Possible uses and use restrictions...
Research and reader services are rendered in such diverse fields as American history, science, technology, and business, African, Middle Eastern, Asian, Eastern and Western European, and Hispanic studies, children's literature, music, dance, theater, geography, and cartography, and for a variety of library materials such as newspapers, serials (periodicals), manuscripts, maps, sound recordings, rare books, prints, photographs, and motion pictures. In general, guidance is offered in the identification and use of library materials. Reference service in answer to telephone and written inquiries is offered to persons who have first made full use of State, local, and regional library resources. Indirect reference service is provided through bibliographic guides and research reports prepared by subject specialists and reference librarians. Persons requiring services which cannot be performed by Library of Congress staff, can be supplied with the names of private researchers who will undertake the work on a fee basis, or of other individuals, organizations, and/or agencies which serve as information resources in the requested subject field. In addition, the library fulfills the dual role of cataloging materials for its own use and for contributing records to national and international databases.