Yes, You can do work and use the Library of Congress

A Personal Note

In high school & graduate school I used the Library of Congress as a quiet space to work on papers and my thesis. I got my first research card when I was 17 in 2010. It was an excellent space to "hunker down" and to get access to materials that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to access or afford.

Get a Researcher Card

Anyone in the public over 16 can get a free "Researcher Card" (sort of like a Library Card). Bring your ID and complete the registration process (verify your information, take an identification photo, and provide a digitized signature). The Researcher Card gives you access to using the library's materials and reading rooms (do note some reading rooms require supplemental registration or for you to be over 18).

Tips on working in Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is really quiet and once you're there. It's not really a place for group meetings in any capacity.

• It's a bit of a hassle to get your materials back from coatcheck and re-enter. I suggest eating beforehand rather than leaving and re-entering.

• If you're not going to use the research materials in certain specialty libraries, sometimes it's better to go to the Main Reading Room or the Science and Business Reading Room (both open late). Therefore researchers using specialty materials (i.e. in the Asian Reading Room) have access to desk space.

You can request materials!

The Library of Congress is the largest library.

in the world with more than 170 million items. There are plenty of books (and other materials!) on site you can request to access.

Using catalog.loc.gov you can find materials and see if they're on site and can be requested to a reading room. You can even request the books to be delivered to your desk number instead of the reading room's book desk.

You can digitize and photocopy most materials.

When I use materials for research, I often try to scan them or photocopy and bring them home.

There are scanners throughout reading rooms that you can use for free and save scans on a USB drive or have them emailed to you. I suggest bringing a USB drive!

You can print photocopies of materials but are 20 cents (or something like that) per page. You can pay in cash and credit.

If you need help

You can use https://ask.loc.gov/ to submit questions or even live chat with librarians in certain reading rooms.

I have used the live chat before to get help accessing materials.

Pros:

• Quiet Space with few distractions

• Open till 8:30pm on Weekdays

• Free Wi-Fi

• Access to Rare Materials & Tools to Digitize Them for Your Own Research

• Helpful Staff

• Close to food in Capitol Hill

Cons:

• Have to coatcheck most items

• No food or drinks (even waterbottles)