The Library of Congress is the official library of the United States of America and is located in Washington, D.C. Established in 1800, it is the largest library in the world and is charged with being the seat of all legislative research in addition to the keeper of records for all media throughout the country.

The Library of Congress keeps track of every piece of published printed material or music produced and records it through the United States Copyright Office. In its role as the chief library in the country, it is the leader in literacy programs in the education system.

Over 2 million visitors utilize the Library of Congress website each month, 52% of whom are female. A large proportion of users are under the age of 18 (25%), which represents the Library’s role as a research tool in schools.

The website itself is categorized in many ways. You can enter the online library and its services as a child, a librarian, a publisher, a researcher, a teacher, or just an interested visitor. You can visit particular areas of the library which exemplify the roles it plays in our society – as copyright protector, literacy advocate, keeper of records, or even ask the “librarian” a question. “Library highlights” include webcasts, a “Today in History” feature, information on the National Book Festival, the Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence.