User:Arch dude/DNB at the US Library of Congress

I visited the Library of Congress on 2011-02-05 to see if I could access a copy of the first edition of the DNB and get images of pages. I was able to get access. I would have been allowed to make Xerox copies, but I elected not to do so because the books are fairly fragile. It is permitted to take photographs, so I will practice at home and then go back next week to take pictures.

As suggested at the LoC website, I parked at Union Station and walked 5 blocks to the Library. I wnet to the Room 140 in the Madison building and got a library card, then went to the main reading room in the Jefferson building and submitted a request for: DA48.D42, vols 20, 30, and 31. This request failed and I was sent to see a series of reference librarians, all helpful. One re-checked the computer and then went herself to retrieve the volumes. She found that DA48.D42 is really a broken redirect, but there was a real 63-volume set with call number DA48.D4, and she brought me the three volumes.

For my next trip, planned for next Saturday 2011-02-12, I will pre-order the volumes the night before, using the web form, so they should be available when I arrive.

The volumes are smaller than I thought they would be, and the print is smaller. Thus, the photography may be harder than I at first thought.

LoC also has the suppliments, the errata, and later additions. Their computer files are not completely up to date. the computer incorrectly thought that there was another copy of the original DNB in the business library on the open shelves, but alas this was not true, so I will need to call for the volumes I need.

The good news is that there is no fee for photography, so I can just keep at it until I get it right. -Arch dude (talk) 20:29, 5 February 2011 (UTC)
 * Can I suggest take a tripod, and there are plenty of pages that give advice for photographing books. — billinghurst  sDrewth  00:11, 6 February 2011 (UTC)