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Library of Congress: News
The latest news from the Library of Congress.
Library & French Archive Exchange Cinema & TV Treasures
The Library of Congress and the French Institut National de l'Audiovisuel (INA), in an unprecedented collaboration, will exchange up to 500 hours of digitized film and television content over the next three years, reflecting how the United States and France have been portrayed in each other's media.
Junior Fellows Summer Internships Available
This summer the Library of Congress once again is offering special 10-week paid internships to college students. For a stipend of $3,000, the 2011 class of Junior Fellows Summer Interns will work full-time from May 29 through Aug. 3.
VHP To Collect Vietnam War Stories
The Library of Congress Veterans History Project has launched a multi-year campaign to preserve the stories of the nation's Vietnam War veterans.
Naval Observatory Donates Rare Book to Library of Congress
The Library of Congress announced today the acquisition of a rare book to its Thomas Jefferson’s Library. Donated by the United States Naval Observatory, a Latin version of "Sur la Figure de la Terre," written by the 18th-century French mathematician and philosopher Pierre-Louis Moreau de Maupertuis, will join the more than 6,000 titles already assembled in the collection.
New Digital Curation Residency Program
The Library of Congress and the Institute of Museum and Library Services will collaborate to develop and implement a national residency program in digital curation, involving the collection, selection, management, and long-term preservation and accessibility of digital assets.
Library of Congress Offers Congressional Record As iPad App
The Library of Congress, at the initiative of House Leadership and under the guidance of the Committee on House Administration, today announced it has made the Congressional Record available as an app to users of iPad tablet devices.
New Library Publication Highlights Civil Rights Struggle
"Miles to Go for Freedom: Segregation and Civil Rights in the Jim Crow Era" by Linda B. Osborne has been published by the Library of Congress and Abrams Books.
Gayle Osterberg Named Director of Communications
The Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, has named Gayle Osterberg, a veteran communications specialist in Washington D.C., Director of Communications at the Library effective January 30.
Koussevitzky Foundations Announces Commission Winners
The Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress and the Koussevitzky Music Foundation, Inc. have awarded commissions for new musical works to eight composers.
Roberta Shaffer Appointed Associate Librarian for Library Services
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Roberta I. Shaffer as associate librarian for Library Services. The appointment of Shaffer, who has served as the Law Librarian of Congress since August 2009, is effective immediately.
David Mao Appointed Law Librarian of Congress
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed David S. Mao as the 23rd Law Librarian of Congress. The appointment of Mao, who has served as Deputy Law Librarian since June 2010, is effective immediately.
Walter Dean Myers Named Ambassador for Young People's Lit
Walter Dean Myers, five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Award and two Newbery Honors, today was named National Ambassador for Young People's Literature by Librarian of Congress James Billington. Myers will serve in the position during 2012 and 2013, succeeding Katherine Paterson.
25 Films Added to National Film Registry
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today selected "forrest Gump" and 24 others to be preserved as cultural, artistic and historical treasures in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.
New Director of American Folklife Center
Elizabeth "Betsy" Peterson has been appointed Director of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, effective January 16, 2012. Peterson succeeds Peggy A. Bulger, who retires from federal service on December 31.
Historic Bell Recordings Unlocked
Nearly 10 years ago, the Library of Congress initiated a research collaboration with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to study the application of digital imaging to the extraction of sound from phonograph records and other grooved media. That collaboration has resulted in unlocking experimental sound recordings made more than 100 years ago by Alexander Graham Bell and associates.
Mary Mazanec Named CRS Director
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Mary B. Mazanec as director of the Congressional Research Service (CRS). The appointment of Mazanec, who has served since April 2011 as CRS acting director, is effective immediately.
Call for Applications for Astrobiology Chair
The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress is accepting applications and nominations for the new Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology.
NASA/Library of Congress Establish Chair in Astrobiology
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced today the establishment of the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology to focus on an important area of human inquiry—the cultural, philosophical, ethical and societal implications of astrobiology.
