To
acquire, organize, provide access to, maintain, secure, and preserve
the collections of the Library of Congress.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Dissemination of Technical Information. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Research
and reader services are rendered in such diverse fields as American
history, science, technology, and business, African, Middle Eastern,
Asian, Eastern and Western European, and Hispanic studies, children's
literature, music, dance, theater, geography, and cartography, and
for a variety of library materials such as newspapers, serials (periodicals),
manuscripts, maps, sound recordings, rare books, prints, photographs,
and motion pictures. In general, guidance is offered in the identification
and use of library materials. Reference service in answer to telephone
and written inquiries is offered to persons who have first made
full use of State, local, and regional library resources. Indirect
reference service is provided through bibliographic guides and research
reports prepared by subject specialists and reference librarians.
Persons requiring services which cannot be performed by Library
of Congress staff, can be supplied with the names of private researchers
who will undertake the work on a fee basis, or of other individuals,
organizations, and/or agencies which serve as information resources
in the requested subject field. In addition, the library fulfills
the dual role of cataloging materials for its own use and for contributing
records to national and international data bases.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Use of the Library is free and
admission to its reading rooms is permitted with a reader registration
card issued by the Library.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Not Applicable.
Credentials/Documentation:
All persons requiring access to any of the reading rooms, whether
or not they are requesting items from the collections, must register
and acquire a Library-issued user card.
During fiscal year 2002, Library Services divisions compiled bibliographies
and performed direct reference services in person, by correspondence,
by electronic mail, and by telephone, exhibits, public lectures,
and symposia.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Brochures on services are available free upon written request from
the headquarters office listed below.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Not applicable.
Headquarters
Office: For general reference: Reference Referral
Service, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540. Telephone:
(202) 707-5522. Visitors Services: Visitors Orientation and Tours.
Telephone: (202) 707-5458.
