---
kind: "section"
citation: "2 U.S.C. § 1702"
title: "2"
title_heading: "The Congress"
number: "1702"
heading: "Duties of Librarian of Congress"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/2/1702"
units:
  - "Chapter 27 — Sound Recording Preservation by the Library of Congress"
  - "Subchapter I — National Recording Registry"
---

# §1702. Duties of Librarian of Congress

- (a) **Establishment of criteria and procedures—** For purposes of carrying out this subchapter, the [Librarian](/usc/2/1741.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) establish criteria and procedures under which [sound recordings](/usc/2/1741.md?p=3) may be included in the National Recording Registry, except that no [sound recording](/usc/2/1741.md?p=3) shall be eligible for inclusion in the National Recording Registry until 10 years after the recording’s creation;
  - (2) establish procedures under which the general public may make recommendations to the National Recording Preservation [Board](/usc/2/1741.md?p=2) established under subchapter III regarding the inclusion of [sound recordings](/usc/2/1741.md?p=3) in the National Recording Registry; and
  - (3) determine which [sound recordings](/usc/2/1741.md?p=3) satisfy the criteria established under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) and select such recordings for inclusion in the National Recording Registry.
- (b) **Publication of sound recordings in the Registry—** The [Librarian](/usc/2/1741.md?p=1) shall publish in the Federal Register the name of each [sound recording](/usc/2/1741.md?p=3) that is selected for inclusion in the National Recording Registry.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–474, title I, § 102, Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2085.)