# LOC Collections — Photos Maps Films & More

> Explore and access digitized collections from the Library of Congress. (iPhone/iPad app by Library Of Congress.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/loc-collections/id1446790792 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Library Of Congress](https://appshunter.io/developer/380309748)
- Category: Education, Lifestyle
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.90/5 from 35 App Store ratings · 10 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 14.0 · 23 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2019-05-13
- Data updated: 2026-08-04
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/loc-collections/id1446790792/reviews.md

## What is LOC Collections?

Explore the Library of Congress digital collections. The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world. Use LOC Collections to access iconic photos, historic maps, books, films, newspapers, manuscripts and sound recordings.
Search and browse millions of items.
Save and share your favorites.
Zoom in to explore images in detail.
Read books.
Search historic newspapers.
Watch early films from Thomas Edison and other pioneers.
Explore the papers of U.S. presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and more).
View iconic photos and maps documenting the Civil War.
View letters, diaries and notes in the papers of Rosa Parks, Mary Church Terrell, Susan B. Anthony and other changemakers.

## Key features

- Access millions of digitized items
- Explore photos, maps, books, and films
- Search and browse collections
- Save and share favorites
- Zoom in for detailed image exploration
- Read historic books and newspapers
- Watch early films

## Recent user reviews (10 of 10)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/loc-collections/id1446790792/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Not working

*2025-03-18*

I literally can’t access ANYTHING on this app. It keeps saying there is an error with the servers…. Worked just fine a few months ago

### 2/5 — Library? No. Congress? Probably👎                  🫤

*2025-03-17*

Maybe the Worlds largest collection of information on Earth; just doesn’t know the one book that all M.D.s have to study all seven years of their medical education…I find that funny!

### 3/5 — Good, but…

*2024-10-16*

There’s SOOOO much fascinating and thought-provoking material here - enough to keep someone occupied for years! The down side? No good way to access what you want to see. The buttons under “Topics” are completely random and unrelated to the labels. Hundreds, maybe thousands of scanned books, and no way to Search for an author or title? Just Browse? Fix that, and you have a winner!

### 1/5 — Needs improvement

*2024-07-22*

Impossible to browse by topic. Any category I choose takes me to another category. “American History” takes me to “Geography & Places.” “Geography & Places” takes me to “Sports & Recreation,” and so on. Great idea, but not functional.

### 4/5 — Fascinating collection

*2023-07-30*

A truly overwhelming trove of texts, pictures, sounds, and videos.  A remarkable resource.

### 2/5 — Painfully slow

*2021-02-11*

Great idea, poor execution. This app is painfully slow, and more than half the time fails to connect to the database of items I want to access. Sometimes I need to try over and over again to actually access the material. Too bad. This could have been a very useful research tool.

### 5/5 — LOC

*2021-02-03*

This is a great app to see and read about history. Being able to read the detailed description about the pictures and collections is amazing. Love the format and the accessibility of it.

### 5/5 — Great Resource

*2020-06-15*

This app is very helpful. It makes navigating the different collections way easier and faster.

However, there are some things that could be added. For starters, the website has a better system to view and zoom in on things. For example, if I’m looking at a newspaper, on the website I can easily zoom in and find what I need. But on the app it’s just a blurry picture and I can’t read anything.

### 3/5 — Issue using Favorites features in iOS release 1.3.0 in

*2020-04-22*

Submitted issue report to LOC. Awaiting feedback. I can’t establish or retrieve Favorites due to an Apple ID integration issue.
Question ID: 	15405657
Your question: 	In the new iOS LOC Collections app version 1.3.0 when attempting to add a Favorite by clicking on the star within an item page and also when clicking on the VIEW My Favorites link on the main app screen, I get an error pop up stating: “iCloud Login Required - This app uses iCloud to save items. Please sign in to your device with your Apple ID in the IOS Settings app.” I am signed into my iCloud account on my iPhone where I’ve downloaded the app from the App Store. I have a Verizon iPhone X model MQCL2LL/A running iOS release 13.4.5 (17F5044d).

### 2/5 — Limited views

*2020-04-22*

Many of the entries are impossible to view. They show as small thumbnails that do not expand or, if they do expand, are illegible. This app is pretty useless.

## Frequently asked questions about LOC Collections

### What kind of educational content does LOC Collections offer?

LOC Collections provides access to a vast array of educational materials, including millions of digitized items from the Library of Congress. Users can explore iconic photos, historic maps, books, films, newspapers, manuscripts, and sound recordings, offering rich learning opportunities.

### How does LOC Collections help track user progress?

While LOC Collections allows users to save and share their favorite items, it does not explicitly offer a progress tracking feature for learning. The focus is on exploration and discovery within the extensive digital archives.

### Does LOC Collections offer any certifications?

LOC Collections does not offer formal certifications. Its primary purpose is to provide access to historical and cultural resources for personal exploration and research.

### What is the learning methodology behind LOC Collections?

The learning methodology is self-directed and discovery-based. Users can freely browse, search, and interact with a wide range of primary source materials to learn at their own pace.

### What devices are compatible with LOC Collections?

LOC Collections is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices, allowing users to access its extensive digital collections on the go.

### How often is LOC Collections updated?

The app was last updated on December 22, 2023, with version 2.8.0. This indicates regular maintenance and potential for new features or content additions over time.

### What do users like and dislike about LOC Collections?

With a rating of 3.9 stars from 35 ratings, user sentiment appears mixed. While the breadth of content is a significant draw, specific feedback on likes and dislikes would require a more extensive review analysis.

### Does LOC Collections have ads?

No, LOC Collections does not contain advertisements. It is a free application provided by the Library of Congress.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.8.0 — 2023-12-22

Accessibility enhancements.
Navigation enhancements.
Bug fixes.

### 2.7.0 — 2023-12-05

New Integrated App Introduction
Improved Error Handling

### 2.6.0 — 2023-07-14

Multipage Item navigation enhancements.
Search Result listings enhancements.
Bug fixes.

### 2.5.0 — 2023-05-09

Accessibility enhancements and bug fixes.

### 2.4.0 — 2023-03-29

New Highlights: Featured Collection and Selected Digitized Books.
Perfomance Refinements.

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## More apps by Library Of Congress

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All apps by Library Of Congress: https://appshunter.io/developer/380309748

## Related topics

[library of congress](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/library-of-congress) · [loc collections](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/loc-collections) · [national archives](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/national-archives) · [harriet harper](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/harriet-harper) · [abigail pratt](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/abigail-pratt)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-04.*
