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General Guidelines

Personal Belongings in Library Buildings

Individuals should limit the amount of personal property they bring into the Library.  Certain prohibited items cannot be brought into Library buildings.  Dangerous weapons are prohibited items and include, but are not limited to, firearms, explosives, knives, razors, and box-cutters.  In addition, oversized (not exceeding 25"W x 15"H) suitcases or bags that will not fit on the x-ray conveyor belts are prohibited.  No provisions are made for checking or holding prohibited items.

Personal Belongings in Research Areas

The Library’s reading rooms restrict the type of personal belongings that researchers may bring with them.  Items that may NOT be brought into these research areas include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Briefcases and cases for other equipment (laptop computers)
• Computers larger than laptop size
• Containers larger than 9.5" x 6.25" (includes paper bags, boxes, backpacks, shopping bags, sleeping bags, etc.)
• Food and/or Drinks (includes bottled water); Food or drink containers
• Handbags or purses larger than 9.5" x 6.25"
• Luggage
• Musical instruments and their cases
• Newspapers
• Outerwear (such as raincoats and overcoats)
• Pets [Note: exception for service animals, i.e., any guide dog or signal dog that is trained to provide a service to a person with a disability]
• Photocopiers larger than hand-held
• Scissors or other cutting implements
• Televisions
• Umbrellas

Cloakrooms

The Library operates 3 cloakrooms for researchers and visitors to its Capitol Hill campus. <View map>

• Madison Building: The Madison Cloakroom, located in (LM140), is open Monday through Saturday when the reading rooms are open. 
• Jefferson Building: The Jefferson Cloakrooms are located on the Ground Floor of the building. The Jefferson West Cloakroom (located at the West Entrance) is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Jefferson East Cloakroom (located at the Southeast Entrance) is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:30 am to 9:45 p.m.

Duffle bags, oversized luggage and large storage bags are not permitted in the cloakroom. Checked items must be removed when leaving the reading rooms. No overnight storage is allowed. The Library reserves the right to refuse items for storage.

Special Note for Researchers with checked items in the Jefferson Building: If you will be here during the day and into the evening you must retrieve your items from the Daytime Cloakroom before 5 and move them to the Evening Cloakroom at 5 p.m

Adams Building: Science and Business Reading Room

Researchers using the Science and Business Reading Room and adjoining Computer Catalog Center must enter through LA-500 (Center Book Service Room) and show a valid Reader Identification Card.

Researchers are allowed to bring the following items with them:

• a coat and/or sweater, sports jacket or similar garment
• a purse or pocket book smaller than 9.5" x 6.25"
• a laptop computer
• one additional briefcase, knapsack or similar bag no larger than 18 x 13x 8 inches

Researchers are NOT permitted to bring:

• suitcases on wheels
• expedition-size backpacks
• multiple bags
• other containers such as large plastic bags
• food or drinks (includes bottled water)
• food or drink containers
• audio devices and cellular phones and pagers in audible mode
• all of the prohibited items listed above under "Personal Belongings in Research Areas" with the exception of an overcoat and umbrella

Researchers arriving with barred items will be directed to the Jefferson or Madison cloakrooms to check them.

Safeguarding Your Personal Property

As in any other public situation, researchers in the Library must exercise care to safeguard their personal property.  Valuable property, particularly handbags and computers, should never be left unattended in the reading rooms or elsewhere in the Library.

The Library is not responsible for the loss of personal property brought into the buildings.  All instances of loss should be reported immediately to the U.S. Capitol Police, located in Room LM-G12 in the Madison Building (view maps and floor plans).  Alternatively, a researcher may inform a reading room staff member, who can contact the U.S. Capitol Police for on-site response.