Home / Guided Primary Source Analyses / Featured Source: Building the Library of Congress Guided Primary Source Analyses Featured Source: Building the Library of Congress April 24, 2012March 15, 2020 "Construction of the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., April 19, 1893." Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Note: The Library was founded on April 24, 1800, President John Adams approved the appropriation of $5,000 for the purchase of "such books as may be necessary for the use of congress."