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2 U.S.C. 131: Collections composing Library; locationText contains those laws in effect through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
From Title 2-THE CONGRESSCHAPTER 5-LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Jump To: Source CreditEditorial NotesCodificationAmendmentsStatutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date of AmendmentShort Title of 2019 AmendmentMiscellaneous

§131. Collections composing Library; location

The Library of Congress, composed of the books, maps, and other publications which on December 1, 1873, remained in existence, from the collections theretofore united under authority of law and those added from time to time by purchase, exchange, donation, reservation from publications ordered by Congress, acquisition of material under the copyright law, and otherwise, shall be preserved in the Library Building.

(R.S. § 80; Feb. 19, 1897, ch. 265, § 1 , 29 Stat. 545 , 546; Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 105(g) , Oct. 19, 1976 , 90 Stat. 2599 ; Pub. L. 100–202, § 101(i) [title III, § 310] , Dec. 22, 1987 , 101 Stat. 1329–290 , 1329–310.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

R.S. § 80 derived from act Jan. 26, 1802, ch. 2, 2 Stat. 128; Res. Oct. 21, 1814, No. 3, 3 Stat. 246; act Jan. 30, 1815, ch. 27, 3 Stat. 195; act June 25, 1864, ch. 147, § 1, 13 Stat. 148; Res. July 25, 1866, No. 77, 14 Stat. 365; and act Mar. 2, 1867, ch. 167, § 1, 14 Stat. 464.

Amendments

1987⁠—Pub. L. 100–202 struck out after first sentence “The law library shall be preserved in the Capitol in the rooms which were on July 4, 1872, appropriated to its use, and in such others as may hereafter be assigned thereto.”

1976⁠—Pub. L. 94–553 substituted “acquisition of material under the copyright law” for “deposit to secure copyright”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–553 effective Jan. 1, 1978, see section 102 of Pub. L. 94–553 set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 17, Copyrights.

Short Title of 2019 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–94, div. P, title XIV, § 1401, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3206, provided that:

“This title [amending sections 135a, 136a–2, and 166 of this title, sections 701, 802, and 803 of Title 17, Copyrights, and section 2103 of Title 20, Education, repealing section 135a–1 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 802 of Title 17] may be cited as the ‘Library of Congress Technical Corrections Act of 2019’.”

Pub. L. 116–94, div. P, title XVI, § 1601, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3209, provided that:

“This title [amending sections 185 and 1808 of this title and sections 3902 and 3903 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents] may be cited as the ‘Legislative Branch Inspectors General Independence Act of 2019’.”

Transfer to Library Building

Provisions for the removal of the Library to the Library Building, erected pursuant to act Apr. 15, 1886, ch. 50, 24 Stat. 12, and for the custody, care, and maintenance of that building, were made by act Feb. 19, 1897.

Organizing and Microfilming of Presidential Papers; Appropriation

Pub. L. 85–147, Aug. 16, 1957, 71 Stat. 368, as amended by Pub. L. 87–263, Sept. 21, 1961, 75 Stat. 544; Pub. L. 88–299, Apr. 27, 1964, 78 Stat. 183, provided:

“Sec. 2.

There are authorized to be appropriated such amounts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.”