Commemorate Veterans Day with Make it Meaningful Initiative
The Veterans History Project celebrates Veterans Day 2011 as an opportunity to make the holiday more meaningful by recognizing veterans in the workplace through the Make it Meaningful Initiative.
Talking-Book Program Honors Pioneers
During a celebration of the Pioneers' 100th anniversary as a volunteer organization, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) of the Library of Congress today presented a proclamation, recognizing the group's role in serving blind and disabled readers.
NLS Works with Hospitals Serving Veterans
In honor of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) of the Library of Congress announces its program with military hospitals and rehabilitation centers to distribute digital talking-book players to service members who can no longer read or handle printed materials.
Library Adds AIA/AAF Architectural Collections
The Library of Congress announced today the acquisition of the American Institute of Architects and American Architectural Foundation Collection, consisting of rare and significant architectural drawings, photographs and illustrated publications.
Library Census Maps 1,000 Federal Libraries
Profiles of U.S. federal libraries from around the world are now available online. Presented dynamically with an interactive mapping tool, the Federal Library Directory displays geographic and collections data from more than 1,000 libraries.
Levine Featured in "Poet & Poem" Series
U.S. Poet Laureate Philip Levine and more than 20 other noted poets will be featured in the 2012 season of "The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress." The radio series premieres January 11.
Associate Copyright Register Named
Register of Copyrights Maria A. Pallante has named Michele Woods to the position of Associate Register for Policy and International Affairs.
Director of Copyright Office Announces Priorities
Register of Copyrights Maria A. Pallante today made public her office’s priorities and special projects through October, 2013.
New Book Honors John Cole's Contributions
Few individuals are recognized by essays published in their honor while they are still fully engaged in their chosen profession. John Y. Cole, Director of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, is one of those exceptions.
Library of Congress Quarterly Journal Available in JSTOR
The full archive of the Quarterly Journal of the Library of Congress is now accessible electronically through JSTOR, a not-for-profit shared digital library.
Swann Foundation Accepting Fellowship Applications
The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, is accepting applications for its graduate fellowship for the 2012-2013 academic year. Applications are due by close of business on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012.
Collegiate Book Collecting Contest Winners Announced
The Center for the Book and the Rare Book and Special Collections Division of the Library of Congress, the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America and the Fellowship of American Bibliographic Societies have announced the winners of the National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest.
Library of Congress Selects 2011-12 Teacher-in-Residence
Earnestine Sweeting, a fifth-grade classroom teacher at P.S. 153, The Helen Keller School, in the Bronx, N.Y., has been selected as the Library's 2011-2012 Teacher-in-Residence.
River of Words Gets a New Home
The Saint Mary’s College Center for Environmental Literacy in Moraga, Calif., is the new home of the River of Words environmental poetry and visual arts program, which the Center for the Book has co-sponsored since its inception in 1995.
New: Illustrated Timeline of the Civil War
To mark the sesquicentennial of the bloodiest conflict on American soil, the nation’s library, in collaboration with Little, Brown and Company, has published "The Library of Congress Illustrated Timeline of the Civil War" by Margaret E. Wagner, with an introduction by historian Gary W. Gallagher.
New Publication: Lincoln & the Gettysburg Address
To commemorate the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in 1963, the Library of Congress published "Long Remembered: Lincoln and his Five Versions of the Gettysburg Address" with text by two scholars from the Library’s Manuscript Division, David D. Mearns and Lloyd A. Dunlap.
Library Receives Gift of Artwork by Nicola Green
The Library of Congress today announced the acquisition of a series of seven serigraph prints titled "In Seven Days …" by British artist Nicola Green. The prints were inspired by Green’s personal experiences while following Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.
Book Festival Survey
Don't forget... give us your opinion of this year's National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. Thanks!
