Library of Congress International Collections

Library of Congress International Collections The international collections of the Library of Congress are the largest in the world with millions of items in hundreds of different languages and scripts.

The Library of Congress’ international collections contain millions of items in hundreds of languages and scripts. These collections include books, manuscripts, newspapers, magazines, films, audio recordings, and much more! There are rarities and there are contemporary newspapers and magazines. The Library’s four area studies division reading rooms — African and Middle Eastern, Asian, European, and Hispanic — are happy to be your point of contact at the Library for your research in the fields of international studies. African and Middle Eastern Reading Room http://www.loc.gov/rr/amed/
Asian Reading Room http://www.loc.gov/rr/asian/
European Reading Room http://www.loc.gov/rr/european/
Hispanic Reading Room http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/. If you are looking for more information about the Library of Congress, please visit http://www.loc.gov/

We are unable to answer detailed reference questions from this page. For detailed research help, visit our Ask a Librarian service at http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/. To view our comment and posting policy, visit https://www.loc.gov/legal/comment-and-posting-policy/

Hebraic Collections at the Library: An Online Orientation for New ResearchersLibrarian Sophia Shoulson will guide you th...
09/14/2026

Hebraic Collections at the Library: An Online Orientation for New Researchers

Librarian Sophia Shoulson will guide you through the extraordinary offerings of the Library’s Hebraic Section and answer your questions. She will highlight key resources, strategies for browsing the collection, and demonstrate how to use the Library search systems and research guides to locate materials of interest. The Library's physical and digital collections are available for exploring, learning, and research. We will discuss how the reference staff can help you jumpstart a new project and navigate the wealth of information at your fingertips.

• September 17, 2026
• 12 PM EDT – 12:45 PM EDT
• Zoom

Register at:
https://loc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/9217884081429/WN_qcwLDNs8R4-IbyWqlG8CTQ/

Or if you want to link to the Library’s page: https://www.loc.gov/item/event-423490/hebraic-collections-at-the-library-an-online-orientation-for-new-researchers/2026-09-17/

**Webinar - Introduction to the Japanese Collection**Japanese collection specialists in the Asian Division invite you to...
09/13/2026

**Webinar - Introduction to the Japanese Collection**
Japanese collection specialists in the Asian Division invite you to attend an online, interactive webinar introducing the division's Japanese collection, as well as Japan-related materials across the Library of Congress more broadly.

Date & time: Thurs., Sept. 17, 3:00pm to 4:00pm EDT
Register online at: https://loc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/8417888923012/WN_HOD-ZU24QdycQWm7_WVTKA

Participants will learn about relevant print materials, digital collections, e-resources, and services available to both on-site and remote users. Topics will include rare books, newspapers on microfilm, maps, woodblock prints, films, and a wide range of pre-1946 materials, including publications from governmental institutions and the South Manchuria Railway Company. Following the presentation, collection librarians will be available to answer audience questions.

*Job Announcement*Audience Engagement/Southeast Asian Reference Librarian Posting on USA JOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/j...
09/11/2026

*Job Announcement*
Audience Engagement/Southeast Asian Reference Librarian
Posting on USA JOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/883645700

Application Deadline: October 2, 2026.

The Asian Division is seeking a person to coordinate and plan outreach efforts and community engagement initiatives to help audiences connect with Asian collections and resources at the Library of Congress. Duties will include writing and editing blog and social media posts, preparing public-facing outreach materials, conducting orientations, and collaborating with Asian Division staff to explore ways to better engage with current and potential researchers/users. The person will also provide reference services for the Southeast Asian collection, with a focus on topics and materials related to Island Southeast Asia. If you have strong editing and communication skills in English and experience with one or more Southeast Asian languages (preferably languages of Island Southeast Asia), please consider applying.

09/08/2026

Two virtual new researcher orientations are coming up this September from the Latin American, Caribbean, and European Division of the Library of Congress!
Sept. 15, 2–3 p.m. ET: Discover the Hispanic Reading Room — an introduction to collections, research tools, and services for new researchers. Register: https://loc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/1817864624674/WN_lsInhlUgSi2SdY2-PcfF_w
Sept. 17, 2–3 p.m. ET: Researching Women in France & French Caribbean History — explore digital resources, primary sources, and research tools with Library specialists. Register: https://loc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/9617864681167/WN_iWgVpbQrSDKBG_S0t3icsQ
Both events are great for researchers new to The Library of Congress, free and online. Join us for one — or both!

