[United States Government Manual]
[June 01, 2004]
[Pages 55-62]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

101 Independence Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20540

Phone, 202-707-5000. Internet, www.loc.gov.
Librarian of Congress                             James H. Billington
Deputy Librarian of Congress                      Donald L. Scott
Chief of Staff                                    JoAnn Jenkins
Associate Librarian for Library Services          Deanna Marcum
Associate Librarian for Human Resources Services  Teresa Smith
Director, Congressional Research Service          Daniel P. Mulhollan
Register of Copyrights and Associate Librarian    Marybeth Peters
        for Copyright Services
Law Librarian                                     Rubens Medina
General Counsel                                   Elizabeth Pugh
Inspector General                                 Karl Schornagel
Chief, Collections Access, Loan, and Management   Steven Herman
        Division
Library of Congress Trust Fund Board                

Chairman (Librarian of Congress)                  James H. Billington
(Secretary of the Treasury)                       John W. Snow
(Chairman, Joint Committee on the Library)        Ted Stevens
(Vice Chairman, Joint Committee on the Library)   Vernon Ehlers

Members                                           Ruth Altshuler, Edwin 
                                                          L. Cox, 
                                                          Elisabeth De 
                                                          Vos, Leo 
                                                          Hindery, John 
                                                          Kluge, Tom 
                                                          Luce, Bernard 
                                                          Rapoport, B. 
                                                          Francis Saul 
                                                          II

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The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States, 
offering diverse materials for research including the world's most 
extensive collections in many areas such as American history, music, and 
law.
The Library of Congress was established by act of April 24, 1800 (2 
Stat. 56), appropriating $5,000 ``for the purchase of such books as may 
be necessary for the use of Congress . . . .'' The Library's scope of 
responsibility has been widened by subsequent legislation (2 U.S.C. 131-
168d). The Librarian, appointed by the President with the advice and 
consent of the Senate, directs the Library.
    The Library's first responsibility is service to Congress. As the 
Library has developed, its range of service has come to include the 
entire governmental establishment and the public at large, making it a 
national library for the United States.

Activities

Collections  The Library's extensive collections are universal in scope. 
They include books, serials, and pamphlets on every subject and in a 
multitude of languages, and research materials in many formats, 
including maps, photographs, manuscripts, motion pictures, and sound 
recordings. Among them are the most comprehensive collections of 
Chinese, Japanese, and Russian language books outside Asia and the 
former Soviet Union; volumes relating to science and legal materials 
outstanding for American and foreign law; the world's largest collection 
of published aeronautical literature; and the most extensive collection 
in the Western Hemisphere of books printed before 1501 A.D.
    The manuscript collections relate to manifold aspects of American 
history and civilization, and include the personal papers of most of the 
Presidents from George Washington through Calvin Coolidge. The music 
collections contain volumes and pieces--manuscript and published--from 
classic works to the newest popular compositions. Other materials 
available for research include maps and views; photographic records from 
the daguerreotype to the latest news photo; recordings, including 
folksongs and other music, speeches, and poetry readings; prints, 
drawings, and posters; government documents, newspapers, and periodicals 
from all over the world; and motion pictures, microforms, and audio and 
video tapes.
Reference Resources  Admission to the various research facilities of the 
Library is free. No introduction or credentials are required for persons 
over high school age. Readers must register by presenting valid photo 
identification with a current address, and for certain collections there 
are additional requirements. As demands for service to Congress and 
Federal Government agencies increase, reference service available 
through correspondence has become limited. The Library must decline some 
requests and refer correspondents to a library within their area that 
can provide satisfactory assistance. While priority is given to 
inquiries pertaining to its holdings of special materials or to subjects 
in which its resources are unique, the Library does attempt to provide 
helpful responses to all inquirers. Online reference service is also 
available through the ``Ask a Librarian'' site, at www.loc.gov/rr/
askalib.
Copyrights  With the enactment of the second general revision of the 
U.S. copyright law by Act of July 8, 1870 (16 Stat. 212-217), all 
activities relating to copyright, including deposit and registration, 
were centralized in the Library of Congress. The Copyright Act of 1976 
(90 Stat. 2541) brought all forms of copyrightable authorship, both 
published and unpublished, under a single statutory system which gives 
authors protection immediately upon creation of their works. Exclusive 
rights granted to authors under the statute include the right to 
reproduce and prepare derivative works, distribute copies or 
phonorecords, perform and display the work publicly, and in the

