Visiting the Library | Library of Congress
Source: https://www.loc.gov/visit
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:35
Visiting the Library | Library of Congress
Top of page
Notice: Formal photography for personal use requires a
pre-approved permit
. Formal photography includes posed or staged individual or group photo sessions for portraits, engagement, wedding, graduation or other special occasion photography or non-commercial content creation. The photographer may be paid or unpaid.
Visiting the Library
We’re excited to welcome you to the Library of Congress. Free timed-entry tickets are required to enter the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building.
How do I get a free timed-entry ticket?
Reserve free timed-entry tickets
online
before your visit to the Library. Tickets are available 30 days in advance.
Free same-day tickets will be made available
online
each day at 9 a.m. ET.
Formal photography for personal use requires a
pre-approved permit
.
We encourage you to take a moment to review our
Know Before You Go
page to prepare for a safe and enjoyable visit.
Visitor Hours *
Monday: closed *
Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: closed
Last entry for visitors is 30 minutes prior to closing.
* Note:
Library of Congress reading rooms are available to researchers on a different schedule, including regular hours on Mondays.
See this page for reading room hours
.
All screenings at the Packard Campus in Culpeper, Virginia are free and seating is on a walk-in basis. It is not necessary to reserve a timed-entry ticket for screenings at the Packard Campus.
Learn more about the Packard Campus Theater
As part of a greater congestion management strategy, free timed-entry tickets are required to enter the Library.
LCR 8-121 and 36 C.F.R. 702.4 require that individuals or groups wishing to engage in formal photography for personal use must request a permit through the Library's
photography permitting system
Individuals can reserve up to 20 free
timed-entry tickets here.
Groups of 21 people or more must request free timed-entry tickets by completing our
group registration form
.
Visitation peaks at the Library from March through July - during this time, expect longer than normal wait times to navigate security screening to enter the building.
The Library of Congress welcomes visitors to join short, 5-minute walkthroughs around the center desk of the grand Main Reading Room. Usually reserved for credentialed researchers, this special access offers visitors a glimpse inside one of Washington’s most beautiful spaces.
The Main Reading Room is available to view on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building Tuesday – Friday, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Visitors are also welcome to view the space on Thursday evenings from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. A limited number of free tickets to join the walkthroughs are available in the Great Hall on a first-come, first-served basis starting 10 minutes before the program begins. Please
review the bag policies
. School groups are not permitted.
Exhibitions
Visit our exhibitions page to find current
exhibitions
on display, including the most current theme in our new Treasures gallery.
Reading Rooms
Interested in becoming a researcher at the Library of Congress? Learn more about
resources available to researchers
and registering for a
Reader Identification Card
. Have a research question? We encourage you to contact a Library specialist through our
Ask a Librarian
portal.
Shopping
Visit the Library Store on the First Floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday- Saturday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Thursday’s from 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Visit the
Online Store on Shopify
to browse a wide selection of Library-themed gifts and apparel.
View our digital brochures in multiple languages to help plan your visit
Visitor Hours
The Thomas Jefferson Building is open to visitors Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Note:
Last visitor entry is at 4:30 p.m.
Closed:
Sundays, Mondays, and select federal holidays
Free
timed-entry tickets
are required for entry.
Groups
Groups of 21 or more people should request their free timed-entry tickets by
filling out the group registration form
. Group reservations may be made up to 60 days in advance. Contact
GroupVisits@loc.gov
with any questions.
Note: The Library is currently not offering guided tours for groups
, however roaming volunteers are available throughout the Thomas Jefferson Building to answer questions, give directions, and share stories about the Library’s collections and building.
Live! at the Library
The Library is open late every Thursday evening from 5 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Enjoy happy hour drinks and snacks available for purchase in the Great Hall overlooking the U.S. Capitol. The series will regularly feature special conversations, music, performances, films, and workshops that showcase the broad range of holdings at the national library.
Learn more
Free timed-entry tickets on Thursdays at 5 p.m. are required for entry to Live! at the Library.
To attend reserve tickets here
.
Select programs with limited capacities may require a separate event ticket for entry to those rooms. Please review the event page for each program to confirm the entry requirements. Visitors without advance event tickets are welcome to attend space permitting.
Concerts, Lectures & Other Events
Check out the Library’s Calendar of Public Events for upcoming program opportunities, both onsite and online. You can stay in touch and learn more about the Library’s resources on
Facebook
and
Instagram
, and
Twitter
.
Location
Thomas Jefferson Building
10 First Street SE
Washington, DC 20540
Directions and arrival
Accessibility
Library of Congress buildings are fully accessible. Please indicate any ADA related needs at least five days in advance of your visit by contacting
ADA@loc.gov
or (202) 707-6362.
More on accessibility for visitors
Visitor Information
Our Visitor Engagement Office team is here to help you plan your visit. Please contact us at
visit@loc.gov
or (202) 707-9779 with your questions.
