April 6, 1993
Press Contact: John Sullivan (202) 707-9216
Lucy Suddreth (202) 707-9191
Remote Access to Library of Congress Computer Files Now Available
Computerized access to the vast resources of the world's largest
library will improve dramatically on Friday, April 30. For the
first time, more than 26 million Library of Congress records in 35
different files will become available to the general public on the
Internet.
Previously, such access has been available only to researchers at
the Library, Library staff, congressional offices, and selected
institutions and agencies involved in cooperative programs with the
Library of Congress.
The Internet is a non-profit collection of computer networks that
links an estimated 20 million computer users in more than 100
countries. The Library of Congress requires no fee to search its
files.
The host address for telnet access to the Library of Congress
Information System (LOCIS) is locis.loc.gov (140.147.254.3) The
Library supports both 3270 and line mode for access to its files.
LOCIS includes more than 15 million catalog records for books,
microforms, music, audiovisuals, manuscripts, microcomputer
software, serials, maps, name and subject references, and in-
process items. LOCIS also contains citations to federal
legislation (1973--), copyright registrations and legal documents
(1978--), braille and recorded materials for those unable to read
print, selected foreign legislation (1976--) and foreign legal
references (1989--), and a listing of 13,000 organizations that
provide information, arranged by subject.
Except for national holidays, LOCIS will be available for searching
at the following times (Eastern time): Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m.-
9:30 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Regional mid-level computer networks that participate in the
Internet in the U.S. communicate over dedicated high-speed data
lines managed, in part, by the National Science Foundation. Access
to the Internet is provided through a variety of sources unrelated
to the Library of Congress. These sources include computer centers
in academic, business, and government organizations, library
networks, commercial vendors and gateways, local entrepreneurs,
electronic bulletin boards, and National Science Foundation
regional networks.
Although the Library of Congress charges no fees for access to its
files, many Internet access providers do charge fees to connect to
Internet.
Individuals and organizations that do not already have access to
the Internet should contact their local library for further
information or call the InterNIC Information Services Referral Desk
(1-800-444-4345), Monday through Friday 5 a.m.-7 p.m. (Pacific
time), which can send a list of Internet access providers.
Complete instructions for searching LOCIS and for obtaining the
LOCIS Quick Search Guide and LOCIS Reference Manual will be
available on the initial screens presented to users upon connecting
to LOCIS.
In recent testimony before Congress, Librarian of Congress James H.
Billington said, "We believe the future holds the potential for the
Library to play a significant role in enriching and upgrading local
institutions of learning and research so that even those Americans
far from great universities and the more affluent schools and
libraries can still have access to the best of the nation's
heritage and the latest up-to-date information."
The availability of selected Library of Congress computer files
over the Internet is a major step toward the creation of an
electronic "library without walls" as outlined in the Library's
strategic plan for the year 2000, which was delivered to Congress
last year.
Public information: (202) 707-3656
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PR 93-059
4/29/93
ISSN 0731-3527