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case of sound recordings, to perform the work publicly by means of a 
digital audio transmission. Works eligible for copyright include 
literary works (books and periodicals), musical works, dramatic works, 
pantomimes and choreographic works, pictorial, graphic, and sculptural 
works, motion pictures, sound recordings, vessel hull designs, mask 
works, and architectural works. Serving in its capacity as a national 
registry for creative works, the Copyright Office registers more than 
500,000 claims to copyright annually (representing more than 800,000 
works) and is a major source of acquisitions for the universal 
collections of the Library of Congress. Most of the information 
available on paper is also accessible online, at www.loc.gov/copyright.
Extension of Service  The Library extends its service through the 
following:
    --an interlibrary loan system;
    --the photoduplication, at reasonable cost, of books, manuscripts, 
maps, newspapers, and prints in its collections;
    --the sale of sound recordings, which are released by its Recording 
Laboratory;
    --the exchange of duplicates with other institutions;
    --the sale of CD-ROM cataloging tools and magnetic tapes and the 
publication in book format or microform of cumulative catalogs, which 
make available the results of the expert bibliographical and cataloging 
work of its technical personnel;
    --a centralized cataloging program whereby the Library of Congress 
acquires material published all over the world, catalogs it promptly, 
and distributes cataloging information in machine-readable form and 
other means to the Nation's libraries;
    --a cooperative cataloging program whereby the cataloging of data, 
by name authority and bibliographic records, prepared by other libraries 
becomes part of the Library of Congress database and is distributed 
through the Catologing Distribution Service;
    --a cataloging-in-publication program in cooperation with American 
publishers for printing cataloging information in current books;
    --the National Serials Data Program, a national center that 
maintains a record of serial titles to which International Standard 
Serial Numbers have been assigned and serves, with this file, as the 
United States Register; and
    --the development of general schemes of classification (Library of 
Congress and Dewey Decimal), subject headings, and cataloging, embracing 
the entire field of printed matter.
    Furthermore, the Library provides for the following:
    --the preparation of bibliographical lists responsive to the needs 
of Government and research;
    --the maintenance and the publication of cooperative publications;
    --the publication of catalogs, bibliographical guides, and lists, 
and of texts of original manuscripts and rare books in the Library of 
Congress;
    --the circulation in traveling exhibitions of items from the 
Library's collections;
    --the provision of books in braille, electronic access to braille 
books on the Internet, ``talking books,'' and books on tape for the 
blind and the physically handicapped through 140 cooperating libraries 
throughout the Nation;
    --the distribution of its electronic materials via the Internet; and
    --the provision of research and analytical services on a fee-for-
service basis to agencies in the executive and judicial branches.
Congressional Research Service  Congress created the Congressional 
Research Service (CRS) to serve its legislative needs for nonpartisan 
and objective research and analysis. CRS works exclusively for the 
Congress by providing timely and confidential research and analysis to 
Members, committees, and their staff on all public policy issues of 
interest to the Congress, at all stages of the legislative process. CRS 
staff is comprised of recognized experts in many disciplines, including 
American law, economics, foreign affairs, the physical sciences, 
environmental science, public administration, and the social and 
political sciences.

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    CRS policy experts and information specialists work closely with 
Members and committees to explain policy problems; develop options and 
legislative proposals; conduct legal analysis of pending legislation; 
deliver expert testimony before congressional committees; prepare 
products on current legislative issues; write confidential memoranda; 
and provide personal consultations. The Service also provides seminars 
on public policy and legal issues as well as training on the legislative 
and budget processes.

For further information, call 202-707-5700.

