the oldest cultural institution in the nation's capital the Library of Congress occupies a unique place civilization. Established as a legislative library in 1800 it grew into a national institution in the nineteenth century, a product of American cultural nationalism. Since World war II, it has become an international resource of unparalleled dimension and the world's largest library. In its three massive structures on Capitol Hill, the Thomas Jefferson , John Adams , and James Madison Memorial Buildings the Library of Congress brings together the concerns of government learning and librarianship--an uncommon combination but one that has greatly benefited American scholarship and culture