The Library of Congress is the United States’ oldest federal cultural institution, serving as a law library for Congress. Housing approximately 90 million items across over 800 kilometres of shelves; it is also the largest law library in the world. The library also contains the complete record of American law, as well as materials from over 240 global legal jurisdictions. This includes books, sound recordings, photographs, maps and many more. Today, the collections are housed in the James Madison Memorial Building of the Library of Congress, where it is opened to the general public. Here, visitors are provided access to its library preserves, with vast knowledge on hand to inform and engage them intellectually. Staff members are also available on-hand to help and assist visitors who are in need.