American Folklife Center  The Center was established in the Library of 
Congress by Act of January 2, 1976 (20 U.S.C. 2102 et seq.). It 
supports, preserves, and presents American folklife by receiving and 
maintaining folklife collections, scholarly research, field projects, 
performances, exhibitions, festivals, workshops, publications, and 
audiovisual presentations. The Center has conducted projects in many 
locations across the country, such as the ethnic communities of Chicago, 
IL; southern Georgia; a ranching community in northern Nevada; the Blue 
Ridge Parkway in southern Virginia and northern North Carolina; and the 
States of New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Montana. The projects have 
provided large collections of recordings and photographs for the Archive 
of Folk Culture. The Center administers the Federal Cylinder Project, 
which is charged with preserving and disseminating music and oral 
traditions recorded on wax cylinders dating from the late 1800s to the 
early 1940s. A cultural conservation study was developed at the Center, 
in cooperation with the Department of the Interior, pursuant to a 
congressional mandate. Various conferences, workshops, and symposia are 
given throughout the year.
    The Folklife Center News, a quarterly newsletter, and other 
informational publications are available upon request. Many Center 
publications and a number of collections are available online through 
the Internet, at www.loc.gov/folklife.
    The American Folklife Center maintains and administers the Archive 
of Folk Culture, an extensive collection of ethnographic materials from 
this country and around the world. It is the national repository for 
folk-related recordings, manuscripts, and other unpublished materials. 
The Center's reading room contains over 3,500 books and periodicals; a 
sizable collection of magazines, newsletters, unpublished theses, and 
dissertations; field notes; and many textual and some musical 
transcriptions and recordings. The American Folklife Center also 
administers the Veterans History Project. Established by Congress in 
2000, the purpose of the Veterans History Project is to record and 
preserve for future generations the first-person accounts of war 
veterans, including Members of Congress.

For further information, call 202-707-5510.

Center for the Book  The Center was established in the Library of 
Congress by an act of October 13, 1977 (2 U.S.C. 171 et seq.), to 
stimulate public interest in books, reading, and libraries, and to 
encourage the study of books and print culture. The Center is a catalyst 
for promoting and exploring the vital role of books, reading, and 
libraries--nationally and internationally. As a partnership between the 
Government and the private sector, the Center for the Book depends on 
tax-deductible contributions from individuals and corporations to 
support its programs.
    The Center's activities are directed toward the general public and 
scholars. The overall program includes reading promotion projects with 
television and radio networks, symposia, lectures, exhibitions, special 
events, and publications. More than 90 national educational and civic 
organizations participate in the Center's annual reading promotion 
campaign.
    All 50 States and the District of Columbia have established 
statewide book centers that are affiliated with the Center for the Book 
in the Library of Congress. State centers plan and fund

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their own projects, involving members of the State's ``community of the 
book,'' including authors, readers, prominent citizens, and public 
officials who serve as honorary advisers.

For further information, contact the Center for the Book. Phone, 202-
707-5221. Fax, 202-707-0269. E-mail, [email protected].

National Film Preservation Board  The National Film Preservation Board, 
presently authorized by the National Film Preservation Act of 1996 (2 
U.S.C. 179), serves as a public advisory group to the Librarian of 
Congress. The Board works to ensure the survival, conservation, and 
increased public availability of America's film heritage, including 
advising the Librarian on the annual selection of films to the National 
Film Registry and counseling the Librarian on development and 
implementation of the national film preservation plan. Key publications 
are Film Preservation 1993: A Study of the Current State of American 
Film Preservation, Redefining Film Preservation: A National Plan, and 
Television and Video Preservation 1997: A Study of the Current State of 
American Television and Video Preservation.

For further information, call 202-707-5912.

National Sound Recording Preservation Board  The National Sound 
Recording Preservation Board,established in 2000 by Public Law 106-474, 
includes three major components: a National Recording Preservation 
Advisory Board, which brings together experts in the field, a National 
Recording Registry, and a fundraising foundation, all of which are 
conducted under the auspices of the Library of Congress. The purpose of 
the Board is to create and implement a national plan for the long-term 
preservation and accessibility of the Nation's audio heritage. It also 
advises the Librarian on the selection of culturally, aesthetically, or 
historically significant sound recordings to be included on the National 
Recording Registry. The national recording preservation program will set 
standards for future private and public preservation efforts and will be 
conducted in conjunction with the state-of-the-art National Audio-Visual 
Conservation Center the Library is developing in Culpeper, VA.

For further information, call 202-707-5856.

Preservation  The Library provides technical information related to the 
preservation of library and archival material. A series of handouts on 
various preservation and conservation topics has been prepared by the 
Preservation Office. Information and publications are available from the 
Office of the Director for Preservation, Library of Congress, 
Washington, DC 20540-4500. Phone, 202-707-1840.