Thousands Throng to Two-Day Book Festival
An estimated 200,000 book-lovers gathered on the National Mall this past weekend for the first-ever two-day National Book Festival. The 2011 event featured presentations and book signings by more than 100 of our nation’s bestselling authors, illustrators and poets including Toni Morrison, Hoda Kotb, Dave Eggers, David McCullough, Terry McMillan, Katherine Paterson, Garrison Keillor and Jim Lehrer.
Bacharach & David Named Recipients of Gershwin Prize
The Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, announced today that Grammy- and Academy-Award-winning songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David will join the ranks of Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, and Paul McCartney as recipients of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
Applicants for Kislak Fellowship Sought
The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress is accepting applications for a Kislak Fellowship that offers a post-doctoral scholar an opportunity to conduct research in the culture and history of the early Americas, from the contact period to circa 1819, with particular emphasis on Florida, the Caribbean and Mesoamerica, using the Jay Kislak Collection and other resources at the Library.
AFC Endangered Music To Be Reissued
The American Folklife Center’s Endangered Music Project will be reissued as part of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings’ "The Mickey Hart Collection" on Oct. 11. Music will be available digitally (stream and download) for the first time while keeping physical versions in print as on-demand CDs.
More Than 100 Authors to Highlight 2011 National Book Festival
An unprecedented 112 authors, poets and illustrators will speak and meet with their readers at the 2011 National Book Festival, sponsored by the Library of Congress. The event, to be held Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday, Sept. 25 on the National Mall – rain or shine – also will offer more authors and activities for young readers than ever before.
Library Seeks Applicants for Kissinger Chair
The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress is accepting applications and nominations for the Henry A. Kissinger Chair in Foreign Policy and International Relations.
Library Awarded Guggenheim Grant for Criminal Justice Research
The Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation has awarded a $150,000 grant to the Library of Congress to support a program on demography, technology and criminal justice.
Papers of John Raitt to Join Library Collections
The Music Division of the Library of Congress will receive an extensive collection of Broadway and personal memorabilia from the estate of Broadway giant John Raitt, who originated the role of Billy Bigelow in the Rodgers and Hammerstein show "Carousel" and also starred in "The Pajama Game," "Oklahoma!" and other top musicals from the 1940s to the 1960s.
United States Copyright Office Releases Section 302 Report
The U.S. Copyright Office today issued its report on marketplace alternatives to the statutory licenses set forth in Sections 111, 119 and 122 of the Copyright Act as required by Section 302 of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 (STELA).
Library Announces Agreement with Small Press Expo
The Library of Congress today announced an agreement with Small Press Expo that will allow the Library to acquire independent comics and cartoon-art forms—material that it does not receive through copyright deposit.
Library, Smithsonian Launch Civil Rights History Project Website
The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture have launched The Civil Rights History Project.
Kluge Center Announces Fellows
The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress announces the appointment of 12 post-doctoral fellows, who will conduct humanistic and social-science research in the Library’s large and varied collections.
Fields of Vision Book Series Features 20th-Century Photographers
Selected images from the works of FSA/OWI photographers Gordon Parks (1912-2006), Arthur Rothstein (1915-1985) and Carl Mydans (1907-2004) are now featured in the Library of Congress series titled "Fields of Vision."
Reading Rooms Open, Computers Down Aug. 27
All Library reading rooms will be open regular hours tomorrow, Sat. Aug. 27, but our websites (including computer catalogs) will be down all day. Also, no Internet or wifi service. Sorry for the inconvenience.
France Named Chief of Preservation Research & Testing
Fenella France, lead scientist for preservation research at the Library of Congress since 2007, has been named chief of the Library's Preservation Research and Testing Division.
"Exquisite Corpse Adventure" to Be Published Aug. 23
"The Exquisite Corpse Adventure," which began as a story of 27 biweekly installments on Read.gov, will soon be available in book form from Candlewick Press.
Philip Levine Named Poet Laureate
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today announced the appointment of Philip Levine as the Library’s 18th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2011-2012.
