Library of Congress

Research and Reference Services

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Notice: Appointments are optional, but encouraged. To help us better serve you, request a research appointment to ensure collection material is accessible during your visit at the Library. The Library of Congress asks all visitors to follow our COVID-19 health screening protocols, which are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the Office of the Attending Physician of the U.S. Capitol. For additional instructions, see the Researcher Scheduling page.

All Library of Congress buildings are closed on Sundays; all Reading Rooms, as well as the Adams and Madison buildings are closed to the public on all Federal Holidays.

Building Abbreviations and Codes:
LA = Adams Building | LJ = Jefferson Building | LM = Madison Building | § Appointment Optional

Reading Room / Reference Center Monday-Thursday Friday Saturday
African & Middle Eastern (LJ 220) § 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm Closed
Asian (LJ 150) § 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm Closed
Copyright Office (LM 402) 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm Closed
European (LJ 249) § 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm Closed
Folklife (LJ G53) § 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm Closed
Geography & Map (LM B01) § 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm Closed
Hispanic (LJ 240) § 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm Closed
Law Library (LM 242) § 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm
Main (LJ 100) § 8:30am - 8:30pm 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm
Manuscript (LM 101) § 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm
Moving Image (LM 336) § 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm Closed
-- Moving Image Viewing Facilities § 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm Closed
Newspaper & Current Periodical (LM 133) § 8:30am - 8:30pm 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm
Performing Arts (LM 113) § 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm
Duplication Services (LA 128) 9:00am - 3:00pm 9:00am - 3:00pm Closed
Prints & Photographs (LM 337) § 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm Closed
Rare Book & Special Collections (LJ 239) § 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm Closed
Recorded Sound Reference (LM 113) § 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm Closed
-- Recorded Sound Listening Facilities § 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm Closed
Science & Business Reading Room (LA 500) § 8:30am - 8:30pm 8:30am - 5:00pm 8:30am - 5:00pm

Requesting Closed-Stack Materials
For delivery of materials from closed stack collections, requests typically must be made at least one hour, and sometimes two hours, before the reading rooms close. Details are available in the reading rooms and on their home pages.

Reference Collections
Each reading room also has a reference collection that is openly available during reading room hours.