Sources of Information

Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped  Talking and braille 
books and magazines are distributed through 140 regional and subregional 
libraries to blind and physically handicapped residents of the United 
States and its territories. Qualified users can also register for Web-
Braille, an Internet-based service. Information is available at public 
libraries throughout the United States and from the headquarters office, 
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, 
Library of Congress, 1291 Taylor Street NW., Washington, DC 20542-4960. 
Phone, 202-707-5100.
Cataloging Data Distribution  Cataloging and bibliographic information 
in the form of microfiche catalogs, book catalogs, magnetic tapes, CD-
ROM cataloging tools, bibliographies, and other technical publications 
is distributed to libraries and other institutions. Information about 
ordering materials is available from the Cataloging Distribution 
Service, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20541-4910. Phone, 202-707-
6100. TDD, 202-707-0012. Fax, 202-707-1334. E-mail, 
[email protected].
    Library of Congress card numbers for new publications are assigned 
by the Cataloging in Publication Division. Direct inquiries to CIP 
Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540-4320. Phone, 202-
707-6372.

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Contracts  Persons seeking to do business with the Library of Congress 
should contact the Contracts and Logistics Services, Room 325, John 
Adams Building, Washington, DC, 20540-9410. Phone, 202-707-0419.
Copyright Services  Information about the copyright law (title 17 of the 
U.S. Code), the method of securing copyright, and copyright registration 
procedures may be obtained by writing to the Copyright Office, Library 
of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20559-6000. 
Phone, 202-707-3000. Copyright information is also available through the 
Internet, at www.loc.gov/copyright. Registration application forms may 
be ordered by calling the forms hotline at 202-707-9100. Copyright 
records may be researched and reported by the Copyright Office for a 
fee; for an estimate, call 202-707-6850. Members of the public may use 
the copyright card catalog in the Copyright Office without charge. The 
database of Copyright Office records cataloged from January 1, 1978, to 
the present is available through the Internet, at www.loc.gov/copyright/
rb.html. The Copyright Information Office is located in Room LM-401, 
James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20559-6000, and is open to the public Monday through 
Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. eastern time, except Federal holidays.
Employment  Employment inquiries should be directed to Human Resources 
Services, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE., Washington, 
DC 20540-2200. Vacancy announcements and applications are also available 
from the Employment Office, Room LM-107, 101 Independence Avenue SE. 
Phone, 202-707-4315. Internet, www.loc.gov/hr/employment.
Photoduplication Service  Copies of manuscripts, prints, photographs, 
maps, and book material not subject to copyright and other restrictions 
are available for a fee. Order forms for photoreproduction and price 
schedules are available from the Photoduplication Service, Library of 
Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20540-4570. Phone, 
202-707-5640.
Publications  A list of Library of Congress publications, many of which 
are of interest to the general public, is available through the 
Internet, at www.loc.gov. A monthly Calendar of Events, listing programs 
and exhibitions at the Library of Congress, can be mailed regularly to 
persons within 100 miles of Washington, DC. Make requests to Office 
Systems Services, Mail and Distribution Management Section, Library of 
Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20540-9441.
Reference and Bibliographic Services  Guidance is offered to readers in 
the identification and use of the material in the Library's collections, 
and reference service in answer to inquiries is offered to those who 
have exhausted local, State, and regional resources. Persons requiring 
services that cannot be performed by the Library staff can be supplied 
with names of private researchers who work on a fee basis. Requests for 
information should be directed to the Reference Referral Service, 
Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20540-
4720. Phone, 202-707-5522. Fax, 202-707-1389.
Research and Reference Services in Science and Technology  Reference 
specialists in the Science, Technology, and Business Division provide a 
free service in answering brief technical inquiries entailing a 
bibliographic response. Requests for reference services should be 
directed to the Science, Technology, and Business Division, Library of 
Congress, Science Reference Section, 101 Independence Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20540-4750. Phone, 202-707-5639. Internet, www.loc.gov/
rr/scitech.
Research Services in General Topics  Federal Government agencies can 
procure directed research and analytical products on foreign and 
domestic topics using the collections of the Library of Congress through 
the Federal Research

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Division. Science, technology, humanities, and social science topics of 
research are conducted by staff specialists exclusively on behalf of 
Federal agencies on a fee-for-service basis. Requests for service should 
be directed to the Federal Research Division, Marketing Office, Library 
of Congress, Washington, DC 20540-4840. Phone, 202-707-3909. Fax, 202-
245-3920.

For further information, contact the Public Affairs Office, Library of 
Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20540-8610. Phone, 
202-707-2905. Fax, 202-707-9199. Internet, www.loc.gov.

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