Photocopying is available in most, but not all, reading rooms, and there may be restrictions. The chart below lists this information by reading room. To begin, you must purchase a copy card from a vending machine with a $1 bill – the price of a copy card is sixty cents ($0.60). The card will have an initial value of forty cents ($0.40). You may then add value to the card up to $22.00 with any denomination of bill after inserting the copy card back into the vending machine. The vending machines do not make change. Photocopiers are $.20 a page, except copies on the microfilm reader-printers, which are $.25 per page. If you require a receipt for photocopying you must obtain your photocopying card from the Duplication Services Walk-Up Counter (Room 128, Adams Building), which is open Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays), from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Subject to copyright and rights restrictions, patron-supplied flash drives may also generally be used to save images from computers.
Please note that the Library's copy card is not used in the Copyright Public Records Reading Room. However, patrons, for a dollar, can purchase a Copyright Office card, which can only be used for computers and microfilm reader/printers in that room. No amount is deducted from the card's value for the cost of the card, and patrons can add up to $90.00 using cash only. Photocopies are $0.25 an image. Patron-supplied flash drives may also be used to save images from computers in the Copyright Public Records Reading Room.
In addition, the chart below also lists information regarding the use of personal laptops, scanners, and digital cameras, including any restrictions, for each reading room. A few reading rooms have flatbed scanners for use by the public. Please bring a USB flash drive.
Building Abbreviations and Codes: LA = Adams Building | LJ = Jefferson Building | LM = Madison Building|
Reading Room | Lockers | Copiers | Copy Card Vending |
Laptop (L) Camera (C) |
Flatbed Scanner (FS) Handheld Scanner (HS) |
Duplication Services |
Admits Patrons 16-18 | Free-Lance Researchers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
African & Middle Eastern Room LJ 220 | (202) 707-4188 |
No | Yes | No | L - Yes C - Yes |
FS - No HS - Yes |
See Website | With Reader ID Card | Does not provide list |
American Folklife Center Room LJ G53 | (202) 707-5510 |
No | Yes | No | L - Yes C - See [1] |
FS - See Note [1] HS - See Note [1] |
See Website | Yes | Does not provide list |
Asian Room LJ 150 | (202) 707-5426 |
No | Yes | Yes | L - Yes C - Yes |
FS - Yes HS - Yes |
See Website | Yes | Does not provide list |
Business Room LA 508 | (202) 707-3156 |
No | Yes | Yes | L - Yes C - No Flash |
FS - See Note [2] HS - See Note [2] |
See Website | Yes | View List |
Children's Literature Room LJ 129 | (202) 707-1629 |
No | No | No | L - Yes C - Yes |
FS - Yes HS - Yes |
See Website | Yes | Does not provide list |
Computer Catalog Center (Adams) Room LA 500 | (202)-707-5639 |
No | No | No | L - Yes C - No Flash |
FS - See Note [1] HS - See Note [1] |
See Website | Yes | Does not provide list |
Computer Catalog Center (Jefferson) Room LJ 139 | (202) 707-3370 |
No | No | No | L - Yes C - Yes |
FS - Yes HS - Yes |
See Website | Yes | View List |
Copyright Public Records Reading Room Room LM 404 | (202) 707-5063 |
Limited | Yes - See [3] | Limited | L - See [4] C - See [4] |
FS - See Note [4] HS - See Note [4] |
See Website | See Note [11] | Does not provide list |
Duplication Services Room LA 129 | (202) 707-5640 |
No | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
European Room LJ 249 | (202) 707-4515 |
No | Yes | No | L - Yes C - Yes |
FS - Yes HS - Yes |
See Website | Yes | See Note [5] |
Geography & Map Room LM B01 | (202) 707-6277 |
Yes | Yes | Yes | L - See [1] C - See [1] |
FS - See Note [1] HS - No |
See Website | No | Does not provide list |
Hispanic Room LJ 240 | (202) 707-5397 |
No | Yes | No | L - Yes C - Yes |
