The District of Columbia (DC) Public Library offers library cards to anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Washington, D.C. The closest branch of the DC Library is Tenley-Friendship located across from the Tenley metro at 4450 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The Metropolitan Council of Governments maintains a list of area public libraries.
The Library of Congress is open to researchers, but first you must obtain a Reader Identification Card. It can take a long time for the delivery of books from the Library of Congress stacks, so plan on taking something to do while you wait.
Other National Libraries Located in the DC Metro Area:
Note that it's a good idea to check the websites to determine when these libraries are open to the public.
If you have any questions or would like additional help, please visit our Ask a Librarian page.
