Lori writes

I love the LOC, too, and I was on their Prints and Photographs website every day for the last two weeks, searching for high-quality images for a work project. Thank God for LOC because they keep original negatives and transparencies when lately it seems like all image collections are a 'race to the bottom' quality-wise.

Amy writes

Love the LC!

Main Reading Room, Wow!

Anyone (18 years of age and older) can read, write, or hang out here.

Paul writes

I love the Library of Congress. The reference staff has always been terrific. I
love the slanted tables where your books can cascade onto the floor if you are
not careful. I love the main reading room under the rotunda. I love the
excellent quality photocopiers. I love the reopened researcher's entrance and
the sense of privilege it bestows. Recently I had dealings with Margaret
Kieckhefer, who created a TIF image of a plate of a nineteenth century book for
me, and the job was done delayed by reshelving. A few days ago the book came
in and now I have the plate, perfectly scanned. Without the LoC, by the way, I
would be stuck with our UMD library, which has its charms, and is personable
and efficient, but which has a thin and worn selection of Africana.

Sit among the fabulous murals of the Hispanic Reading Room

Anyone can work in the Hispanic Reading Room or any of the other area studies rooms. The Hispanic Reading Room is particularly pleasant because of its splendid murals and big wooden tables. Also, this reading room has great staff. In addition, the Hispanic Reading Room has the amazing Archive of Spanish Literature on Tape, in which about 660 authors have been recorded reading their own works, including Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia), Octavio Paz (Mexico), and Pablo Neruda (Chile). You just have to make an appointment to listen to these recordings.

Ready for work in the Main Reading Room

Beautiful morning at the Jefferson Building

Steve said

The Folklife Reading Room in the Jefferson Building is a boon. The staff themselves are some of my primary sources.

LCK said

As a media historian, I often feel that I must work hard to shore up my "real research" street cred. Many fellow historians look down embarrasedly at their shoes if you mention needing to rewatch something on your TiVo before you teach a class.
The LoC has really helped me out in this area. When I need to see old 60s TV shows that are [gasp] not yet released on DVD, I can get them delivered to me on real film, in real silver canisters up in the Moving Image Reading Room. I even have to wear white cotton gloves so that I don't contribute to the decay of the archive. I felt my research credibility skyrocket the minute that I put them on.

MLM said

I love the LOC too! (Is it LC or LOC? Apparently, there is an ideological debate on this question.)

Anyway, I think the new system where you can order books in advance is awesome. And there are wonderful databases that are web-based, but which you can use only on-site. I use the Black Studies Center database a fair amount.

The special entrance for researchers makes me feel important.

But surely the best part is that, when you need a break, the glories of cute diners and good cafes are steps away.