Asian Division’s 2027 Florence Tan Moeson Fellowship: Now accepting applications to pursue research with the Library’s A...
09/05/2026

Asian Division’s 2027 Florence Tan Moeson Fellowship:
Now accepting applications to pursue research with the Library’s Asian collections. This year’s application deadline is before midnight (ET), Sunday, November 1, 2026 for the 2027 fellowship cycle. Open to students, faculty, librarians, and independent researchers. Read our blog post, https://blogs.loc.gov/international-collections/2026/09/the-asian-divisions-florence-tan-moeson-fellowship-now-accepting-applications-for-2027/, to learn more about the fellowship and how to apply.

09/04/2026

Find out how you can explore, transcribe, and review centuries of Spanish legal documents through the By the People program!

To mark the conclusion of the building of the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece whose construction b...
09/02/2026

To mark the conclusion of the building of the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece whose construction began in the heart of Barcelona, Spain, librarians in the Hispanic Reading Room have set up a small collections display containing books about Gaudí’s life, artistic vision, drawings and renderings. The final and tallest tower of this architectural wonder was finalized this past February and inaugurated in June 2026.
Come check out the display if you happen to be in the area! It will be up till mid-September.

https://www.loc.gov/research-centers/hispanic

Did you know Aug. 27 is World Rock Paper Scissors Day? ✊✋✌️Check out our new blog post (https://blogs.loc.gov/internatio...
08/27/2026

Did you know Aug. 27 is World Rock Paper Scissors Day? ✊✋✌️
Check out our new blog post (https://blogs.loc.gov/international-collections/2026/08/a-universal-game-a-hands-on-exploration-of-rock-paper-scissors-in-the-japanese-rare-book-collection/?loclr=fbint) to learn more about the different ways rock paper scissors was played in Japan over 100 years ago. You can even follow the rules from the 1830 rule book “Ken hitorigeiko” 拳獨稽古 (Self-Study for Finger Games) and try playing them yourself!

Image: Diagrams for the finger combinations for playing the “original finger game” (hon-ken). From Yamazakura Renren’s “Ken hitorigeiko,” ca. 1830. Japanese Rare Book Collection, Library of Congress Asian Division.

*Job Announcement*The Asian Division is hiring a processing technician to work with the division’s Chinese collection, w...
08/26/2026

*Job Announcement*
The Asian Division is hiring a processing technician to work with the division’s Chinese collection, with a focus on conducting inventory work on Chinese-language materials from the 19th and early 20th centuries. For full details and instructions on how to apply, see the vacancy announcement at USA Jobs, https://www.usajobs.gov/job/881994200. Consider applying or sharing this announcement among colleagues with proficiency in Chinese and professional experience in libraries or archives. Application deadline is September 8, 2026. This is a full-time but term-limited appointment, not-to-exceed (NTE) 3 years.

*Job Announcement*See information below for the opening: Deputy Field Director – India. This person will assist in manag...
08/25/2026

*Job Announcement*
See information below for the opening: Deputy Field Director – India. This person will assist in managing the Library’s overseas office located in New Delhi, India, which was established in 1962. The office identifies, acquires, catalogs, preserves, and distributes selected publications of high research value to the Library of Congress and through the Cooperative Acquisitions Program to other libraries. The incumbent serves under the general administrative supervision of the Field Director but works independently, exercising considerable judgment, and carries out duties and responsibilities in accordance with broad overall guidelines and policies. Work is coordinated with the Department of State in the host country of the office. With the Field Director, serves as a principal liaison for the organization, acting as an official representative of the Library of Congress with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, with American and foreign government officials in all the countries covered by the overseas office.
Follow the link below for full details and instructions on how to apply. The deadline for applications is September 18, 2026.
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/881258700

Address

10 First Street SE
Washington D.C., DC
20540

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+12027075000

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Library of Congress International Collections posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category