The Library of Congress will open the floor of its Main Reading Room in the Thomas Jefferson Building to the public starting next week.

The Main Reading Room will be open to visitors starting from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.-3 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays starting April 11. The space was originally reserved for researchers, and to gain access, you had to have a library card. Before, casual visitors could only view the room through plexiglass.

Researchers will still have access to the room during these visitor hours, so the Library of Congress is asking all visitors to maintain a quiet, reflective atmosphere.

Visitor capacity will be limited to about 40 patrons at a time, according to the library’s website. Patrons are still required to reserve free timed entry passes to access the Thomas Jefferson Building, but those passes don’t guarantee a visit to the Main Reading Room due to strong interest and limited capacity.

In addition, visitors can experience the Main Reading Room on Thursday evenings as a part of Live at the Library starting April 13. The Thomas Jefferson Building and all exhibitions will be open for extended hours from 5 p.m.-8 p.m., complete with happy hour drinks and snacks available for purchase. The series also periodically includes special presentations and programs; for example, the April 13 event will feature a screening of “Simon and Laura,” a 1955 film that satirizes the medium of television.

The Reading Room access pilot will continue through September, the Library of Congress noted in its press release.

Tours of the Thomas Jefferson Building will return this spring, and visitors with timed passes can access the Library building through the Capital Visitor Center tunnel, which also reopens this spring.