President John Adams signed legislation on April 24, 1800, appropriating $5,000 for the purchase of books “as may be necessary for the use of Congress,” creating the Library of Congress.
The institution, now the largest library in the world, holds more than 170 million items across books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, films, and sound recordings. It serves as the main research arm of Congress while functioning as a national library open to researchers.
Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., marked the occasion in a post on X, stating: “On this day in history in 1800, President John Adams allocated $5,000 to purchase ‘such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress,’ establishing the Library of Congress. The first books were housed in the Capitol. Today, the Library of Congress spans three buildings in Washington, D.C., and contains 17 million books as well as photos, films, maps, and drawings.”
On this day in history in 1800, President John Adams allocated $5,000 to purchase “such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress,” establishing the Library of Congress.
The first books were housed in the Capitol. Today, the Library of Congress spans three buildings in… pic.twitter.com/2BPzlmLEZp
— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) April 24, 2026
The first shipment of books arrived from London in 1801 and was stored in the U.S. Capitol, per the Library of Congress. By 1802, the collection included 964 volumes and nine maps.
British forces burned the Capitol in 1814 during the War of 1812, destroying the library’s approximately 3,000 volumes. In 1815, Congress purchased former President Thomas Jefferson’s personal library of about 6,487 books for $23,950 to rebuild the collection.
Today, the Library receives some 15,000 items daily and adds more than 10,000 to its permanent collections. Materials come through copyright deposits, gifts, purchases, and exchanges.
Notable holdings include one of the three perfect vellum copies of the Gutenberg Bible, the largest rare-book collection in North America, a rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, Abraham Lincoln’s handwritten draft of the Gettysburg Address, and the papers of 23 U.S. presidents. The collections also feature the world’s largest law library, materials in approximately 470 languages, James Madison’s crystal flute, and Maya Lin’s original drawings for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
The David M. Rubenstein Treasures Gallery displays significant items for public viewing. The Library operates three main buildings on Capitol Hill: the Thomas Jefferson Building, the John Adams Building, and the James Madison Memorial Building.
The Library of Congress is open to the public. Researchers aged 16 and older may obtain a free Reader Identification Card to use the reading rooms. Materials do not circulate outside the buildings, but millions of items are available digitally online. The Library offers public exhibitions, tours, programs, and the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.
Congress oversees the Library through the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library, with primary funding provided by congressional appropriations. The institution continues expanding digital access while preserving physical collections through specialized conservation.
