History of the Library of Congress

Knowledge will forever govern ignorance:
and a people who mean to be their own governors,
must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.

Madison to W.T. Barry, August 4, 1822

The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress and is one of the oldest federal institution in the country. The huge library collection is housed in three buildings; Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Madison Memorial Building.

It is the largest library in the world, with a collection of millions of books, manuscripts, recordings, photographs and maps. These resources are used by American people and the Congress, as a source for all American history and knowledge.

The Office of the Librarian is the administrative branch of this library, and bears responsibility for its overall management. Since 14th September, 1987 James H. Billington is serving as the Librarian of Congress.

This library was established on 24th April, 1800 in the Capitol Building, with the approval of President John Adams, to facilitate the workings and researches conducted by Congress. The varied book collection was bought from London, for a sum of $5,000, with most of them being on law.

Jefferson played a vital role in the formation of the library and the laws to regulate its working. In August 1814, the British troops invaded and set fire to the Capitol Building, destroying the Library of Congress and its early collection. Following which, Thomas Jefferson offered his personal collection, which he had accumulated over a period of 50 years.

The library went through its own share of tumultuous period when the Smithsonian Institution's librarian Charles Coffin Jewett and the Smithsonian's Secretary Joseph Henry aggressively advocated two different stances on the growth of the library.

The former wanted the Smithsonian Institution to become the United States' official national library, whereas the latter was more interested in promoting the library of Congress as a national library. Henry's efforts worked, as he not only dismissed Jewett, but also transferred the Smithsonian's forty thousand-volume library to the library of Congress.

Ainsworth Rand Spofford became the Librarian of Congress in 1864. He was a firm believer in Jefferson's philosophy and the concept of universality and the belief that all subjects are important to the library of the American legislature. He turned the library into a national institution on this very belief.

Spofford also pursued the United States Copyright of 1870, which made it mandatory for all copyright applicants to send to the library two copies of their work. The library was flooded with books, pamphlets, maps, music, prints, and photographs, resulting in a shelf space crunch.

To necessitate the need for more space and a place befitting a national library, Congress authorized the construction of a new library building directly across the east plaza from the Capitol. It was built in the style of the Italian Renaissance and later named the Thomas Jefferson Building.

It was designed by Washington architects John L. Smithmeyer and Paul J. Pelz. The construction was completed in 1897 and Spofford completed his tenure as the Librarian of Congress the same year.

The Library of Congress grew in strength and collection, under many other able librarians, each adding unique characteristics, acquisitions and laws to facilitate its growth. One such law was the institution of the interlibrary loan service, transforming the library into "library of last resort". As the library grew, expansions once again became a necessity.

Congress acquired nearby land and approved construction of the Annex Building in 1938. It was opened to the public in 1939, and acquired its current name, The John Adams Building in 1980, to honor the president who in 1800, signed the act of Congress establishing the library.

In 1957, Librarian of Congress L. Quincy Mumford initiated the process for a third library building. Congress alloted $75 million for the construction of James Madison Memorial Building. It was designed by DeWitt, Poor, and Shelton, Associated Architects.

On 14th September, 1987 Ronald Reagan appointed James Hadley Billington as the thirteenth Librarian of Congress, a post he holds till to-date. In 1991, Billington pioneered the use of new technological advancements and the Internet to link the library to educational institutions around the country.

Because of his pursuance, in November 2005, the library announced its intentions to launch the World Digital Library, by digitally preserving books and other collections, in its fold.

The Library of Congress has a wealth of material that provide sources for research in all developmental, educational and decision-making fields. It has over the years developed qualitative universal collections, which document the history and further the creativity and advancement of the American people.

Presently, the library is home to nearly 103 million articles, which include books, films, maps, photographs, music, manuscripts, and graphics. The collection is universal as it has been acquired from around the world and is in more than four hundred and fifty languages.