Collapse to view only § 136. Librarian of Congress; rules and regulations
- § 131. Collections composing Library; location
- § 132. Departments of Library
- § 132a. Appropriations for increase of general library
- § 132a-1. Obligations for reimbursable and revolving fund activities; limitation
- § 132a-2. Furniture, furnishings, and office and library equipment; transfer of funds
- § 132a-3. Authority to transfer amounts between categories of appropriations
- § 132b. Joint Committee on the Library
- § 133. Joint Committee during recess of Congress
- § 134. Incidental expenses of law library
- § 135. Purchase of books for law library
- § 135a. National library service for the blind and print disabled
- § 135a-1. Repealed.
- § 135b. Local and regional centers; preference to blind and other physically handicapped veterans; rules and regulations; authorization of appropriations
- § 136. Librarian of Congress; rules and regulations
- § 136-1. Appointment and term of service of Librarian of Congress
- §§ 136a, 136a-1. Omitted
- § 136a-2. Librarian of Congress and Deputy Librarian of Congress; compensation
- § 136b. Omitted
- § 136c. Authorized additional expenses and services for which Library of Congress salary appropriations are available
- § 137. Use and regulation of law library
- §§ 137a, 137b. Omitted
- § 137c. Withdrawal of books from Library of Congress
- § 138. Law library; hours kept open
- § 139. Omitted
- § 140. Employees; fitness
- § 141. Allocation of responsibilities for Library buildings and grounds
- § 141a. Design, installation, and maintenance of security systems; transfer of responsibility
- § 141b. Collections, physical security, control, and preservation of order and decorum within the library
- § 142. Omitted
- § 142a. Office of administrative assistant and disbursing officer in Library of Congress abolished; transfer of duties to appointee of Librarian
- § 142b. Certifying officers of the Library of Congress; accountability; relief by Comptroller General
- § 142c. Enforcement of liability of certifying officers of Library of Congress
- § 142d. Disbursing officer of the Library of Congress; disbursements in accordance with voucher; examination of vouchers; liability
- § 142e. Disbursing Officer of the Library of Congress; disbursements for Congressional Budget Office, accountability; financial management support to Congressional Budget Office under agreement of Librarian of Congress and Director of Congressional Budget Office; Congressional Budget Office certifying officers: voucher certifications, accountability, relief by Comptroller General
- § 142f. Office of Technology Assessment; disbursement of funds, computation and disbursement of basic pay, and provision of financial management support by Library of Congress
- § 142g. Copyright Royalty Tribunal; computation and disbursement of pay of Tribunal personnel by Library of Congress
- § 142h. Biomedical Ethics Board; disbursement of funds, computation and disbursement of basic pay, and provision of financial management services and support by Library of Congress
- § 142i. United States Capitol Preservation Commission; provision of financial management services and support by Library of Congress
- § 142j. John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development; disbursement of funds, computation and disbursement of basic pay, and provision of financial management services and support by Library of Congress; payment for services
- § 142k. Library of Congress disbursing office; payroll processing functions
- § 142l. Disbursing Officer of Library of Congress; disbursements for Office of Congressional Workplace Rights; voucher certifications, accountability and relief by Comptroller General
- § 143. Appropriations for Library Building and Grounds
- § 143a. Disbursement of funds
- § 143b. Payments in advance for subscriptions or other charges
- § 143c. Use of other library funds to make payments
- § 143d. Funds available for workers compensation payments
- § 144. Copies of Statutes at Large
- § 145. Copies of journals and documents
- § 145a. Periodical binding of printed hearings of committee testimony
- § 146. Deposit of Journals of Senate and House
- § 147. Repealed.
- § 148. Repealed.
