Video: 'The Library of Congress Is Your Library'

(Thursday, April 24, 1800) — The Library of Congress (LOC), the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the de facto national library of the U.S., was established today when President John Adams signed an act of Congress providing for the transfer of the seat of government from Philadelphia to the new capital city of Washington.

Part of the legislation appropriated $5,000 “for the purchase of such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress … and for fitting up a suitable apartment for containing them.”