[Main Reading Room. Portrait statues of Homer and Plato along the balustrade. Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, D.C.] , Carol Highsmith, photographer

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General Information

You are invited to explore the Library’s vast online resources using your own wireless-enabled device.  Free WiFi is available in:

European Reading Room

A researcher using a laptop in the European Reading Room at the Library of Congress. Photo by Michaela McNichol.

At this time, free WiFi is not available in the Library’s cafeteria, snack bars, or the Computer Catalog Center in the Thomas Jefferson building. No accounts are needed to access the Library’s WiFi network.

Hardware Requirements

  • Your wireless-enabled device (laptop, iPhone, etc.) must be configured to use the 802.11g or 802.11g/n wireless protocol. Network adapters using the older 802.11a or 802.11b protocols will not work.

Limitations and Disclaimers

  • Library of Congress staff are not authorized to assist users in configuring their wireless devices or in trouble-shooting any difficulties users may experience in connecting to the Library’s WiFi service.
  • Wireless networks are not secure. Information sent from or to your wireless device could be captured by anyone else with a wireless device and the appropriate software.
  • The Library of Congress assumes no responsibility for the safety of equipment or for laptop configurations, security, or data files resulting from connection to the Library's network.

Onsite Research Tools and Services

Wireless users at the Library of Congress will have access to research materials that may be limited to onsite use or have other restrictions on further dissemination because of copyright or licensing agreements. Restrictions on the use and further dissemination of such resources are the same whether researchers are accessing them using Library computers or via the Library’s wireless network. Please consult any reference librarian for assistance.