Page 28 - DLIS405_INFORMATION_STORAGE_AND_RETRIEVAL

Unit 2: Library Classification

The design of UDC lends itself to machine readability, and the system has been used both with Notes
early automatic mechanical sorting devices, and modern library OPACs. A core version of UDC,
with 65,000 subdivisions, is now available in database format, and is called the Master Reference
File (MRF). The current full version of the UDC has 220,000 subdivisions.

2.6 Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national
library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located
in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and
number of books. The head of the Library is the Librarian of Congress, currently James H. Billington.
The Library of Congress was built by Congress in 1800, and was housed in the United States Capitol
for most of the 19th century. After much of the original collection had been destroyed during the
War of 1812.

Thomas Jefferson sold 6,487 books, his entire personal collection, to the library
in 1815.
After a period of decline during the mid-19th century the Library of Congress began to grow rapidly
in both size and importance after the American Civil War, culminating in the construction of a
separate library building and the transference of all copyright deposit holdings to the Library. During
the rapid expansion of the 20th century the Library of Congress assumed a preeminent public role,
becoming a “library of last resort” and expanding its mission for the benefit of scholars and the
American people.
The Library’s primary mission is researching inquiries made by members of Congress through the
Congressional Research Service. Although it is open to the public, only Members of Congress,
Supreme Court justices and other high-ranking government officials may check out books. As the
de facto national library, the Library of Congress promotes literacy and American literature through
projects such as the American Folklife Center, American Memory, Center for the Book and Poet
Laureate.

2.6.1 Origins and Jefferson’s Contribution (1800–1851)

The Library of Congress was established on April 24, 1800, 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....” Books were ordered from London and the collection, consisting of 740 books
and 3 maps, was housed in the new Capitol. The collection covered a variety of topics but the bulk
of the materials were legal in nature, reflecting Congress’ role as a maker of laws.
Thomas Jefferson played an important role in the Library’s early formation, signing into law on
January 26, 1802, the first law establishing the structure of the Library of Congress. The law
established the presidentially appointed post of Librarian of Congress and a Joint Committee on
the Library to regulate and oversee the Library, as well as giving the president and vice president
the ability to borrow books. The Library of Congress was destroyed in August 1814, when invading
British troops set fire to the Capitol building and the small library of 3,000 volumes within.
Within a month, former President Jefferson offered his personal library as a replacement. Jefferson
had spent 50 years accumulating a wide variety of books, including ones in foreign languages and

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 23