The National Library in All but Name: The Evolving Dialectic about the Library of Congress as a National Library

In 1882, Congressman Mark H. Dunnell observed that, “We have called this [the Library of Congress] a Congressional Library, and yet it has broken beyond the signification of that term; and it is after all fast attaining the character of a national library.” One hundred thirty years later, although possessing many characteristics of a national library, the Library of Congress (LOC) remains officially Congress’s library. Eddies of history, definition, and rhetoric, driven by haphazard planning and swirling currents of need, opportunity, and budget complicate the LOC’s position within the tapestry of national libraries. This paper contextualizes aspects of the LOC’s history relating to being a national library. Then this paper analyzes the evolution of the various meanings of “national library” as applied to the LOC. Comprehensive treatment of this topic requires a dissertation. Thus, by necessity, this paper largely serves to present the subject summarily as an introduction to the underlying topic.