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Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the Library’s visitor hours?
- Do I need tickets or reservations?
- Will I have to wait in line?
- Is there a cloakroom?
- May I reserve a tour for my group?
- What activities are there for children?
- Where is the Library of Congress located, and what is the best way to get there?
- Is parking available?
- Is the building accessible?
- May I take pictures in the Jefferson Building?
- Is food available at the Library?
What are the Library’s visitor hours?
The Jefferson Building West and the Library of Congress Experience is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The Library is closed on Sunday and all Federal Holidays. The Library has special hours for its reading rooms. For researcher information, please see the Reading Room hours.
Do I need tickets or reservations?
Visitors do not need tickets or reservations to enter the Jefferson Building or visit the new Library of Congress Experience.
Will I have to wait in line?
Visitors to the Library often have to wait in line on the First Street side of the Jefferson Building to enter through the Main Doors. The wait varies from 15 minutes to 45 minutes.
Is there a cloakroom?
The visitors’ cloakroom is available on the Ground Floor of the Jefferson Building and is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
May I reserve a tour for my group?
Reserved tours may be requested in advance for groups with 12 to 60 participants. Please send your request via email grouptours@loc.gov or use the group tour form. You will receive an email to confirm that your group has secured a reservation.
What activities are there for children?
Those coming with children should pickup a Discovery Guide in the Orientation Gallery. This guide is specially designed to help younger visitors explore the Jefferson Building and its architecture, learn about the Library’s history, and discover the fascinating collections that are on exhibit.
Where is the Library of Congress located, and what is the best way to get there?
The Library occupies three buildings on Capitol Hill. The Library of Congress Experience is located in the Jefferson Building, which is directly east of the U.S. Capitol Building. The visitors’ entrance is through the Main Doors at the top of the Grand Staircase facing First Street, SE between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street.
The best way to come is by public transportation. The closest Metro Stations are Capitol South (Blue/Orange—a 2 block walk) or Union Station (Red—a half mile walk). For information, visit Metro website at www.wmata.com.
Is parking available?
The Library does not provide parking. Limited metered and 2-hour zoned parking is available in the surrounding neighborhoods. Public Parking lots are also available, with the largest being at Union Station.
Is the building accessible?
Yes, the Library is fully accessible. The Ground Level/Driveway entrance of the Jefferson Building is the designated ADA entrance for visitors to the Library of Congress Experience. Wheelchairs are available for loan while you are in the building. Please ask at Ground Floor Information Desk.
May I take pictures in the Jefferson Building?
You are allowed to take photographs in the Great Hall areas of the Jefferson Building. There are three places where you may not take photographs: the Bibles Corridor, the Main Reading Room overlook, and the exhibitions. These are areas where original collections are on display or exposed.
Is food available at the Library?
There are two cafeterias at the Library of Congress. Both are in the Madison Building. The main cafeteria, on the sixth floor (LM 625) of the Madison Building, is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m., but closes from 10:30 to 12:30 to accommodate Library employees. On the tunnel level to the Madison Building, a snack bar (LM 47) is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and vending machines are available (LM G47 and G49) during all public hours.
Last Updated: 12/30/2008