- § 149. Transfer of books to other libraries
- § 149a. Permitting use of proceeds from disposition of surplus or obsolete personal property
- § 150. Sale of copies of card indexes and other publications
- § 151. Smithsonian Library
- § 152. Care and use of Smithsonian Library
- § 153. Control of library of House of Representatives
- § 154. Library of Congress Trust Fund Board; members; quorum; seal; rules and regulations
- § 155. Compensation and expenses of Library of Congress Trust Fund Board
- § 156. Gifts, etc., to Library of Congress Trust Fund Board
- § 157. Funds of Library of Congress Trust Fund Board; management of
- § 158. Deposits by Library of Congress Trust Fund Board with Treasurer of United States
- § 158a. Temporary possession of gifts of money or securities to Library of Congress; investment
- § 159. Perpetual succession and suits by or against Library of Congress Trust Fund Board
- § 160. Disbursement of gifts, etc., to Library
- § 161. Tax exemption of gifts, etc., to Library of Congress
- § 162. Compensation of Library of Congress employees
- § 162a. Gross salary of Library of Congress employees
- § 162b. Little Scholars Child Development Center; employee compensation and personnel matters
- § 163. Omitted
- § 164. Index and digest of State legislation; preparation
- § 164a. Official distribution of State legislation index and digest
- § 165. Authorization for appropriation for biennial index
- § 166. Congressional Research Service
- § 166a. Equal access to Congressional Research Service Reports
- §§ 167 to 167h. Repealed.
- § 167i. Suspension of prohibitions against use of Library buildings and grounds
- § 167j. Area comprising Library of Congress grounds; “buildings and grounds” defined
- § 168. Constitution of the United States; preparation and publication of revised edition; annotations; supplements; decennial editions and supplements
- § 168a. Printing of Constitution Annotated as Senate documents
- § 168b. Printing and distribution of additional copies of Constitution Annotated
- § 168c. Printing and distribution of decennial editions and supplements to Constitution Annotated
- § 168d. Authorization of appropriations for Constitution Annotated
- § 169. Positions in Library of Congress exempt from citizenship requirement
- § 170. American Television and Radio Archives
- § 171. Congressional declaration of findings and purpose as to Center for the Book
- § 172. Definitions
- § 173. Establishment of Center for the Book
- § 174. Function of Center for the Book
- § 175. Administrative provisions
- § 176. Mass Book Deacidification Facility; operation by Librarian of Congress
- § 177. Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry
- §§ 178 to 178l. Repealed.
- §§ 179 to 179k. Repealed.
- § 179l. National Film Registry of Library of Congress
- § 179m. Duties of Librarian of Congress
- § 179n. National Film Preservation Board
- § 179o. Responsibilities and powers of Board
- § 179p. National Film Registry Collection of Library of Congress
- § 179q. Seal of National Film Registry
- § 179r. Remedies
- § 179s. Limitations of remedies
- § 179t. Staff of Board; experts and consultants
- § 179u. Definitions
- § 179v. Authorization of appropriations
- § 179w. Effective date
- § 180. Legislative information retrieval system
- § 181. Program for exchange of information among legislative branch agencies
- § 182. Cooperative Acquisitions Program Revolving Fund
- § 182a. Revolving fund for duplication services associated with audiovisual conservation center
- § 182b. Revolving fund for sales shop and other services
- § 182c. Revolving fund for FEDLINK program and Federal Research program
- § 182d. Audits by Comptroller General
- § 182e. Library of Congress National Collection Stewardship Fund
- § 183. Written history of the House of Representatives
- § 183a. Oral history of the House of Representatives
- § 184. Incorporation of digital collections into educational curricula
- § 185. Inspector General of the Library of Congress
- § 186. Library of Congress orders under task and delivery order contracts
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.
The Library of Congress shall be arranged in two departments, a general library and a law library.
The unexpended balance of any sums appropriated by Congress for the increase of the general library, together with such sums as may hereafter be appropriated to the same purpose, shall be laid out under the direction of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library.
Effective for fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 1995, obligations for any reimbursable and revolving fund activities performed by the Library of Congress are limited to the total amounts provided (1) in the annual regular appropriations Act making appropriations for the legislative branch, or (2) in a supplemental appropriations Act that makes appropriations for the legislative branch.
The Joint Committee of Congress on the Library shall, on and after January 3, 1947, consist of the chairman and four members of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the chairman and four members of the Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives.
