The majority of American Memory collections can be seen, heard, and read in current browsers without special viewers. However, in some collections the Library provides sound recordings, films, high-resolution images, and text with enhanced navigation. And just as you need special equipment to play videotapes, cassettes, CDs or DVDs at home, you may need special viewers to see and hear some of the Library's resources.

The most commonly needed viewers are described and links to them are provided from the American Memory Viewer Information page. You may go to information about specific formats by following these links: Audio,  Documents (text & page images), Maps,  Photo & Print Images,  Video.

Additional viewer and format information is available on individual American Memory collection home pages and on item pages within the collections.