The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and serves as the research library for Congress. It has a vast collection of over 32 million items including books, prints, recordings, films, maps, and manuscripts. Some of the rare and historically significant items in the collection include the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence and one of the earliest printed Gutenberg Bibles.

2. The Library of Congress is the research
library
of the United States Congress,
national library of the United States.

3. * The Library of Congress was built for Congress
in 1800, and was housed in the United States
Capitol
for most of the 19th century.
* Much of the original collection
had been destroyed during
the War of 1812.
* Thomas Jefferson sold
6,487 books,
his entire personal collection,
to the library in 1815.

4. Although it is open to the public, only
they may check out books:
* Members of
Congress,
* Supreme Court
justices
* other high-
ranking
government
officials.

5. The collections of
the Library of Congress
include more than 32 million
cataloged books
and other
print materials
in 470 languages.

6. It houses the largest rare book collection
in North America,
including:
* the rough draft
of the Declaration
of Independence

7. * a Gutenberg Bible

8. Buildings of the Library
Thomas Jefferson Building
John Adams Building on Capitol Hill
James Madison Memorial
Building
Packard campus for
audio-visual in Virginia
conservation

9. Thomas Jefferson Building
(the main building)

10. Main Library of Congress
building at the start of the 20th
century

11. Library of Congress reading
room

12. The Great Hall interior
Erotica, mural painting
by George Randolph Barse

14. John Adams Building

15. James Madison Memorial
Building

16. Packard Campus for Audio-
Visual Conservation