The portion of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library on the part of the Senate remaining in office as Senators shall during the recess of Congress exercise the powers and discharge the duties conferred by law upon the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library.
The incidental expenses of the law library shall be paid out of the appropriations for the Library of Congress.
The Librarian shall make the purchases of books for the law library, under the direction of and pursuant to the catalogue furnished him by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
The Librarian of Congress shall make rules and regulations for the government of the Library.
From and after October 1, 1983, appropriations in this Act available to the Library of Congress for salaries shall be available for expenses of personnel security and suitability investigations of Library employees; special and temporary services (including employees engaged by day or hour or in piecework); and services as authorized by section 3109 of title 5.
The justices of the Supreme Court shall have free access to the law library; and they are authorized to make regulations, not inconsistent with law, for the use of the same during the sittings of the court. But such regulations shall not restrict any person authorized to take books from the Library from having access to the law library, or using the books therein in the same manner as he may be entitled to use the books of the general Library.
The chief judge and associate judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the chief judge and associate judges of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia are authorized to use and take books from the Library of Congress in the same manner and subject to the same regulations as justices of the Supreme Court of the United States.
The law library shall be kept open every day so long as either House of Congress is in session.
All persons employed in and about said Library of Congress under the Librarian shall be appointed solely with reference to their fitness for their particular duties.
The responsibility for design, installation, and maintenance of security systems to protect the physical security of the buildings and grounds of the Library of Congress is transferred from the Architect of the Capitol to the Capitol Police Board. Such design, installation, and maintenance shall be carried out under the direction of the Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, and without regard to section 6101 of title 41. Any alteration to a structural, mechanical, or architectural feature of the buildings and grounds of the Library of Congress that is required for a security system under the preceding sentence may be carried out only with the approval of the Architect of the Capitol.
From and after June 10, 1928, the office of administrative assistant and disbursing officer of the Library of Congress, created by section 142 of this title, is abolished and thereafter the duties required to be performed by the administrative assistant and disbursing officer shall be performed, under the direction of the Librarian of Congress, by such persons as the Librarian may appoint for those purposes.
On and after June 13, 1957, each officer and employee of the Library of Congress, including the Copyright Office, who has been duly authorized in writing by the Librarian of Congress to certify vouchers for payment from appropriations and funds, shall (1) be held responsible for the existence and correctness of the facts recited in the certificate or otherwise stated on the voucher or its supporting papers and for the legality of the proposed payment under the appropriation or fund involved; (2) [Repealed]; (3) be held responsible and accountable for the correctness of the computations of certified vouchers; and (4) be held accountable for and required to make good to the United States the amount of any illegal, improper, or incorrect payment resulting from any false, inaccurate, or misleading certificate made by him, as well as for any payment prohibited by law or which did not represent a legal obligation under the appropriation or fund involved: Provided, That the Comptroller General of the United States may, at his discretion, relieve such certifying officer or employee of liability for any payment otherwise proper whenever he finds (1) that the certification was based on official records and that such certifying officer or employee did not know, and by reasonable diligence and inquiry could not have ascertained, the actual facts, or (2) that the obligation was incurred in good faith, that the payment was not contrary to any statutory provision specifically prohibiting payments of the character involved, and the United States has received value for such payment: Provided further, That the Comptroller General shall relieve such certifying officer or employee of liability for an overpayment for transportation services made to any common carrier covered by section 3726 of title 31, whenever he finds that the overpayment occurred solely because the administrative examination made prior to payment of the transportation bill did not include a verification of transportation rates, freight classifications, or land grant deductions.
The liability of these certifying officers or employees shall be enforced in the same manner and to the same extent as now provided by law with respect to enforcement of the liability of disbursing and other accountable officers; and they shall have the right to apply for and obtain a decision by the Comptroller General on any question of law involved in a payment on any vouchers presented to them for certification.
