Library Of Congress Main Reading Room

View from above showing researcher desks.

Library of congress main reading room.

Main reading room researcher and reference services division library of congress. Main reading room main reading room. A library issued photo id gives you access to the vast circular space where 226 desks spiral under a 160 foot high elaborately painted copper dome. The madison building is also home to the mary pickford theater the motion picture and television reading room of the library of congress.

Even researchers who will go on to work in one of the specialized reading rooms often begin their work in the main reading room in order to use the resources in the microform and electronic resources center to consult the main card catalog to obtain an orientation to the library as a whole or to use some of the approximately 70 000 volumes in the main reading room reference collection. Main reading room. In 1886 congress authorized a new library facility. Every day hundreds of books and bound periodical volumes are delivered from the stacks for use in the main reading room.

Library of congress research guides. All reading rooms as well as the adams and madison buildings are closed to the public on all federal holidays. The theater hosts regular free screenings of classic and contemporary movies and television shows. The reading room is the most beautiful place in washington to work read research or just catch up on e mail.

On the ceiling of the lantern which rises above the highest part of the dome is a painting of a. Thomas jefferson building first floor main reading room. Library of congress research guides main reading room home main reading room by subject. Visiting the library tours virtual student workshops online tours maps floor plans thomas jefferson building james madison memorial building john adams building.

A z database list. Its majestic scale domed reading room and vast galleries enriched with sculpture and murals instantly made it washington s most popular building. And you don t need to be an academic or congressional staffer. Even researchers who will go on to work in one of the specialized reading rooms often begin their work in the main reading room in order to use the electronic resources in the microform and electronic resources center lj 139 the former.

Michelangelo michelangelo di. The washington firm of smithmeyer pelz designed a magnificent building which opened in 1897. The main reading room is the principal point for gaining access to the library s general collections of books and bound periodicals.