An Act to provide for the establishment of a Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, and for other purposes.
PL 95-129 (S.1331), enacted 10/13/1977

PUBLIC LAW 95-129—OCT. 16, 1977 
91 STAT. 1151 
Public Law 95-129 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To provide for the establishment of a Center for the Book in the Library of 
Congress, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Seriate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress asserribled^ 
DECLARATION OF FINDINGS AND PURPOSE 
SECTION 1. The Congress hereby finds and declares— 
(1) that the Congress of the United States on April 24, 1800, 
established for itself a library of the Congress; 
(2) that in 1815, the Congress purchased the personal library 
of the third President of the United States which contained mate-
rials on every science known to man and described such a collec-
tion as a "substratum of a great national library"; 
(3) that the Congress of the United States in recognition of 
the importance of printing and its impact on America purchased 
the Gutenberg Bible in 1930 for the Nation for placement in the 
Library of Congress; 
(4) that the Congress of the United States has through statute 
and appropriations made this library accessible to any member of 
the public; 
(5) that this collection of books and other library materials has 
now become one of the greatest libraries in civilization; 
(6) that the book and the printed word have had the most 
profound influence on American civilization and learning and 
have been the very foundation on which our democratic principles 
have survived through our two hundred-year history; 
(7) that in the year 1977, the Congress of the United States 
assembled hereby declares its reaffirmation of the importance of 
the printed word and the book and recognizes the importance of 
a Center for the Book to the continued study and development 
of written record as central to our understanding of ourselves 
and our world. 
It is therefore the purpose of this Act to establish a Center for the 
Book in the Library of Congress to provide a program for the investi-
gation of the transmission of human knowledge and to heighten public 
interest in the role of books and printing in the diffusion of this 
knowledge. 
DEFINITIONS 
SEC. 2. As used in this Act— 
(1) the term Center means the Center for the Book; 
(2) the term Librarian means the Librarian of Congress. 
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTER 
SEC. 3. There is hereby established in the Libraiy of Congress a 
Center for the Book. 
The Center shall be under the direction of the Librarian of Congress. 
Oct. 13, 1977 
[S. 1331] 
Library of 
Congress. 
Center for 
the Book. 
Establishment. 
2 u s e 171. 
2 u s e 172. 
2 u s e 173. 
ag-igu o - so - 75 
91 STAT. 1152 
PUBLIC LAW 95-129—OCT. 13, 1977 
FUNCTION OF THE CENTER 
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2 use 174. 
SEC. 4. The Librarian through the Center shall stimulate public 
interest and research in the role of the book in the diffusion of knowl-
edge through such activities as a visiting scholar program accompanied 
by lectures, exhibits, publications, and any other related activities. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 
2 use 175. 
SEC. 5. The Librarian of Congress, in carrying out the Center's 
functions, is authorized to— 
Regulations. 
(1) prescribe such regulations as he deems necessary; 
(2) receive money and other property donated, bequeathed, or 
devised for the purposes of the Center, and to use, sell, or otherwise 
dispose of such property for the purposes of carrying out the 
Center's functions, without reference to Federal disposal statutes; 
and 
(3) accept and utilize the services of voluntary and noncompen-
sated personnel and reimburse them for travel expenses, including 
per diem, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
Approved October 13, 1977. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-491 accompanying H.R. 6214 (Comm. on House Administra-
tion). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-315 (Comm. on Rules and Administration). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 123 (1977): 
July 12, considered and passed Senate. 
Sept. 26, considered and passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 6214. 
Sect. 30, Senate agreed to House amendments.