The disbursing officer of the Library of Congress shall (1) disburse moneys of the Library of Congress only upon, and in strict accordance with, vouchers duly certified by the Librarian of Congress or by an officer or employee of the Library of Congress duly authorized in writing by the Librarian to certify such vouchers; (2) make such examination of vouchers as may be necessary to ascertain whether they are in proper form, and duly certified and approved; and (3) be held accountable accordingly: Provided, That the disbursing officer shall not be held accountable or responsible for any illegal, improper, or incorrect payment resulting from any false, inaccurate, or misleading certificate, the responsibility for which, under section 142b of this title, is imposed upon a certifying officer or employee of the Library of Congress.
From and after January 1, 1976, the Disbursing Officer of the Library of Congress is authorized to disburse funds appropriated for the Congressional Budget Office, and the Library of Congress shall provide financial management support to the Congressional Budget Office as may be required and mutually agreed to by the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office. The Library of Congress is further authorized to compute and disburse the basic pay of all personnel of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to the provisions of section 5504 of title 5, except the Director, who as head of an agency, shall have pay computed and disbursed pursuant to the provisions of section 5505 of title 5.
All vouchers certified for payment by duly authorized certifying officers of the Library of Congress shall be supported with a certification by an officer or employee of the Congressional Budget Office duly authorized in writing by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to certify payments from appropriations of the Congressional Budget Office. The Congressional Budget Office certifying officers shall (1) be held responsible for the existence and correctness of the facts recited in the certificate or otherwise stated on the voucher or its supporting paper and the legality of the proposed payment under the appropriation or fund involved, (2) be held responsible and accountable for the correctness of the computations of certifications made, and (3) be held accountable for and required to make good to the United States the amount of any illegal, improper, or incorrect payment resulting from any false, inaccurate, or misleading certificate made by him, as well as for any payment prohibited by law which did not represent a legal obligation under the appropriation or fund involved: Provided, That the Comptroller General of the United States may, at his discretion, relieve such certifying officer or employee of liability for any payment otherwise proper whenever he finds (1) that the certification was based on official records and that such certifying officer or employee did not know, and by reasonable diligence and inquiry could not have ascertained the actual facts, or (2) that the obligation was incurred in good faith, that the payment was not contrary to any statutory provision specifically prohibiting payments of the character involved, and the United States has received value for such payment: Provided further, That the Comptroller General shall relieve such certifying officer or employee of liability for an overpayment for transportation services made to any common carrier covered by section 3726 of title 31, whenever he finds that the overpayment occurred solely because the administrative examination made prior to payment of the transportation bill did not include a verification of transportation rates, freight classifications, or land grant deductions.
The Disbursing Officer of the Library of Congress shall not be held accountable or responsible for any illegal, improper, or incorrect payment resulting from any false, inaccurate, or misleading certificate, the responsibility for which is imposed upon a certifying officer or employee of the Congressional Budget Office.
From and after October 1, 1981, the Disbursing Officer of the Library of Congress is authorized to disburse funds appropriated for the Office of Technology Assessment, and the Library of Congress shall provide financial management support to the Office of Technology Assessment as may be required and mutually agreed to by the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Office of Technology Assessment. The Library of Congress is further authorized to compute and disburse the basic pay of all personnel of the Office of Technology Assessment pursuant to the provisions of section 5504 of title 5.
All vouchers certified for payment by duly authorized certifying officers of the Library of Congress shall be supported with a certification by an officer or employee of the Office of Technology Assessment duly authorized in writing by the Director of the Office of Technology Assessment to certify payments from appropriations of the Office of Technology Assessment. The Office of Technology Assessment certifying officers shall (1) be held responsible for the existence and correctness of the facts recited in the certificate or otherwise stated on the voucher or its supporting paper and the legality of the proposed payment under the appropriation or fund involved, (2) be held responsible and accountable for the correctness of the computations of certifications made, and (3) be held accountable for and required to make good to the United States the amount of any illegal, improper, or incorrect payment resulting from any false, inaccurate, or misleading certificate made by him, as well as for any payment prohibited by law which did not represent a legal obligation under the appropriation or fund involved: Provided, That the Comptroller General of the United States may, at his discretion, relieve such certifying officer or employee of liability for any payment otherwise proper whenever he finds (1) that the certification was based on official records and that such certifying officer or employee did not know, and by reasonable diligence and inquiry could not have ascertained the actual facts, or (2) that the obligation was incurred in good faith, that the payment was not contrary to any statutory provision specifically prohibiting payments of the character involved, and the United States has received value for such payment: Provided further, That the Comptroller General shall relieve such certifying officer or employee of liability for an overpayment for transportation services made to any common carrier covered by section 3726 of title 31, whenever he finds that the overpayment occurred solely because of 1
The Disbursing Officer of the Library of Congress shall not be held accountable or responsible for any illegal, improper, or incorrect payment resulting from any false, inaccurate, or misleading certificate, the responsibility for which is imposed upon a certifying officer or employee of the Office of Technology Assessment.
