William Thomas
                         P.O. Box 27217
                     Washington, D.C. 20038

                         April 16, 1989

Chief, Protective Services Office
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir, or madam:

     Owing to the fact that I am presently involved in the pro se
litigationofan action in the FederalDistrict,andseveral
actionsintheFederalCircuit CourtsfortheDistrictof Columbia, over
the past four years I have an opportunity to visit the Library of
Congress between three to six times a month. 

     Until recently I had never encountered any problems on my 
visits to the Library.

     Howeverontwoof three separate visitstotheLibrary during
March,1989 I was told by security officers that Iwould not be
permitted to carry my knapsack into the library.

     OnbothofthoseoccasionsIwas,afterconsiderable discussion and a
search of my knapsack, finally permitted to    
carry the pack into the Library.  Nonetheless I was warned that,
in the event that any librarian complained about the fact that I
had a pack, I might still be asked to leave the library.

     Asexplained to the security officers, I thought thisnew
process was pointless (is there some concern that people might
smuggle books into the Library?), and demeaning.

     Iinquiredas to the authority bywhichtheseseemingly pointless
and demeaning procedures were being applied to me,and wastold that
the authority resided in a recent "memo."  Onthe one occasion that
I pressed for more specific information on this
particular"memo"anofficerdid make atelephonecalland requesta copy
of the "memo," but,he told me,thesupervisor with whom he spoke on
the phone refused to provide a copy for my 
review.

     I do not appreciate the delay, embarassment, and seeming 
harrassmentwhich I have suffered on the twooccasionsrelated above.

     Iwould appreciate knowing the exact nature of this"memo" so
that I can be assured similar incidents will not occur in the
future.

               Thank you for your prompt attention,


                         William Thomas