General Information

About the Law Library
Bibliographies and Guides
Collections
Copying and Reproduction Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Library Security
Research Opportunities
Services to the Public

General Links

A Century of Lawmaking
Global Legal Information Network
Guide to Law Online
Multinational Collections Database

Location:

101 Independence Ave. SE
James Madison Building, Room LM 201
Washington, DC 20540-3129
Contact Information
Map showing location

Hours:

Monday through Saturday
8:30am to 5:00pm
Retrieval service ends at 4:00pm
Closed Sundays &
Federal Holidays

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The Library of Congress was established in 1800 essentially as a collection of law books. In 1832, Congress ordered that the 2,011 law books of the Library of Congress be separated from its general collection, and the Law Library of Congress was thereby established. Its mission is to provide research and legal information to the U.S. Congress as well as to U.S. Federal Courts and Executive Agencies, and to offer reference services to the public. To accomplish this mission, it has created the world's largest collection of law books and other legal resources from all countries, and provides access to digital legal information, online databases and guides to legal information worldwide.