The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, with over 130 million items in its collection, including rare books and works in over 460 languages. Its main collection was destroyed in 1814, but Congress authorized the purchase of Thomas Jefferson’s personal library the following year.
With a history dating back to the 1800s, the Library of Congress in the United States is considered the largest library in the world. On a typical day, the library receives approximately 22,000 items for inclusion and adds approximately 10,000 new items. The items contained in the Library of Congress include a wide range of national and international collections, featuring some of the rarest books in the world.
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The Library of Congress’ main collection of books was destroyed on August 24, 1814, when British troops burned down the United States Capitol. The main collection at the time numbered around 3,000 books. The following year, Congress authorized the purchase of Thomas Jefferson’s personal library, a collection which contained 6,487 books.
More than 130 million items are housed in the Library of Congress, including books, movies, artwork and presidential documents. The materials contained in the various collections include works in more than 460 languages.
By the end of the 20th century, 20 people had served as the Official Librarian of Congress.
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