Library of Congress Seeks Volunteer Docents
The Library of Congress is recruiting the 2011 class of volunteer docents to lead tours of the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. Docent training classes will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Tuesdays & Thursdays, from Aug. 30 through Dec. 1.
Ricardo Luna Named a Distinguished Visiting Scholar
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Ricardo V. Luna, a professor and former ambassador from Peru, as a distinguished visiting scholar at the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.
Photos of Sikkim by Alice Kandell Now Online
Three hundred extraordinary photographs by Alice S. Kandell, showing both people and landscapes of the Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim, are now online at the Library of Congress
Alexander Evans Named Henry Kissinger Scholar
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Alexander Evans, a counselor in the British diplomatic service, as the Henry Alfred Kissinger Scholar in Foreign Policy and International Relations in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.
Swann Foundation Announces Fellowships
The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, announces fellowship awards to four applicants for the 2011-2012 academic year: Lara Saguisag, Margaret Samu, Masha Kowell and Jeremy Stoll.
Fitzgerald Collection of Regional Americana Donated
The Fitzgerald Collection, donated by Carol and Jean Fitzgerald, comprises books, original correspondence, documentation and copies of research materials related to the series devoted to Americana as highlighted in "Series Americana: Post Depression-Era Regional Literature, 1938-1980: A Descriptive Bibliography."
Library of Congress Seeks Applicants For Kluge Fellowships
The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress is accepting applications for Kluge Fellowships that offer post-doctoral scholars an opportunity to conduct humanistic and social-science research in the Library’s large and varied collections.
Archiving, Publishing Collaboration with Major Contemporary Photographers Announced by Library of Congress
A collaboration to facilitate the archiving and publication of a new documentary photography project was announced today by the Library of Congress and the photography group known as Facing Change: Documenting America.
Former Associate Justice John Paul Stevens Receives Wickersham Award For Public Service from Friends of the Law Library of Congress
The Friends of the Law Library of Congress have presented the 2011 Wickersham Award for exceptional public service and dedication to the legal profession to former Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens.
Rare 15th-Century Reference Work Acquired by Law Library
The Law Library of Congress has acquired two volumes of an extraordinarily rare 1478 edition of the "Casus breves" of Johannes de Turnhout (c. 1446-1492), printed by the Brotherhood of the Common Life at their Brussels press, Te Nazareth Gheprint.
Pallante Appointed Register of Copyrights
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Maria A. Pallante as the 12th Register of Copyrights and director of the United States Copyright Office, effective today.
Wings of War from VHP
The digitized, first-hand accounts of 24 military aviators are featured in "Wings of War," the 34th website feature in the Experiencing War series from the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.
Authors Announced for 2011 Book Festival
World-renowned authors David McCullough, Russell Banks, Dave Eggers, Terry McMillan, Pulitzer Prize-winners Siddhartha Mukherjee and Jennifer Egan, Garrison Keillor, Amy Chua and Nobel- and Pulitzer Prize-winner Toni Morrison will be among more than 80 writers speaking at the 11th annual National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, on Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011.
"Earth as Art" Exhibition Opens May 31
When Earth is viewed from space, cloud formations, coastlines, mountain ranges, islands, deltas, glaciers and rivers take on patterns resembling abstract art—with striking textures and brilliant colors. These images can be seen in a new exhibit at the Library of Congress, starting May 31.
FLICC Awards for Federal Librarianship
The Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) has announced the winners of its national awards for federal librarianship.
AFC Announces Recipients of Fellowships, Awards
The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress (AFC) has awarded its 2011 fellowships.
The Story Behind the National Jukebox
Read about the Library's new National Jukebox project.
Library Launches National Jukebox
The Library of Congress and Sony Music Entertainment today unveiled a new website of more than 10,000 rare historic sound recordings available to the public for the first time digitally.