Related Resources
Activities for Kids and Families
Connect with the Library of Congress
News from the Library of Congress
Library of Congress Magazine
Subscribe to E-Mail Newsletters and Alerts
Opens in new window
Download
Top of page
Notice: Formal photography for personal use requires a
pre-approved permit
. Formal photography includes posed or staged individual or group photo sessions for portraits, engagement, wedding, graduation or other special occasion photography or non-commercial content creation. The photographer may be paid or unpaid.
Visiting the Library
We’re excited to welcome you to the Library of Congress. Free timed-entry tickets are required to enter the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building.
How do I get a free timed-entry ticket?
Reserve free timed-entry tickets
online
before your visit to the Library. Tickets are available 30 days in advance.
Free same-day tickets will be made available
online
each day at 9 a.m. ET.
Formal photography for personal use requires a
pre-approved permit
.
We encourage you to take a moment to review our
Know Before You Go
page to prepare for a safe and enjoyable visit.
Visitor Hours *
Monday: closed *
Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: closed
Last entry for visitors is 30 minutes prior to closing.
* Note:
Library of Congress reading rooms are available to researchers on a different schedule, including regular hours on Mondays.
See this page for reading room hours
.
All screenings at the Packard Campus in Culpeper, Virginia are free and seating is on a walk-in basis. It is not necessary to reserve a timed-entry ticket for screenings at the Packard Campus.
Learn more about the Packard Campus Theater
As part of a greater congestion management strategy, free timed-entry tickets are required to enter the Library.
LCR 8-121 and 36 C.F.R. 702.4 require that individuals or groups wishing to engage in formal photography for personal use must request a permit through the Library's
photography permitting system
Individuals can reserve up to 20 free
timed-entry tickets here.
Groups of 21 people or more must request free timed-entry tickets by completing our
group registration form
.
Visitation peaks at the Library from March through July - during this time, expect longer than normal wait times to navigate security screening to enter the building.
The Library of Congress welcomes visitors to join short, 5-minute walkthroughs around the center desk of the grand Main Reading Room. Usually reserved for credentialed researchers, this special access offers visitors a glimpse inside one of Washington’s most beautiful spaces.
The Main Reading Room is available to view on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building Tuesday – Friday, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Visitors are also welcome to view the space on Thursday evenings from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. A limited number of free tickets to join the walkthroughs are available in the Great Hall on a first-come, first-served basis starting 10 minutes before the program begins. Please
review the bag policies
. School groups are not permitted.
Exhibitions
Visit our exhibitions page to find current
exhibitions
on display, including the most current theme in our new Treasures gallery.
Reading Rooms
Interested in becoming a researcher at the Library of Congress? Learn more about
resources available to researchers
and registering for a
Reader Identification Card
. Have a research question? We encourage you to contact a Library specialist through our
Ask a Librarian
portal.
Shopping
Visit the Library Store on the First Floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday- Saturday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Thursday’s from 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Visit the
Online Store on Shopify
to browse a wide selection of Library-themed gifts and apparel.
View our digital brochures in multiple languages to help plan your visit
Visitor Hours
The Thomas Jefferson Building is open to visitors Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Note:
Last visitor entry is at 4:30 p.m.
Closed:
Sundays, Mondays, and select federal holidays
Free
timed-entry tickets
are required for entry.
Groups
Groups of 21 or more people should request their free timed-entry tickets by
filling out the group registration form
. Group reservations may be made up to 60 days in advance. Contact
GroupVisits@loc.gov
with any questions.
Note: The Library is currently not offering guided tours for groups
, however roaming volunteers are available throughout the Thomas Jefferson Building to answer questions, give directions, and share stories about the Library’s collections and building.
Live! at the Library
The Library is open late every Thursday evening from 5 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Enjoy happy hour drinks and snacks available for purchase in the Great Hall overlooking the U.S. Capitol. The series will regularly feature special conversations, music, performances, films, and workshops that showcase the broad range of holdings at the national library.
Learn more
Free timed-entry tickets on Thursdays at 5 p.m. are required for entry to Live! at the Library.
To attend reserve tickets here
.
Select programs with limited capacities may require a separate event ticket for entry to those rooms. Please review the event page for each program to confirm the entry requirements. Visitors without advance event tickets are welcome to attend space permitting.
Concerts, Lectures & Other Events
Check out the Library’s Calendar of Public Events for upcoming program opportunities, both onsite and online. You can stay in touch and learn more about the Library’s resources on
and
, and
.
Location
Thomas Jefferson Building
10 First Street SE
Washington, DC 20540
Directions and arrival
Accessibility
Library of Congress buildings are fully accessible. Please indicate any ADA related needs at least five days in advance of your visit by contacting
ADA@loc.gov
or (202) 707-6362.
More on accessibility for visitors
Visitor Information
Our Visitor Engagement Office team is here to help you plan your visit. Please contact us at
visit@loc.gov
or (202) 707-9779 with your questions.
Related Resources
Activities for Kids and Families
Connect with the Library of Congress
News from the Library of Congress
Library of Congress Magazine
Subscribe to E-Mail Newsletters and Alerts
Opens in new window
Download