From and after October 1, 1983, the Library of Congress is authorized to compute and disburse basic pay of all personnel of the Copyright Royalty Tribunal pursuant to the provisions of section 5504 of title 5.
Effective June 15, 1989, the Library of Congress shall provide financial management services and support to the United States Capitol Preservation Commission as may be required and mutually agreed to by the Librarian of Congress and the Cochairmen of the United States Capitol Preservation Commission.
From and after October 1, 1989, the Librarian of Congress shall take appropriate action to assure that no legislative branch employee whose salary is disbursed by the Library of Congress disbursing office is adversely affected by alternative ways of performing the personnel/payroll processing function.
From and after October 1, 1996, the Disbursing Officer of the Library of Congress is authorized to disburse funds appropriated for the Office of Compliance,1
All vouchers certified for payment by duly authorized certifying officers of the Library of Congress shall be supported with a certification by an officer or employee of the Office of Compliance 1 duly authorized in writing by the Executive Director of the Office of Compliance 1 to certify payments from appropriations of the Office of Compliance.1 The Office of Compliance 1 certifying officers shall (1) be held responsible for the existence and correctness of the facts recited in the certificate or otherwise stated on the voucher or its supporting paper and the legality of the proposed payment under the appropriation or fund involved, (2) be held responsible and accountable for the correctness of the computations of certifications made, and (3) be held accountable for and required to make good to the United States the amount of any illegal, improper, or incorrect payment resulting from any false, inaccurate, or misleading certificate made by them, as well as for any payment prohibited by law which did not represent a legal obligation under the appropriation or fund involved: Provided, That the Comptroller General of the United States may, at his discretion, relieve such certifying officer or employee of liability for any payment otherwise proper whenever he finds (1) that the certification was based on official records and that such certifying officer or employee did not know, and by reasonable diligence and inquiry could not have ascertained the actual facts, or (2) that the obligation was incurred in good faith, that the payment was not contrary to any statutory provision specifically prohibiting payments of the character involved, and the United States has received value for such payment: Provided further, That the Comptroller General shall relieve such certifying officer or employee of liability for an overpayment for transportation services made to any common carrier covered by section 3726 of title 31, whenever he finds that the overpayment occurred solely because the administrative examination made prior to payment of the transportation bill did not include a verification of transportation rates, freight classifications, or land grant deductions.
The Disbursing Officer of the Library of Congress shall not be held accountable or responsible for any illegal, improper, or incorrect payment resulting from any false, inaccurate, or misleading certificate, the responsibility for which is imposed upon a certifying officer or employee of the Office of Compliance.1
All appropriations made to the Architect of the Capitol on account of the Library Building and Grounds shall be disbursed for that purpose in the same manner as other appropriations under his control.
From and after October 1, 1978, funds available to the Library of Congress may be expended to reimburse the Department of State for medical services rendered to employees of the Library of Congress stationed abroad and for contracting on behalf of and hiring alien employees for the Library of Congress under compensation plans comparable to those authorized by section 444 of the Foreign Service Act of 1946, as amended (22 U.S.C. 889(a)), for purchase or hire of passenger motor vehicles; for payment of travel, storage and transportation of household goods, and transportation and per diem expenses for families enroute (not to exceed twenty-four); for benefits comparable to those payable under sections 911(9), 911(11), and 941 of the Foreign Service Act of 1946, as amended (22 U.S.C. 1136(9), 1136(11), and 1156, respectively); and travel benefits comparable with those which are now or hereafter may be granted single employees of the Agency for International Development, including single Foreign Service personnel assigned to A.I.D. projects, by the Administrator of the Agency for International Development—or his designee—under the authority of section 2396(b) of title 22
From and after October 1, 1980, payments in advance for subscriptions or other charges for bibliographical data, publications, materials in any other form, and services may be made by the Librarian of Congress whenever he determines it to be more prompt, efficient, or economical to do so in the interest of carrying out required Library programs.
