Library of Congress Connection
The Library of Congress, with 129 million items in 21 separate reading rooms, is one of the world's great research collections. LC welcomes public use of its general reference facilities, but their size and complexity can be bewildering. The Georgetown University–Library of Congress Connection streamlines access to LC's collections and services for Georgetown University's faculty and students, serving as a supplement to the Library's resources.
Use This Service:
Fill out the Library of Congress Connection form to:
- initiate a research consultation with a curator at LC;
- schedule an orientation for yourself or your class;
- check availability of a conference room for your class to make use of materials from the LC collections.
The information you provide will be e-mailed to reference and collection development staff at both the Georgetown University Library and the Library of Congress. Librarians will review your research question and identify the reading rooms, collections and staff that can best assist you with your research.
Other Services Provided by the Library of Congress
For a comprehensive overview of resources and services available and the requirements for using the Library of Congress, visit their Research and Reference Services page.
Orientations
Researchers new to the Library are encouraged to take the Classes for First-Time Users offered by the Humanities and Social Sciences Division. These 90-minute classes, offered throughout the year, are a basic introduction for researchers using any of the Library of Congress collections and resources. Special orientations or tours can also be arranged for specific classes or groups. Use the online registration form to schedule an orientation.
Hold/Study Shelf
To facilitate serious and extended research, a limited number of individual study shelves are available in the Main Reading Room and various other reading rooms for researchers to hold charged materials for long-term use. To be assigned a shelf, complete this form and take it to the Library of Congress reading room staff.
Contact Information:
For more information, please contact Mark Jacobs at jacobsm@georgetown.edu
Policy:
The Georgetown University–Library of Congress connection is available only to Georgetown University's faculty and students. To use the Library of Congress' public collection, you must have an LC-issued Reader Identification Card. These cards are free and can be obtained by presenting a valid driver's license, state-issued identification card or passport at the Reader Registration Station in Room LM 140, on the first floor of the Madison Building, near the Independence Avenue entrance.
