The library of congress is open to the public Monday through Saturday except for public holidays. Anyone may? go there and hold? anything in the collection. But no one is permitted to take books out of the building.

The library of congress was established in 1800. It started with 11 boxes of books in one million? of the capital building. By 1814, the collection had increased to about 3000 books. They were all destroyed that here? when the capital was burning down during the American s War with Brition. To note rebuild to library, congress brought the books of President Tomas Jiffson. Mr.Jeffson collections included 7000 books in seven languages.

In 1897, The library moved into its own building across the street from the capital. Today, three building hold the library s collection. The library provides books and materials to the US Congress and also lends books to other American libraries , government agencys and foreign library. It buys somars? its books and gets other s gifts. It also gets materails through its copyright office. Anyone who wants copyright protection for a publictaion in the US must send 2 copies to the library. This means the library of congress receives almost everything that is published in the united states.