In addition to amounts transferred pursuant to section 182b(e)(2) of this title, the Librarian of Congress may transfer amounts made available for salaries and expenses of the Library of Congress during a fiscal year to the applicable appropriations accounts of the United States Capitol Police in order to reimburse the Capitol Police for services provided in connection with a special event or program described in section 182b(a)(4) of this title.
Ten of the copies of the Statutes at Large, published by Little, Brown & Co., which were deposited in the Library prior to February 5, 1859, shall be retained by the Librarian for the use of the justices of the Supreme Court, during the terms of court.
Two copies of the journals and documents, and of each book printed by either House of Congress, well bound in calf, shall be deposited in the Library, and must not be taken therefrom.
The Librarian of the Library of Congress is authorized and directed to have bound at the end of each session of Congress the printed hearings of testimony taken by each committee of the Congress at the preceding session.
Twenty-five copies of the public Journals of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives, shall be deposited in the Library of the United States, at the seat of government, to be delivered to Members of Congress during any session, and to all other persons authorized by law to use the books in the Library, upon their application to the Librarian, and giving their responsible receipts for the same, in like manner as for other books.
The Librarian of Congress may from time to time transfer to other governmental libraries within the District of Columbia, including the Public Library, books and material in the possession of the Library of Congress in his judgment no longer necessary to its uses, but in the judgment of the custodians of such other collections likely to be useful to them, and may dispose of or destroy such material as has become useless: Provided, That no records of the Federal Government shall be transferred, disposed of, or destroyed under the authority granted in this section.
The Librarian of Congress is authorized to furnish to such institutions or individuals as may desire to buy them, such copies of the card indexes and other publications of the Library as may not be required for its ordinary transactions, and charge for the same a price which will cover their cost and ten per centum added, and all moneys received by him shall be deposited in the Treasury and shall be credited to the appropriation for necessary expenses for the preparation and distribution of catalog cards and other publications of the Library.
The library collected by the Smithsonian Institution under the provisions of the Act of August 10, 1846, chapter 25, and removed from the building of that institution, with the consent of the Regents thereof, to the Library of Congress, shall, while there deposited, be subject to the same regulations as the Library of Congress, except as hereinafter provided.
The Smithsonian Institution shall have the use of the library referred to in section 151 of this title in like manner as before its removal. All the books, maps, and charts of the Smithsonian Library shall be properly cared for and preserved in like manner as are those of the Congressional Library; from which the Smithsonian Library shall not be removed except on reimbursement by the Smithsonian Institution to the Treasury of the United States of expenses incurred in binding and in taking care of the same, or upon such terms and conditions as shall be mutually agreed upon by Congress and the Regents of the Institution.
The library of the House of Representatives shall be under the control and direction of the Librarian of Congress, who shall provide all needful books of reference therefor. The librarian, two assistant librarians, and assistant in the library, shall be appointed by the Clerk of the House, with the approval of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. No removals shall be made from the said positions except for cause reported to and approved by the Committee on Rules.
A board is created and established, to be known as the “Library of Congress Trust Fund Board” (hereinafter referred to as the board), which shall consist of the Secretary of the Treasury (or an Assistant Secretary designated in writing by the Secretary of the Treasury), the chairman and the vice chair of the Joint Committee on the Library, the Librarian of Congress, two persons appointed by the President for a term of five years each (the first appointments being for three and five years, respectively), four persons appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives (in consultation with the minority leader of the House of Representatives) for a term of five years each (the first appointments being for two, three, four, and five years, respectively), and four persons appointed by the majority leader of the Senate (in consultation with the minority leader of the Senate) for a term of five years each (the first appointments being for two, three, four, and five years, respectively). Upon request of the chair of the Board, any member whose term has expired may continue to serve on the Trust Fund Board until the earlier of the date on which such member’s successor is appointed or the expiration of the 1-year period which begins on the date such member’s term expires. Seven members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the board shall have an official seal, which shall be judicially noticed. The board may adopt rules and regulations in regard to its procedure and the conduct of its business.
