Editing Folger Shakespeare Library (section)

{{Short description|Independent research library in Washington, D.C.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox library
| library_name = Folger Shakespeare Library
| image = Folger Reading Room.jpg
| caption = The Folger Shakespeare Library reading room with one of [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]'s [[First Folio]]s in the foreground
| type = Private Research library<br/>Special library<ref>{{cite web |title=Folger Shakespeare Library library, Washington, USA|url=http://www.libdex.com/country/usa/district_of_columbia/washington/library_19583.html |website=Libdex}}</ref>
| scope = Early modern Europe, [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]
| established = 1932
| location = [[Washington, D.C.]]
| country = United States
| items_collected = Shakespeare-related materials, rare books, [[manuscript]]s, [[Printmaking|prints]], [[drawing]]s, [[playbill]]s, [[painting]]s
| coordinates = {{Coord|38|53|22|N|77|0|11|W|region:US-DC_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| area = 
| architect = Cret, Paul P.; Trowbridge, Alexander B. (Modern architecture)
| director = [Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper]
| website = {{official URL}}
| logo = Folger Shakespeare Library.png
}}

The '''Folger Shakespeare Library''' is an independent [[research library]] on [[Capitol Hill]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], United States. It has the world's largest collection of the printed works of [[William Shakespeare]], and is a primary repository for rare materials from the [[early modern period]] (1500–1750) in Britain and Europe. The library was established by [[Henry Clay Folger]] in association with his wife, [[Emily Jordan Folger]]. It opened in 1932, two years after his death.

The library offers advanced scholarly programs and national outreach to [[K–12]] classroom teachers on Shakespeare education. Other performances and events at the Folger include the award-winning Folger Theatre, which produces Shakespeare-inspired theater; Folger Consort, the early-music ensemble-in-residence; the O.B. Hardison Poetry Series; the PEN/Faulkner Reading Series; and numerous other exhibits, seminars, talks and lectures, and family programs. It also has several publications, including the Folger Library editions of Shakespeare's plays, the journal ''[[Shakespeare Quarterly]]'', the teacher resource books ''Shakespeare Set Free'', and [[Exhibition catalogue|catalogs of exhibitions]]. The Folger is also a leader in methods of [[Preservation (library and archive)|preserving]] rare materials.

The library is privately endowed and administered by the Trustees of [[Amherst College]]. The library building is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].