42 Junior Fellows Appointed to Summer Internship Program
For the seventh year, college students from across the country will participate in the Library’s Junior Fellows Summer Internship Program.
Letters About Literature Reading-Writing Program Winners Announced
Letters About Literature, a national reading and writing program that asks young people in grades 4 through 12 to write to an author (living or dead) about how his or her book affected their lives, has announced its 2011 winners.
Photographic Albums Are Subject of New Library Publication
Published by Aperture (www.aperture.org ) in association with the Library of Congress, "Photographic Memory: The Album in the Age of Photography" traces the rise of the album from the turn of the century to the present day. It showcases some of the most important examples in the history of the medium that are housed in the Library’s unparalleled collections.
Papercut Bar Mitzvah Book Donated to the Library of Congress
Israeli papercut artist Archie Granot will present to the Library of Congress "The Ram Granot Bar Mitzvah Book." Granot created this book for his son Ram (Avraham) on the occasion of his bar mitzvah in November 1987. The gift will be housed in the collections of the Hebraic Section of the Library’s African and Middle Eastern Division.
Morton Kondracke Named to Jack Kemp Chair in Political Economy
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Morton Kondracke, a veteran journalist for five decades, to the new Jack Kemp Chair in Political Economy in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.
Civil War Photo Exhibition Opens
Portrait photographs of the young men who fought and died in the American Civil War will be on display, starting today at the Library of Congress.
New Professional Development Group for Federal Librarians
To drive innovations in succession planning and knowledge management in the federal information community, the Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) has formed a New Librarians Working Group (NewFeds).
25 Named to the National Recording Registry
The controversial release of the first recording of contemporary stand-up comedy, the country music hit that divided American women, and an innovative television theme song are among the sound recordings that have been selected for preservation by the Library of Congress. Today, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington named 25 new additions to the ninth annual National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress, ensuring that these cultural, artistic and historical recordings always will be available to the American public.
Deanna Marcum to Receive ALA's Melvil Dewey Medal
Deanna Marcum, associate librarian for Library Services at the Library of Congress, will receive the prestigious Melvil Dewey Medal from the American Library Association (ALA) at its annual convention in New Orleans this summer.
Robert Casper Named Head of the Poetry Center
Robert Casper, programs director for the Poetry Society of America, has been named the head of the Poetry and Literature Center in the Office of Scholarly Programs at the Library of Congress.
Graphic Arts Galleries Open March 18
The Library of Congress announces the opening of the Swann Gallery and the Herblock Gallery on Friday, March 18, 2011. The galleries are two of three exhibition spaces located within the new Graphic Arts Galleries on the ground level of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building.
Ruth Scovill Named Acting Director of NLS
Ruth Scovill has been appointed acting director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) at the Library of Congress.
Mary Mazanec Appointed Acting Director of CRS
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Mary B. Mazanec as acting director of the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
Joan Halifax Named Distinguished Visiting Scholar
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Joan Halifax, a Zen Buddhist roshi, author and anthropologist, as distinguished visiting scholar in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.
Library of Congress Launches Music Consortium Website
The Library of Congress has launched a Music Consortium Treasures website that gives online access to some of the world's most valued music manuscript and print materials from six esteemed institutions at www.loc.gov/musictreasures/.
Library Acquires Historic Radio & TV Sports Recordings
John Miley’s decades-long passion for sports led him to collect an extensive archive of historical moments in athletic competition. Miley and the Library of Congress announced today that his vast collection of sports broadcast recordings made prior to 1972—known in the sporting world as The Miley Collection—will reside among the collections in the world’s largest library. This acquisition represents the largest and most significant collection of sports broadcasts in America.
George Chrousos Named to Kluge Chair in Technology and Society
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Dr. George P. Chrousos, an expert on the medical effects of stress, to the Chair in Technology and Society in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.
Koussevitzky Foundation Announces Eight New Commission Winners
The Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress and the Koussevitzky Music Foundation, Inc., have awarded commissions for new musical works to eight composers. Jointly granting the commissions are the foundations and the performing organizations that will present the newly composed works.
