![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() A Brief Researcher's GuideUSE OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESSThe primary function of the Library of Congress is to serve the Congress. In addition, the Library provides service to government agencies, other libraries, scholars, and the general public. All researchers preparing to come to the Library are strongly encouraged to pursue preliminary exploration in public, academic, or special libraries, so that they can make efficient use of their time in the collections of the Library of Congress.The Library of Congress is a research library whose collections are kept in restricted, closed stacks. The Library's lending is restricted to official borrowers. Under certain conditions, the Library lends materials from its collections to other li braries for the use of their readers.
THE HISPANIC DIVISIONThe Library of Congress does not have separate Hispanic and Portuguese collections. Upon arrival at the Library of Congress, a researcher interested in the Luso-Hispanic world should consult with the reference specialists in the reading room of the Hispa nic Division, located in the Hispanic Room on the second floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building (LJ 205). That room contains a specialized reference collections on Hispanic and Portuguese themes.For materials other than periodicals or books from the general books collection, the researcher must visit one of the Library's specialized reading rooms. Generally these research areas have custody of material based on format rather than their geograph ic origin. So, graphic prints usually are found in the Prints and Photographs Division and maps are found in the Geography and Map Division. Occasionally, such items may appear elsewhere in the Library's collections. Maps and graphic prints in bound vo lumes can be found in the Rare Book and Special Collections Division. One of the essential tasks of the reference specialists in the Hispanic Division is to provide specialized assistance to a researcher seeking materials in this large and complex librar y of over one hundred million objects. Each reading room offers finding aids, bibliographies, and pertinent reference materials as well as access to the Library's main computerized catalog. The Library's National Reference Service (NRS) provides information by telephone (202-707-5522). It d irects reference calls or correspondence to the appropriate reading room as necessary. The following is a list of the reading rooms and special collections, in addition to what is offered in the Hispanic Division, that could be of value for the researcher with an interest in the study of the Luso-Hispanic world:
African and Middle Eastern Reading Room (Serving Hebraic and Near East Sections).
Adams Building, LA 132
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