The new library is in a three-story building located on a plot of land across the street from Mount Vernon's main entrance. The general library contains thousands of books, newspapers, pamphlets, microforms, electronic resources, maps, photographs, and periodicals belonging to Washington. These materials cover a variety of topics including George Washington, Martha Washington, Mount Vernon, the American Revolution, Colonial America, slavery, the Early Republic, and historical preservation. The library's special collections include rare books, documents, letters, farm books, and maps that pertain to Washington, his presidency, and family life. This collection also contains 103 books that once were part of Washington's collection in his home at Mount Vernon. The books are only a small portion of Washington's 900-title and 1,200-volume collection. The rest of this large collection was given to family members or sold in 1848 to bookseller Henry Stevens.
