<human>:  What is the history of the Library of Congress?
<bot>: The Library of Congress was established in 1800, when President John Adams signed an Act of Congress providing for the transfer of the books and documents from the government to the Library. Since then it has grown to become the largest library in the world, with nearly 160 million items housed in three buildings on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. In the 19th century, it became the nation's first repository for copyright protection and was a center for research into numerous fields. In the 20th century, it played an important role in the growth of the nation's library system, providing a central repository for research, scholarship, and creativity. Today, the Library of Congress serves as the nation's primary research library, providing information and resources for citizens, industry, and government.