Many offer online resources and access to a catalog of their physical collections. International, national and local information The Library of Congress is perhaps the best known. Recognized as the national library of the United States, it serves as the research arm of Congress and the world's largest library, with books and electronic resources on every subject imaginable. There are also approximately 1,350 federal depository libraries throughout the United States and its territories. All provide free public access to a wide variety of federal government information in both print and electronic formats.
State libraries are great sources for local and regional information.
Among the treasures found at state libraries are historical and legal records and studies conducted by state agencies. For links to the official libraries of other countries, check out this list compiled by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions . The National Library of Education is the federal government's primary resource center for education information. It contains U.S. Department of Education publications and a wealth of resources for students and teachers. The National Library of Medicine is the world's largest biomedical library and publisher of the Medline online catalog.