Larson Fellowship Applications Available
The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress is accepting applications for the David B. Larson Fellowship in Health and Spirituality, which offers a post-doctoral scholar an opportunity to conduct research on the impact of religion and spirituality on physical, mental and social health.
The Washington Haggadah Is Subject of New Publication
After the Bible, the haggadah is the most widely read classic text in the Jewish tradition. Read during Passover, this religious text tells each new generation the story of Jewish liberation from slavery in Egypt. More than 4,000 editions have been published since the late-15th century, but few are as exquisite as the Washington Haggadah, produced by Joel ben Simeon in 1478 and housed in the Library of Congress. A stunning facsimile edition will be published in March by Harvard University Press in association with the Library of Congress.
Applicants Sought for Alan Lomax Fellowship
The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress invites qualified scholars to apply for a post-doctoral fellowship for advanced research based on the Alan Lomax Collection.
Preservation Directorate Hosts Research Fellowship, Internship
The Library of Congress announces a new dissertation research fellowship in partnership with the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) and a new conservation training internship in partnership with the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation (WUDPAC).
NUCMC Highlights Civil War Collections
Information about historical documents from across the country regarding the outbreak of the Civil War—with links to the home historical societies and repositories of the materials—has been placed online by the National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC).
National Book Festival to be Two-Day Event, Sept. 24-25
The 11th annual National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, will become a two-day event this year. The festival will be held on the National Mall between 9th and 14th Streets on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Sept. 25 from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., rain or shine.
2011 Junior Fellows Summer Internships
This summer the Library of Congress is once again offering special 10-week paid internships to college students. For a stipend of $3,000, the 2011 class of Junior Fellows Summer Interns will work full-time from May 31 through July 30, 2011, with Library specialists and curators to inventory, describe, and explore collection holdings and to assist with digital-preservation outreach activities throughout the Library.
VHP Recognizes Military Chaplains
The latest installment of the Veterans History Project’s (VHP) Experiencing War website feature, titled "Chaplains: On a Divine Mission," launches today, also recognized as "Four Chaplains Day," on the 68th anniversary of the sinking of the U.S. Army transport ship Dorchester.
NLS Completes Digital Transition
Two years after starting to produce talking books on digital cartridges, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, has completed its analog-to-digital transition.
James Reston Jr. Named Scholar in Residence
Distinguished author and historian James Reston Jr. is a scholar in residence at the John W. Kluge Center in the Library of Congress.
John Witte Jr. Named Distinguished Visiting Scholar
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed John Witte Jr., a professor at Emory University, as distinguished visiting scholar at the Library’s John W. Kluge Center.
Rare Revolutionary War-Era Map Gift of Rubenstein
David M. Rubenstein, co-founder and managing director of The Carlyle Group, has given the Library of Congress stewardship of the first map printed in North America, depicting the boundaries of the new American nation and showing the "Stars and Stripes" for the first time.
Hochschild Named to Kluge Chair in American Law & Governance
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Jennifer Hochschild, a professor at Harvard University, to the Chair in American Law and Governance in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.
Cardinal McCarrick Named Distinguished Kluge Scholar
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, as distinguished visiting scholar in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.
NLS To Celebrate 80th Anniversary
On March 3, 2011, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)—the Library of Congress’ talking-book and braille program—will celebrate 80 years of helping visually impaired and physically handicapped individuals enjoy reading their favorite books and magazines.
American Folklife Center Announces Archie Green Fellowships
The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress is accepting applications for Archie Green Fellowships. They will offer scholars an opportunity to provide new documentation and research into the culture and traditions of American workers and will create digital archival materials that will be preserved in the center’s archive and made available to researchers and the public.
