LOC

Created byAct of April 24, 1800 (2 Stat. 56, appropriation establishing a library for Congress); Librarian term set by the Librarian of Congress Succession Modernization Act of 2015, P.L. 114-86

Head appointed2 U.S.C. § 136-1 (P.L. 114-86): Librarian appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a 10-year term; may be reappointed (with new Senate consent) to additional 10-year terms — note P.L. 114-86 moved this from 2 U.S.C. § 136, which now covers only rulemaking for the Library (PAS)

Removal standardno statutory protection — at will despite the 10-year term (statute is silent on removal; a Librarian was removed by the President in May 2025 without stated cause)

Funded underannual Legislative Branch Appropriations Act (Library accounts including the Copyright Office and Congressional Research Service; copyright registration fees under 17 U.S.C. § 708 offset part of Copyright Office costs)

Congressional oversightHouse Administration (with the Joint Committee on the Library) · Senate Rules and Administration (with the Joint Committee on the Library)

Inspector generalown LOC IG appointed by the Librarian of Congress (2 U.S.C. § 185, Library of Congress Inspector General Act of 2005, enacted as title I, § 1307 of P.L. 109-55 — agency-appointed, not PAS)

Judicial reviewLegislative-branch entity generally outside the APA and FOIA; exception: Copyright Office actions under Title 17 are expressly subject to the APA (17 U.S.C. § 701(e)), and registration refusals are also testable in infringement litigation (17 U.S.C. § 411(a))