Library of Congress (Washington, D.C.)

The Library of Congress dominates global libraries as the largest, housing over 170 million items across 838 miles of shelving. This unparalleled repository outperforms #2 Bodleian Library by holding 13 times its item count, and it receives approximately 15,000 new items daily. It directly supports U.S. Congress and serves as the de facto national library, with North America's largest rare book collection and over 5,300 incunabula. The Library of Congress is 40% larger than the British Library in shelf space, cementing its role as the ultimate knowledge hub for researchers and legislators.