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Research Center Prints and Photographs Reading Room

Using the Reading Room

The Prints & Photographs Reading Room provides public access to the collections and services of the Prints & Photographs Division (P&P) and is open to patrons conducting research utilizing the Division's collections. Research visitors who come to the P&P Reading Room benefit from Division staff who provide assistance in understanding the Division's many different cataloging/finding systems and who oversee the safe use of the wide variety of materials which are served. You may learn more about using the Prints & Photographs Reading Room by viewing this video.

Researchers not making an in-person visit can also work with the Division’s staff by contacting us via A Librarian.

Reader Registration and Personal Belongings

The reading room is open to researchers age 16 and above with a valid Reader Identification Card. Researchers may bring pencils (no pens), loose sheets of paper (no notebooks or bound volumes), laptop computers, cameras, and USB flash drives. The Prints & Photographs Division provides lockers for the storage of any personal items. There is no charge for using the lockers.

Appointments

Appointments are not required to visit the Prints & Photographs Reading Room, but you may request a research appointment to ensure specific collection material is accessible during your visit. For information about standard requesting of onsite materials, see "Requesting Materials" below.

Arrangements must be made in advance in certain situations. The following are common research scenarios that require contacting the Division before arrival:

  • When expecting to view more than 15 original items from the Division's collections of posters, drawings, master photographs, and fine prints;
  • When requesting unprocessed material;
  • When requesting material that is not stored on site;
  • When requesting fragile material requiring supervised handling or special preparation, such as many architectural drawings;
  • Visits by a class or study group;
  • When the number of images required by a project will far exceed average use (e.g., searching thousands of images; when a research visit will last more than 3 days).

Patrons involved in complex research are encouraged to first contact us through Ask a Librarian or call the Reading Room and discuss their search before reserving an appointment or making a visit.

Tours and orientations (including virtual orientations) are available. The size of our reading room does prohibit large groups from visiting at a single time. Tell us more about your orientation need or request a tour using the Tours & Orientations form. View online orientations and presentations about our collections on the Webinars page.

Requesting Materials

The Prints & Photographs Reading Room does not use the "Request This Item" button in the Library of Congress catalog. Materials located on site can be requested by call slip. Materials stored off site and unprocessed materials must be requested in advance. Pay special attention to the "Call Number" and "Access Advisory" fields in P&P records, and utilize this form for off-site and unprocessed items.

Materials designated "Served by appointment only" are those that require special handling. If you are in the reading room and encounter material designated "Served by appointment only," please speak with a reference staff member about arranging service. If you are not in the reading room, please contact the reference staff via Ask a Librarian. Service time varies with the amount and size of the material requested.

Photography Policies

Researchers are welcome to take photographs of collection material using a phone or camera provided any flash is turned off. Tripods, weights, cardboard, and lights (including flash) are not permitted. Reference librarians will evaluate the status of any material and determine if it can be photographed. Digitized materials can be downloaded at the Library of Congress. New scans can be ordered through Duplication Services.

Please be aware that not everything is in the public domain. Researchers are responsible for determining the rights status of anything you intend to publish or distribute.

Location

Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave, SE
James Madison Building, LM 337
Washington, DC 20540-4650
View map External link

Hours

Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed Saturdays & Sundays & Federal Holidays

Reader Registration (Rm. LM 133)
Monday through Saturday
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
https://www.loc.gov/research-centers/prints-and-photographs/about-this-research-center/using-the-reading-room/
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