The largest library on Earth is the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., United States. It holds more than 170 million items — books, recordings, photographs, maps, sheet music, and manuscripts — spread across 838 miles of bookshelves. That's roughly the driving distance from New York City to Chicago, in shelving.
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Where Exactly Is It?
The Library occupies three buildings on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., directly behind the U.S. Capitol building. The main building — the Thomas Jefferson Building — opened in 1897 and is one of the most architecturally stunning public buildings in America. Marble, mosaics, painted ceilings, and a Main Reading Room that looks like it belongs in a Renaissance palace.
Can You Actually Visit?
Yes, and it's free. The Thomas Jefferson Building is open to the public Monday through Saturday. You can walk through the Great Hall, peer down into the Main Reading Room from the visitors' gallery, and explore rotating exhibitions. If you want to actually use the library — sit in the Reading Room and request materials — you need a free Reader Identification Card, which takes about 15 minutes to get on-site with a valid photo ID.
What Makes It the Biggest?
The numbers are almost absurd:
- 170+ million items total (more than any other library in existence)
- 40 million+ cataloged books and print materials
- 74 million manuscripts
- 14.8 million photographs
- 5.6 million maps
- Materials in 470 languages
The Library receives roughly 15,000 new items every working day. By U.S. copyright law, publishers must deposit two copies of every book published in the United States.
Other Contenders
A few other libraries compete for "largest" depending on how you count:
- British Library (London, United Kingdom) — approximately 170 million items by some counts, the closest rival. It holds a Gutenberg Bible, original Beatles lyrics, and the Magna Carta.
- National Library of China (Beijing, China) — over 41 million items, including ancient texts dating back thousands of years.
- Library and Archives Canada (Ottawa, Canada) — over 54 million items.
- Russian State Library (Moscow, Russia) — approximately 47 million items.
By total item count and shelf space, the Library of Congress consistently ranks first. It has held that position since the early 20th century and the gap keeps widening.
Worth the Trip?
Absolutely. Even if you have zero interest in books, the Jefferson Building alone is worth an hour of your time — the architecture competes with anything in Europe. If you do love books, you could spend an entire day. There's no entry fee, no reservation needed for the general visit, and it's steps away from the Capitol and the Supreme Court.
Address: 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20540
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM (closed Sundays and federal holidays)