Library of Congress

United States of America Library of Congress Local History and Genealogy Reading Room Contact Information E-mail:  Ask a Librarian Address: 101 Independence Ave. SE Thomas Jefferson Building, LJ G42 Washington, D.C. 20540-4660 Telephone:  Reading Room: 202-707-5537 Fax:  202-707-1957 Library Background Established in 1800, the original small library was destroy during the British invasion of 1814. A month later Thomas Jefferson offered his own personal library of 6,487 books as a replacement. Since becoming the U.S. copyright repository it has grown to the largest library in the world. It serves both houses of Congress, and is open to the public. Family History Resources The Local History and Genealogy Reading Room has one of the world's premier collections of U.S. and foreign genealogical and local historical publications. Sources