parties. So it could be significantly expanded under his leadership.

In Siberia, Krasnoyarsk GW Yudin had amassed an extensive private library ( about 100,000 volumes), which was sold to America in 1906 and now forms the foundation for the Russian collection in the Library of Congress. The library budget is set today to a large extent by the Congress. To entertain are also three impressive buildings in Washington, D. C.

The building

A very different architecture features the three buildings. You are on Capitol Hill and are connected by an underground tunnel system.

The Thomas Jefferson Building in the Italian Renaissance style, was inaugurated in 1897 and has long been the main building of the library. The magnificent entrance hall is made of marble. In the building of the main reading room are located with its imposing dome, as well as other specialized reading rooms and a concert hall. The John Adams Building in 1938 and today contains the related book magazine and a second large reading room. Art Nouveau elements determine the architecture. The James Madison Memorial Building, opened in 1980, a six-storey building sober, houses the periodicals department, the administration, the computer department and various special departments. In the buildings of more than 4000 employees, including both professional librarians and scientists in their fields to work. Other major magazines outside the city are also part of the library.

The Library of Congress Classification

Having worked in the first decades after the scheme that Thomas Jefferson had created for his collection, Herbert Putnam created with the Library of Congress Classification a classification that is still used today by most university libraries and research facilities in the United States.

The proposed inventory number LCCN for the Library of Congress is reprinted in many books already in the imprint.

Librarians of Congress

The head of the Library of Congress, the Librarian of Congress ( German: Congress librarians ) are appointed by the U.S. President and confirmed by a vote of the Senate. The list of past Librarians of Congress contains some notable personalities:

Others

Held annually in the fall, the library, the National Book Festival, each with about 100,000 visitors.

The currently launched in May 2011 Show project the library is the National Jukebox.

The Library of Congress is the depository of the Lincoln Bible.

Pictures

Library of Congress, Jefferson Building

Exhibition in the Treasures Gallery at the Jefferson Building

Homepage of the LoC: Government Shutdown 2013

International Standard Identifier for Libraries and Related Organizations United States Capitol War of 1812 John J. Beckley Patrick Magruder George Watterston John Silva Meehan John Gould Stephenson John Russell Young Archibald MacLeish Lawrence Quincy Mumford Government shutdown in the United States Library of Congress Country Studies United States National Library of Medicine Flickr Capitol Police Board Congressional Budget Office Government Accountability Office Library of Congress Police Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate Integrated Authority File
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