Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world and the research arm of the U.S. Congress. Established in 1800, it holds over 175 million items — books, recordings, photographs, maps, and manuscripts — in 470 languages. The Library serves Congress through the Congressional Research Service (CRS) — see also GAO for congressional audit support —, administers the U.S. Copyright Office, operates the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, and serves as the nation's library of record.

Current Law (2026)

Legal Authority

• 2 U.S.C. § 136 — Librarian of Congress (the Librarian prescribes rules and regulations for the Library's operations)
• 2 U.S.C. § 136-1 — Appointment and term (the Librarian is appointed by the President with Senate confirmation for a 10-year term, renewable)
• 2 U.S.C. § 141 — Duties of Librarian (custody and management of the Library; making rules for use; purchasing books, maps, and other materials)
• 2 U.S.C. § 166 — Congressional Research Service (establishes CRS within the Library; provides nonpartisan research, analysis, and information to members and committees of Congress)
• 17 U.S.C. § 407 — Mandatory deposit (published works must be deposited with the Copyright Office — the primary mechanism by which the Library acquires published material; two copies of the best edition required within 3 months of U.S. publication)
• 17 U.S.C. § 408 — Copyright registration (the Register of Copyrights administers the registration system; registration is voluntary but required before suing for infringement of U.S. works)
• 17 U.S.C. § 701 — Copyright Office organization (the Copyright Office is part of the Library of Congress; headed by the Register of Copyrights appointed by the Librarian of Congress; the Register's administrative duties and general responsibility for copyright matters)
• 17 U.S.C. § 702 — Copyright Office regulations (the Register of Copyrights may prescribe rules and regulations to carry out duties under the Copyright Act; regulations are published in the Federal Register)
• 17 U.S.C. § 704 — Retention and disposition of deposited articles (materials deposited with the Copyright Office for registration — copies, phonorecords, identifying materials — may be retained or disposed of as the Librarian and Register determine; retained copies become part of the Library's collections)
• 17 U.S.C. § 705 — Copyright Office records (Register of Copyrights must maintain and index all records relating to deposits, registrations, recordations, and other actions; all records are open to public inspection)
• 17 U.S.C. § 708 — Copyright Office fees (sets the fee schedule for registration applications, recordations of transfers, and other services; fees are periodically adjusted by the Register of Copyrights)
• 17 U.S.C. § 801 — Copyright Royalty Judges (the Librarian of Congress must appoint three full-time Copyright Royalty Judges and designate one as Chief Judge; the Copyright Royalty Board sets royalty rates for statutory licenses covering music, cable, satellite, and digital audio recording)
• 17 U.S.C. § 802 — Copyright Royalty Judgeships; staff (qualifications for CRJ appointment; 6-year terms; salary; must be lawyers; the Board operates independently within the Library of Congress)
• 2 U.S.C. § 131 — Collections composing the Library; location (defines the Library's collections and their permanent location on Capitol Hill)
• 2 U.S.C. § 132 — Departments of Library (the Library is organized into departments as the Librarian directs)
• 2 U.S.C. § 137 — Use and regulation of the law library (the law library is open to members of Congress, federal courts, and the public under rules set by the Librarian)
• 2 U.S.C. § 150 — Sale of copies of card indexes and other publications (the Librarian may sell catalog cards, bibliographies, and other publications — the basis for the Library's distribution services)
• 2 U.S.C. § 154-160 — Library of Congress Trust Fund Board (a board with authority to receive, manage, and disburse gifts, bequests, and endowments for the Library's benefit; funds deposited with the Treasurer of the United States; perpetual succession and legal capacity to sue and be sued)
• 2 U.S.C. § 170 — American Television and Radio Archives (Librarian maintains archives of television and radio programs of cultural and historical significance)
• 2 U.S.C. § 171 — Center for the Book (established within the Library to stimulate public interest in books, reading, libraries, and literacy)
• 2 U.S.C. § 177 — Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry (the Librarian appoints a Poet Laureate for one or two terms to promote poetry and literary arts)
• 2 U.S.C. § 180 — Legislative information retrieval system (the Library maintains digital systems for legislative information retrieval serving Congress)

How It Works

The Library of Congress serves three distinct constituencies: Congress, the copyright community, and the American public — with the first being its primary constitutional purpose.

