Just a hop, skip and a jump - and an underground tunnel passageway - from the Capitol is this gem of a building. Home to the Library of Congress collection and the largest library in the world, it houses materials in over 450 languages. The good news is that this building is open to the public; the bad news is that the public can only request items through inter-library loan. However, if you are a "high ranking government official" you have check out privileges.
Let's "check it out" now:
Here are two views of the Main Reading Room (above).
The Great Hall is most impressive with its white marble, grand staircase and floor details.
Note the hanging banner here! Keep up the reading, America!!
It's interesting to note that this building houses a collection of Thomas Jefferson's books, some 2,000 of them. (See below.) Originally he sold his collection of 6,487 books for $23,950 to the library, but fire destroyed about 2/3 of the collection. This building was constructed from 1888-1894 and the Capitol was no longer the home for the collection after this.
Also interesting to note that the Thomas Jefferson Building houses the rough draft of the original Declaration of Independence and one of three original Gutenberg Bibles.
As one who worked in a library for most of my career, this building spoke to me about true gift of learning and never underestimating the power of education. It is my fervent hope that the right person is appointed for the Secretary of Education post. I'd like to say SShhh to this current nominee!
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