Universal Music Group Donates Over 200,000 Master Recordings to the Library of Congress
The American people, through the nation’s library, will receive a post-holiday gift of vintage sound recordings from one of the world’s largest recording companies. The Library of Congress and the Universal Music Group (UMG) announced today the donation of more than 200,000 historic master recordings—many long out-of-print or never released—to the Library’s Recorded Sound Section, which has more than 3 million sound recordings in its collections.
Queens Library and Frick Art Reference Library Are New Cataloging Partners
The Library of Congress welcomes Queens Library in Queens, N.Y., and Frick Art Reference Library in New York, N.Y., as new cataloging partners in the Electronic Cataloging in Publication (ECIP) program.
American Colony in Jerusalem Web Presentation
Selected items from the American Colony in Jerusalem Collection are now accessible on the Library of Congress’ American Memory website.
Adeeb Khalid Named Distinguished Visiting Scholar
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Adeeb Khalid, a professor at Carleton College in Minnesota, as distinguished visiting scholar in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.
David Laitin Named to Kluge Center Chair
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed David Laitin, a political science professor at Stanford University, to the Chair of the Countries and Cultures of the North in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.
Library of Congress Project Wins Preservation Award
The Memento Project, led by researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Old Dominion University, has won the Digital Preservation Award 2010.
Library Acquires Snapshot Music Collection
The Library announced today its collaboration with Snapshots Music and Arts Foundation to acquire video and audio tapes, along with thousands of accompanying photographs, of in-depth interviews and exclusive performances by some of the world’s most groundbreaking musicians and industry leaders.
Veterans History Project Commemorates First Decade
The latest installment of the Veterans History Project's (VHP) Experiencing War website feature, titled "VHP: The First Ten Years," has launched in time for nationwide Veterans Day observances. The website feature, one of 32 created thus far, highlights the wartime stories of 20 veterans who represent a cross-section of the more than 70,000 collections donated to the project during its first decade of existence.
Lucia Perillo Awarded Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry
The Library of Congress will award the 2010 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry to Lucia Perillo for her book "Inseminating the Elephant."
Zinkham Named Chief of Prints & Photographs
Helena Zinkham has been appointed chief of the Library’s Prints and Photographs Division.
Library Acquires Marilyn Church Collection
Artist Marilyn Church, using colored pencil and crayon, has captured some of the most dramatic moments in high-profile courtroom trials during the past 36 years. The Library of Congress is acquiring, through a gift/purchase agreement, an exceptional collection of Church’s drawings.
Braille Institute Creates Cylke Digital Platinum Award
In a tribute to the advent of digital talking books and players for blind and physically handicapped readers—and to the man who ushered in the new medium—Braille Institute Library Services (BILS) in Los Angeles presented the first Frank Kurt Cylke Digital Platinum Awards during its annual open house on Oct. 22.
Russia Presents Library with Silent Films
A major gift from Russia—digitally preserved copies of 10 previously lost U.S. silent films—will help the United States reclaim its silent-film heritage.
Redesigned Search for Finding Aids
Thanks to a completely redesigned search system, 1,100 finding aids will now smoothly lead remote and onsite researchers to more than 32 million archival items in Library of Congress research centers.
Thomas Hampson Receives Living Legend Award
The Library of Congress honored baritone Thomas Hampson with its Living Legend medal during a concert on Oct. 28.
New Deputy Director of CRS
Daniel P. Mulhollan, director of the Congressional Research Service (CRS), selected Mary B. Mazanec as deputy director of the Congressional Research Service. Mazanec began her appointment on Aug. 30.
National Library Service Honors Veterans
This Veteran’s Day, as the nation honors the brave men and women who have risked or given their lives for this country, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, stands ready to provide eligible veterans access to a free library service that promotes independence, wellness and quality of life.
Scourby's King James Bible Available as Talking Book
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), part of the Library of Congress, reached a milestone in its digital talking-book program with the reissue of the entire King James Version of the Bible, narrated by Alexander Scourby, on a single digital cartridge.