No compensation shall be paid to the members of the board for their services as such members, but they shall be reimbursed for the expenses necessarily incurred by them, out of the income from the fund or funds in connection with which such expenses are incurred. The voucher of the chairman of the board shall be sufficient evidence that the expenses are properly allowable. Any expenses of the board, including the cost of its seal, not properly chargeable to the income of any trust fund held by it, shall be estimated for in the annual estimates of the librarian for the maintenance of the Library of Congress.
The Board is authorized to accept, receive, hold, and administer such gifts, bequests, or devises of property for the benefit of, or in connection with, the Library, its collections, or its service, as may be approved by the Board and by the Joint Committee on the Library.
The moneys or securities composing the trust funds given or bequeathed to the board shall be receipted for by the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall invest, reinvest, or retain investments as the board may from time to time determine. The income as and when collected shall be deposited with the Treasurer of the United States, who shall enter it in a special account to the credit of the Library of Congress and subject to disbursement by the librarian for the purposes in each case specified; and the Treasurer of the United States is authorized to honor the requisitions of the librarian made in such manner and in accordance with such regulations as the Treasurer may from time to time prescribe: Provided, however, That the board is not authorized to engage in any business nor to exercise any voting privilege which may be incidental to securities in its hands, nor shall the board make any investments that could not lawfully be made by a trust company in the District of Columbia, except that it may make any investments directly authorized by the instrument of gift, and may retain any investments accepted by it.
In the absence of any specification to the contrary, the board may deposit the principal sum, in cash, with the Treasurer of the United States as a permanent loan to the United States Treasury, and the Treasurer shall thereafter credit such deposit with interest at a rate which is the higher of the rate of 4 per centum per annum or a rate which is 0.25 percentage points less than a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, taking into consideration the current average market yield on outstanding long-term marketable obligations of the United States, adjusted to the nearest one-eighth of 1 per centum, payable semi-annually, such interest, as income, being subject to disbursement by the Librarian of Congress for the purposes specified: Provided, however, That the total of such principal sums at any time so held by the Treasurer under this authorization shall not exceed the sum of $10,000,000.
The board shall have perpetual succession, with all the usual powers and obligations of a trustee, including the power to sell, except as herein limited, in respect of all property, moneys, or securities which shall be conveyed, transferred, assigned, bequeathed, delivered, or paid over to it for the purposes above specified. The board may be sued in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, which is given jurisdiction of such suits, for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of any trust accepted by it.
Nothing in sections 154 to 162 and 163 1
Upon agreement by the Librarian of Congress and the Board, a gift or bequest accepted by the Librarian under the first paragraph of this section may be invested or reinvested in the same manner as provided for trust funds under section 157 of this title.
Gifts or bequests or devises to or for the benefit of the Library of Congress, including those to the board, and the income therefrom, shall be exempt from all Federal taxes, including all taxes levied by the District of Columbia.
Employees of the Library of Congress who perform special functions for the performance of which funds have been entrusted to the board or the librarian, or in connection with cooperative undertakings in which the Library of Congress is engaged, shall not be subject to section 209 of title 18; and section 5533 of title 5 shall not apply to any additional compensation so paid to such employees.
Hereafter the gross salary of any position in the Library which is augmented by payment of an honorarium from other than appropriated funds under terms of section 162 of this title shall not exceed an amount, which when combined with such honorarium, will exceed the maximum salary provided in chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5.
The Librarian of Congress is authorized and directed to prepare biennially an index to the legislation of the States of the United States enacted during the biennium, together with a supplemental digest of the more important legislation of the period.