Service to Congress is delivered primarily through the Congressional Research Service, a nonpartisan research organization of approximately 600 policy analysts, attorneys, and information specialists who provide confidential, authoritative research to members and committees. CRS reports cover every area of public policy — from healthcare and immigration to defense spending and tax reform. CRS does not make policy recommendations; it provides objective analysis of options and their consequences. CRS research is paid for by taxpayers but traditionally restricted from public distribution (though many reports are now available through third-party channels).

The Copyright Office, administered within the Library, registers copyrights, records copyright transfers, and advises Congress on copyright policy. The mandatory deposit provision of copyright law requires publishers to deposit copies of published works with the Copyright Office — this requirement is the Library's primary acquisition mechanism for published material, adding millions of items to the collections annually.

As the national library, the Library of Congress maintains the largest collection of recorded knowledge in the world. The collections include books in every language, the largest collection of maps, the largest collection of films, one of the largest music collections, and extensive manuscript archives including the papers of Presidents, scientists, authors, and other figures. The Library provides reference services, interlibrary loans, and digital access to millions of items through its website.

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled produces and distributes braille and audio reading materials to approximately 800,000 patrons through a network of cooperating libraries, ensuring that blind and print-disabled Americans have access to reading materials.

The Librarian of Congress — now appointed for a 10-year term (changed from lifetime appointment in 2016) — has significant authority beyond library management, including appointing the Register of Copyrights, overseeing CRS, and serving as a national voice for libraries, literacy, and access to knowledge.

How It Affects You

The Library's preservation mission complements the broader federal records management framework, with special expertise in audiovisual and digital preservation.

State Variations

Implementing Regulations

The Library of Congress operates as a legislative branch agency under its own organic statutes (2 U.S.C. §§ 131–182). The Copyright Office operates under 37 CFR Parts 201–270 (copyright registration, licensing, royalty distribution).

• 36 CFR Part 701 — Library of Congress Procedures and Services: the LOC's administrative regulations covering its operational policies — media relations, collection acquisitions, surplus material disposition, contracting authority, institutional name and seal use, accessible reading materials programs, and software license terms. Key provisions:

  • § 701.2 — Acquisition of library material by non-purchase means: the LOC actively cultivates gift acquisitions to enrich its collections; division chiefs and authorized officers may negotiate gift agreements within LOC acquisitions policy; material donated to LOC may be subject to restrictions on use and disposition negotiated at the time of gift
  • § 701.3 — Disposition of surplus and duplicate materials: LOC may dispose of duplicate or surplus items through exchange with other libraries (exchange-basis: materials of approximately equal value), transfer to other government agencies, or sale/deaccession; exchange is the preferred disposition method as it allows LOC to acquire complementary materials in return
  • § 701.5 — Use of the LOC name, seal, or logo: requires authorization from LOC for any use of the Library's name, seal, or organizational unit logos in publications, products, or promotional materials; ensures LOC is properly credited when its materials are used as sources and prevents unauthorized commercial associations with the Library
  • § 701.6 — National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS): under 2 U.S.C. § 135a (Act of March 3, 1931), the LOC's NLS provides accessible reading materials — braille books, audio recordings, digital accessible files — on free loan to blind and other print-disabled U.S. residents and citizens abroad; the program distributes materials through a network of cooperating regional libraries; eligible participants include people who cannot hold or read standard printed materials due to visual or physical disability; NLS is distinct from public library services and offers access to a specialized collection of books, magazines, and music scores in accessible formats
  • § 701.7 — License agreement terms: governs LOC's approach to software, database, and electronic resource license agreements; certain terms in EULAs and TOS agreements that would conflict with LOC's legislative branch status, public mission, or federal records obligations are not binding on the Library; this provision allows LOC to use commercial software while preserving public access and records requirements

