The US has many large libraries, but the largest one is the Library of Congress. It is located in Washington D.C. and has over 168 million items in its collection. This includes books, manuscripts, maps, musical scores, prints, photographs, and speeches. The library also has a large digital collection that includes over 33 million items. The Library of Congress is open to the public and offers tours and exhibits.
Other largest libraries in the US include the New York Public Library, the Boston Public Library, and the University of California Libraries. These libraries have millions of items in their collections and offer a variety of services to their patrons. Whether you are looking for a place to do research or just find a good book to read, the US has a library for you.
Top 11 libraries in the US that you must not miss to visit:
1. Library of Congress
The US has many large libraries, but the largest one is the Library of Congress. It is located in Washington D.C. and has over 168 million items in its collection. This includes books, manuscripts, maps, musical scores, prints, photographs, and speeches. The library also has a large digital collection which includes over 33 million items. The Library of Congress is open to the public and offers tours and exhibits.
2. New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is located in New York City and has over 52 million items in its collections. These include rare books, prints, photographs, maps, manuscripts, musical scores, dime novels, magazines, newspapers and African American Newspapers all available to the public. The library also offers classes for adults and children including technology training.
3. Boston Public Library
Boston Public Library (BPL) is the second-largest public library system in the US with over 50 libraries open to the public. The collection consists of more than 23 million items including books, manuscripts, prints, photographs, and other ephemera It has a large digital collection that includes over 1 million images that are accessible by anyone on their BPL card or online through the Boston Public Library website.
4. University of California Libraries
The University of California Libraries (UCL) is the largest library system in the US with over 12 million items in its collection. This includes more than 9 million books and periodicals, 2 million manuscripts, 350,000 maps, and 270,000 audio-visual materials. The libraries are open to the public and offer a variety of services including online resources, research assistance, and classes.
5. University of Texas Libraries
The University of Texas Libraries is the fifth largest library system in the US with over 10 million items in its collection. This includes nearly 9 million books and bound periodicals, 1 million government documents, 500,000 maps, and 400,000 audio-visual items. The libraries are open to the public and offer a variety of services including online resources, research assistance, and classes.
6. Los Angeles Public Library, California
The Los Angeles Public Library system has over 3 million items in its collection. This includes books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, and periodicals. The library offers a variety of services including homework help, computer classes, and job resources.
7. Seattle Public Library, Washington
The Seattle Public Library system has over 2 million items in its collection. This includes books, audiobooks on CD, DVDs, and electronic resources such as e-books and online databases. The library offers a variety of programs for all ages including story times, family activities, and workshops.
8. Free Library of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Free Library of Philadelphia is a public library system that has over 1.7 million items in its collection. This includes books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, and periodicals. The library also offers a variety of services including homework help, computer classes, and job resources.
9. Cuyahoga County Public Library, Ohio
Cuyahoga County Public Library system is located in Ohio on 3 campuses which include Mayfield Main (where Headquarters are), Brecksville (which has the Main Mobile Services Facility), and Richmond Heights (where there’s a Bookmobile). It’s about one million items in its collection which also includes DVDs, CDs, Audiobooks, eBooks, Playaways (preloaded MP3 players), and magazines.
10. San Jose Public Library, California
The San Jose Public Library in California has just over one million items in its collection including books, music scores, videos, theses, and dissertations. The library is very community-oriented with special collections for teens and children. There are also programs held throughout the year to connect patrons with their reading interests.
11. Chicago Public Library, Illinois
The Chicago Public Library system has over 4 million items in its collection. This includes books, audiobooks on CD, DVDs, and electronic resources such as e-books and online databases. The library offers a variety of services including homework help, computer classes, and job resources.
Conclusion:
The US has a wide variety of public libraries, each with its own unique collections and services. No matter what city you live in, there is sure to be a library nearby that offers something for everyone. So if you’re looking for a place to lose yourself in the world of words, be sure to check out your local library. You won’t regret it!