FS - Yes HS - Yes |
See Website | Yes | Does not provide list |
Law Library Room LM 201 | (202) 707-5079 |
No | Yes | Yes | L - Yes C - Yes |
FS - No HS - Yes |
See Website | See Note [12] | See Note [12] |
Local History & Genealogy Room LJ G42 | (202) 707-5537 |
No | Yes | Yes | L - Yes C - Yes |
FS - Yes HS - Yes |
See Website | Yes | See Note [6] |
Main Reading Room Room LJ 100 | (202) 707-3399 |
No | Yes | Yes | L - Yes C - Yes |
FS - See Note [13] HS - See Note [13] |
See Website | Yes | View List |
Manuscript Room LM 101 | (202) 707-5387 |
Yes | Yes - See [14] | No | L - Yes C - See [15] |
FS - No, See Note 16 HS - No |
See Website | No | Provides list |
Microform Room LJ 139B | (202) 707-5472 |
No | No | No | L - Yes C - See [7] |
FS - See Note [7] HS - See Note [7] |
N/A | Yes | Provides list |
Motion Picture & Television Room LM 336 | (202) 707-8572 |
Yes | Yes | No | L - Yes C - See [8] |
FS - Yes HS - Yes |
See Website | Yes | Provides list |
Newspaper & Current Periodical Room LM 133 | (202) 707-5680 |
No | Yes | Yes | L - Yes C - No Flash [9] |
FS - No, See Note [9] HS - See Note [1] |
See Website | Yes (Under 16 with letter) |
View List |
Performing Arts/Music Room LM 113 | (202) 707-5507 |
No | Yes | No | L - Yes C - Yes |
FS - No HS - No |
See Website | Yes | Provides list |
Prints & Photographs Room LM 337 | (202) 707-6394 |
Yes | Yes | Yes | L - Yes C - View Policy |
FS - No HS - No |
View Reproduction Information | View Policy | View List |
Rare Book & Special Collections Room LJ 239 | (202) 707-3448 |
Yes | No | No | L - Yes C - See [10] |
FS - See Note [10] HS - See Note [10] |
See Website | No | Does not provide list |
Recorded Sound Reference Center Room LM 113 | (202) 707-7833 |
No | No | No | L - Yes C - Yes |
FS - See Note [1] HS - See Note [1] |
See Website | Yes | Does not provide list |
Science & Technology LA 508 | (202) 707-5639 |
No | Yes | Yes | L - Yes C - No Flash |
FS - See Note [2] HS - See Note [2] |
See Website | Yes | Does not provide list |
[1] - Librarian determines whether material may be photographed or
scanned without being damaged.
[2] - Librarian determines whether material may be photographed or
scanned without being damaged. Reading Room also has 2 microform scanners; Business and Science and Technology also share a single book scanner. Patron's flash drive can be used with all scanners.
[3] - LC copy cards are not used. Patrons may purchase a Copyright Office copy card, valid for use only in the Copyright Public Records Reading Room.
[4] - Except for copyright deposit inspections.
[5] - Consult with European Reading Room librarians.
[6] - See Board for Certification of Genealogists at http://www.bcgcertification.org
[7] - Reading room has 4 microform multipurpose scanners. Patron's flash drive can be used with all microform scanners.
[8] - In reading room, but not viewing room.
[9] - In all cases, staff retain the right to prohibit use of scanners or cameras if patron could endanger fragile material or patron uses poor handling procedures. Reading room also has 5 microform scanners: 4 that are multipurpose (microfiche, microfilm, micro-opaque), 1 microform only. Patron's flash drive can be used with all 5 microform scanners.
[10] - Reading Room refers patrons to Duplication Services.
[11] - In the Copyright Public Records Reading Room, readers ages 16-18 must be accompanied by an adult with a Reader Identification Card.
[12] - Decided on a case-by-case basis. Consult a librarian in the reading room. Patrons must demonstrate a need to use the Library's law collections for their research.
[13] - The Main Reading Room has a book scanner. Patron's flash drive can be used with the scanner.
[14] - Librarian determines whether material may be photocopied.
[15] - Use of flash not permitted. Tripods allowed with permission.
[16] - Personal scanners not allowed, but a flatbed scanner is available for researcher use with personal flash drive and librarian permission.