  The NLS accessible reading program (§701.6) is one of the LOC's most significant public-facing services — serving approximately 800,000 registered participants annually. The program is funded by annual congressional appropriations and is distinct from accessibility requirements under the ADA (which govern physical access to the Library's buildings). Researchers wishing to use LOC materials in publications should consult §701.5 and the LOC's Rights, Reproductions, and Permissions office, as many items in LOC's collections are under copyright held by third parties — the Library holds the copy but not necessarily the copyright.

Pending Legislation

• HR 6517 — Move appointment authority for Librarian and GPO Director to Congress via bipartisan commissions. Status: Introduced.
• HR 6028 — Centralize Library of Congress, GPO, Copyright Office appointments with commission-based selection. Status: Introduced.
• HR 6952 — Library of Congress oral history program for January 6 firsthand accounts. Status: Introduced.

Recent Developments

The Library has dramatically expanded digital access to its collections, with millions of items now freely available online through the Library of Congress Digital Collections. The Copyright Office is undergoing modernization of its registration and recordation systems, transitioning from paper-based processes to electronic filing. The Librarian of Congress position was reformed in 2016 from a lifetime appointment to a 10-year renewable term. CRS has faced periodic debates about whether its reports should be made freely available to the public (they are paid for by taxpayers but traditionally restricted to Congress).

• AI training data and copyright at Library of Congress: The Library of Congress's Copyright Office has become a central player in the AI copyright debate — specifically whether AI training on copyrighted works requires licensing. The Copyright Office's AI Report (February 2025) addressed: works created by AI without human authorship (not copyrightable), AI-assisted works where a human author made creative contributions (potentially copyrightable), and training data licensing questions (subject to ongoing analysis). Multiple AI companies face copyright infringement suits for using copyrighted library materials and news articles in training datasets.
• Copyright term extension and fair use debates: AI's use of entire copyrighted works for training has reinvigorated fair use doctrine. The Copyright Office report declined to conclude that AI training constitutes fair use per se, noting it depends on the specific use (whether the output competes with the original market) and other factors. Congress has held hearings on whether AI training requires a new copyright exception or licensing framework. The Library's extensive digitized collections have been targeted by AI companies claiming government works are not copyrightable — the Library has noted that its collections include non-government works with full copyright protections.
• CRS report public access: Congress.gov now publishes CRS reports publicly — a significant transparency change. After years of unofficial leaks and advocacy organization publishing of CRS reports (which are taxpayer-funded), Congress authorized public access to CRS reports through Congress.gov in 2018. The Library/CRS now publishes completed reports directly, making the authoritative congressional research service reports accessible to constituents, journalists, and academics. Some sensitive reports (related to national security, intelligence, or specific classified matters) remain restricted.
• Trump fires Librarian Hayden (May 2025): On May 8, 2025, President Trump fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden — appointed by Obama in 2016 to a 10-year term — via a two-sentence email with no reason given. The American Accountability Foundation had publicly targeted her with allegations about children's book content. Trump then designated Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as acting Librarian, after Principal Deputy Librarian Robert Newlen (who would normally have succeeded by protocol) was also removed. The firing raised separation-of-powers questions: the Librarian heads a legislative branch agency, but the President holds the appointment power under 2 U.S.C. § 136-1. Days later, Trump similarly fired Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter following the Copyright Office's AI-and-copyright report.
• DOGE and Library of Congress: The Library of Congress, as a legislative branch agency, is not directly subject to executive DOGE directives — which target executive branch agencies. The Library reports to Congress (specifically to the Joint Committee on the Library) and receives appropriations through the legislative branch appropriations bill. However, the May 2025 leadership purge demonstrated executive influence over the Library beyond DOGE's formal scope.