James Madison Memorial Building, 1st floor, room LM101

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Closed Sunday and federal holidays.

Telephone: 202-707-5387

Fax: 202-707-6336

Address: Manuscript Division, Library of Congress,

101 Independence Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20540-4680

E-mail: <http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/ask-mss.html>

Web site: <http://www.loc.gov/rr/mss>

Access and use information for all Library of Congress reading rooms: For a brief overview on beginning research at the Library of Congress, see Planning Your Visit. To use any Library of Congress reading room, you must show a Library-issued reader identification card (see Reader Registration). For detailed explanations of each reading room and general Library procedures, consult the Library's Web site at <http://www.loc.gov/rr>.

Access and use for the Manuscript Division: Although no appointments are necessary, researchers are advised to write or telephone prior to visiting, since many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve them for research use. In addition, some collections carry access restrictions, and permission may need to be sought before use. Because the Manuscript Division's holdings are rare and irreplaceable, their use is limited primarily to patrons conducting serious research who have exhausted available secondary sources. Student access is generally limited to those engaged in graduate study. Undergraduates who are working on a senior thesis or similar project under the direction of a faculty member will be admitted after an introduction in person or writing by their advisers. First-time researchers are required to read and sign a form agreeing that they will abide by the formal rules and regulations for using the reading room. All researchers must complete a registration card every two years and must present a Library of Congress reader identification card at that time. Pencils, note cards, and notepaper are provided. Only materials essential to research are allowed in the reading room. As a rule, researchers are permitted to make copies of original manuscript material on the photocopiers in the reading room, with the exception of bound documents, fragile items, or collections that carry restrictions on photoduplication. Additional information on the division's services and facilities, including its interlibrary loan policies, may be obtained on the Manuscript Division Web site.