Library of Congress: The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world and serves as the research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Home to over 170 million works, it provides an unparalleled record of human creativity and plays an important role in fostering long term preservation of the cultural record through its own collecting and preservation activities, but also by setting and evolving standards for all research libraries. Led by the Librarian of Congress, the Library is undergoing a modernization effort which includes a digital strategy to sustain and expand services to all users.

Why it Matters: The Library of Congress is an apt embodiment of the public’s interest in copyright. On behalf of the public, it collects copies of the vast majority of works that are registered for copyright, ensuring they endure and are accessible to the public even when copyright holders lose interest, works go out of print, or (most importantly) copyright expires. The location of the US Copyright Office inside the Library ensures that the Library benefits from the deposit copies used in the registration process and that copyright records are created and managed with input from library professionals.