The Librarian of Congress is directed to have the indexes and digests authorized by section 164 of this title printed and bound for official distribution only.
There is authorized to be appropriated annually for carrying out the provisions of section 164 of this title the sum of $30,000, to remain available until expended.
In order to permit the observance of authorized ceremonies within the Library of Congress buildings and grounds, the Librarian of Congress may suspend for such occasions so much of the prohibitions contained in sections 5103 and 5104 of title 40 as may be necessary for the occasion, but only if responsible officers shall have been appointed, and arrangements determined which are adequate, in the judgment of the Librarian, for the maintenance of suitable order and decorum in the proceedings, and for the protection of the Library buildings and grounds and of persons and property therein.
All hardbound revised editions and all cumulative pocket-part supplements shall be printed as Senate documents.
There shall be printed four thousand eight hundred and seventy additional copies of the hardbound revised editions prepared pursuant to clause (1) of section 168 of this title and of all cumulative pocket-part supplements thereto, of which two thousand six hundred and thirty-four copies shall be for the use of the House of Representatives, one thousand two hundred and thirty-six copies shall be for the use of the Senate, and one thousand copies shall be for the use of the Joint Committee on Printing. All Members of the Congress, Vice Presidents of the United States, and Delegates and Resident Commissioners, newly elected subsequent to the issuance of the hardbound revised edition prepared pursuant to such clause and prior to the first hardbound decennial revised edition, who did not receive a copy of the edition prepared pursuant to such clause, shall, upon timely request, receive one copy of such edition and the then current cumulative pocket-part supplement and any further supplements thereto. All Members of the Congress, Vice Presidents of the United States, and Delegates and Resident Commissioners, no longer serving after the issuance of the hardbound revised edition prepared pursuant to such clause and who received such edition, may receive one copy of each cumulative pocket-part supplement thereto upon timely request.
Additional copies of each hardbound decennial revised edition and of the cumulative pocket-part supplements thereto shall be printed and distributed in accordance with the provisions of any concurrent resolution hereafter adopted with respect thereto.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums, to remain available until expended, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of sections 168 to 168d of this title.
From and after October 1, 1983, not to exceed fifteen positions in the Library of Congress may be exempt from the provisions of appropriation Acts concerning the employment of aliens during the current fiscal year, but the Librarian shall not make any appointment to any such position until he has ascertained that he cannot secure for such appointments a person in any of the categories specified in such provisions who possesses the special qualifications for the particular position and also otherwise meets the general requirements for employment in the Library of Congress.
There is hereby established in the Library of Congress a Center for the Book.
The Center shall be under the direction of the Librarian of Congress.
The Librarian through the Center shall stimulate public interest and research in the role of the book in the diffusion of knowledge through such activities as a visiting scholar program accompanied by lectures, exhibits, publications, and any other related activities.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Librarian of Congress shall equip, furnish, operate, and maintain the Library of Congress Mass Book Deacidification Facility.
The Librarian of Congress (hereafter in sections 179l to 179w of this title referred to as the “Librarian”) shall continue the National Film Registry established and maintained under the National Film Preservation Act of 1988 (Public Law 100–446), and the National Film Preservation Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–307) pursuant to the provisions of sections 179l to 179w of this title, for the purpose of maintaining and preserving films that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
The remedies provided in section 179r of this title shall be the exclusive remedies under sections 179l to 179w of this title, or any other Federal or State law, regarding the use of the seal described in section 179m(a)(3) of this title.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Librarian for the first fiscal year beginning on or after October 11, 1996, and each succeeding fiscal year through fiscal year 2026 such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of sections 179l to 179w of this title, but in no fiscal year shall such sum exceed $250,000.
The provisions of sections 179l to 179w of this title shall apply to any copy of any film, including those copies of films selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry under the National Film Preservation Act of 1988 and the National Film Preservation Act of 1992, except that any film so selected under either Act shall be deemed to have been selected for the National Film Registry under sections 179l to 179w of this title.
Each of the revolving funds established under sections 182a to 182d of this title shall be subject to audit by the Comptroller General at the Comptroller General’s discretion.