| Show Library of Congress Biggest The Library of ot Congress the worlds world's largest library was created by and for Congress In 1800 to furnish such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress Its 43 million million million mil mil- lion Items Hems today echo Thomas Jeffersons Jefferson's remark that there Is no subject to which a Member Member Member Mem Mem- ber of Congress may not have occasion to refer THE LIBRARY was housed In the Capitol until 1897 It suffered two disastrous fires early In Its history The entire collection of some books was destroyed during during dur dur- ing the War of 1812 when British troops temporarily occupied occupied oc occupied oc- oc Washington and burned the Capitol Aug 24 1814 CONGRESS promptly reconstituted reconstituted reconstituted recon recon- the collection by purchasing purchasing purchasing pur pur- chasing the private library of Thomas Jefferson totaling more than vol volumes u m eSt Around these books which Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jef Jef- ferson had spent nearly 50 years assembling and which he had I carefully organized with his own system of classification the Library spread rapidly until December 1851 when another fire destroyed about vol vol- umes By 1890 the need for room sparked a drive for the LIbrary's Li Library's Library's LI- LI own building which was finished In 1897 Now called the Main Building It Is an Im Impressive impressive im- im ve ornate structure In the Italian Renaissance style A modern Annex and the tunnel connecting It with the Main Building were completed In 1939 THE TUNNEL contains pneumatic pneumatic pneumatic matic tubes through w which h i c h books are transferred from one building to the other In a few seconds and electric book carriers carriers car car- In each building transport materials between floors The Library houses books and pamphlets pamphlet on ev every ry s subject and In a multitude of or languages bound newspaper volumes hundreds hundreds hundreds hun hun- of single issues of newspapers newspapers newspapers news news- papers and periodicals from allover all allover over the world manuscripts relating to manifold aspects of American history and civilization civilization tion ion maps and views including such rare Americana a as s L'Enfant's L L'Enfant's L'- L' Enfant's map of Washington items terns of music photographic negatives prints and slides including a large portion of those hose made by Mathew Brady the he famous Civil War photographer The collection also includes udes phonographic d discs 1 s c s tapes apes and wires of all kinds of music and speeches and poetry x etry readings In addition there here are prints of the earliest motion pictures including one of President McKinley taking the oath of office in 1901 AMONG UNUSUAL items Hems that can be found in the collections is a book no larger than a a. fingernail and one of the worlds world's largest books three and a half feet In height AMONG THE Library's greatest individual possessions are some of the most sacred documents of American de democracy democracy democracy de- de such as Jeffersons Jefferson's rough draft of the Declara Declara- tion of Independence one oi or orthe the original copies of the Bill of Rights and the first two drafts of the Gettysburg Ad Address Address Address Ad Ad- dress in Lincoln's hand handwriting writing On display wi with th these is a a. Gutenburg Bible on one of the three known perfect copies caples printed on vellum THE LIBRARY'S relationship relationship relationship relation relation- ship to the Congress of the United States Is unique It Isan is isan isan an immediately accessible and indispensable tool of the Members Members Members Mem Mem- bers of Congress and of their committees es Its first and foremost foremost foremost fore fore- most function is to serve them One department alone the Legislative Legislative Leg Leg- ve Reference S Service e r v ice which serves as a sided many-sided special research ass assistant 1st ant handled nearly congressional congressional congressional con con- gressional inquiries d during u I i n 1966 The Library gives first priority priority priority to its services to Con Con- gress Beyond that its doors are open to all the people Its exhibition halls are throng thronged e d with school children and other visitors Its cloistered reading reading reading read read- I ing rooms are used by scholars i and students front from everywhere Its bibliographical loan and distribution card-distribution services are drawn upon by the libraries of the entire Nation |
