Gargantuan U.S. library boasts a whopping 41 million volumes, cementing its title as the world's largest.
The Library of Congress: A Trove of Knowledge in the Heart of Washington, D.C.
The Library of Congress, a colossal repository of human history, resides in the capital city of the United States, Washington, D.C. This prestigious institution expands across 41 million books, making it the largest library in the world. Every day, approximately 10,000 new documents find their home within its impressive halls.
Established in 1800 when President John Adams signed an act of Congress, the Library of Congress initially housed 740 books and three maps. Over the centuries, it has evolved significantly, transcending its initial role as a congressional library into a national library. Today, its collections incorporate not only books but also sheet music, prints, newspapers, photographs, recorded sound, and motion pictures, encompassing a broad spectrum of research and cultural demands.
The library was initially located within the Capitol itself, but the War of 1812 brought a devastating fire, reducing the collection to ashes. This unfortunate incident paved the way for Thomas Jefferson, who offered his personal library of 6,487 volumes encompassing philosophy, sciences, and more. This acquisition transformed the library into an institution open to all disciplines and languages, setting the stage for a universal collection.
Just a stone's throw from the Capitol lies the architecturally stunning Thomas Jefferson Building, a major tourist attraction for those enamored with knowledge. Its neo-Renaissance facade, flanked by bronze lions, and majestic staircases signal an equally impressive interior, featuring wall frescoes, gilded mosaics, and multicolor marble. Under the dome of the Main Reading Room, the octagonal emblematic reading room, the stained glass windows cast warm light upon the galleries, rendering homage to allegorical statues dedicated to major knowledge disciplines.
Over the decades, the library has expanded to include the John Adams Building, with its Art Deco lines, and the James Madison Memorial Building, a modern addition that significantly increased the library's space and houses several research centers. Beyond its Capitol Hill buildings, the library stores some materials in facilities in Maryland and Virginia for preservation purposes.
The Library of Congress serves Congress, houses the U.S. Copyright Office, and functions as a cultural forum. Many rare and precious documents, such as the Gutenberg Bible or Beethoven's hair, are held in special collections accessible only with authorization and under strict conditions. However, the majority of the library's collection can be consulted on-site.
Since 1993, the digital revolution has enabled the library to share a plethora of previously inaccessible treasures worldwide through its website. Consulted documents range from the picture of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 to iconic images from the Great Depression. The Ask a Librarian function allows anyone, anywhere, to communicate with American specialists day and night, transcending geographical borders. In 2023, librarians responded to 681,000 search requests.
In 2025, the library faced an unexpected political upset when Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden was dismissed by President Donald Trump. Hayden, who had champions digitalization and opened the library to all during her tenure, was terminated in a simple email ruling, sparking controversy within the American cultural world.
Visitors eager to explore the library's vast treasures can find it in Washington, D.C. A wealth of information awaits those eager to unravel the history, culture, and intellectual richness encapsulated within the Library of Congress.
Engaging with various aspects of knowledge, the Library of Congress offers collections beyond books, including sheet music, prints, newspapers, photographs, recorded sound, and motion pictures, encompassing a broad spectrum of home-and-garden, lifestyle, entertainment, and other subjects. In the digital age, this national library makes its extensive resources easily accessible to individuals worldwide, making it a treasure trove for those seeking enrichment in home-and-garden, books, entertainment, and more.