Library Seeks Applicants for Kemp Scholar
The Library of Congress is accepting applications and nominations for the Kemp Scholar in Political Economy, a distinguished senior research position in the Library’s John W. Kluge Center. Applications and nominations must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 15.
Library Seeks Kissinger Chair Applications
The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress is accepting applications and nominations for the Henry Alfred Kissinger Chair in Foreign Policy and International Relations. Applications and nominations must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 1.
Librarian of Congress Issues Call to Record Veterans' Histories
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington launched a new campaign asking America to "collect and preserve the story of at least one veteran" and to "pledge to preserve this important part of American history." Time is of the essence, he added: "Help us gather in the accounts of 10,000 veterans by Veterans Day."
Library Acquires Liljenquist Collection of Civil War Portraits
The Library of Congress has acquired an exceptional collection of nearly 700 ambrotype and tintype photographs showing both Union and Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War.
FLICC Announces Awards for Federal Librarianship
The Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) has announced the winners of its national awards for federal librarianship, which recognize the many innovative ways that federal libraries, librarians and library technicians fulfill the information demands of government, business and scholarly communities and the American public.
Library Study Shows State of Sound Preservation & Access
Digital technology alone will not ensure the preservation and survival of the nation's sound history. That is one of the findings in a major study released today by the Library of Congress National Recording Preservation Board (NRPB) detailing the state of sound-recording preservation and access.
Collegiate Book Collecting Contest Winners Announced
Winners of the National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest have been announced and will receive their awards during a ceremony on Oct. 15.
2010 National Book Festival Attracts 150,000
Setting a new attendance record, an estimated 150,000 book-lovers gathered today on the National Mall in Washington, D.C for the 10th annual National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress.
Bronx School Highlighted in Educational Program
In a new professional development module from the Library of Congress, teachers in an urban school setting show how students can learn through the use of primary sources and the inquiry process. The new program, "Supporting Inquiry with Primary Sources," is an hour-long, self-paced program featuring teachers and students of P.S. 153 from Co-Op City (the Bronx), N.Y., and is now available online at no charge.
Library of Congress Discovers Lost British TV Treasures
In an unprecedented collaboration between the Library of Congress and British Film Institute (BFI), the two largest archives of film and television in the world, more than 68 rare recordings from 1957 to 1969 will be returned to the United Kingdom. This marks the Library’s first-ever repatriation of television programs to another country and the largest such repatriation in history. These programs represent a key period in British television.
Library of Congress Takes to the Road
The Library of Congress will launch a new traveling exhibition late in September that will bring facsimiles of many of its top treasures and information about the millions of resources in its unparalleled collections to the heartland of America.
Library Provides Content for Scholastic’s Re-Launch of Dear America Series
The Library of Congress is providing historical content from its vast and unparalleled collections to enhance a new interactive website for Scholastic’s Dear America historical fiction book series.
Statement by James Billington Upon the Death of John W. Kluge
John W. Kluge was a uniquely generous benefactor in the long history of the Library of Congress. In a number of important ways, he has helped us make the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution an innovative force for the new millennium.
New Poetry Anthology Features Works by the Poets Laureate
Since 1937, the Librarian of Congress has periodically appointed a Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry who aims to raise the publicâs appreciation for poetry. Works by each of the 43 poets who have held the countryâs top poetry position have been compiled in "The Poets Laureate Anthology," a new volume published by the Library of Congress.
Veterans History Project Highlights Pioneering Women Pilots of World War II
A select group of women pilots paved the way more than 65 years ago: the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). During World War II, they became the first women in history trained to fly American military aircraft.
Book Festival Website Features Favorite-Author Voting
The website for the 10th annual National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, features "vote for your favorite Book Festival author."
Benjamin Fordham Named Kissinger Scholar in Kluge Center
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Benjamin Fordham, professor and chair of Binghamton Universityâs Political Science Department, as the Henry Alfred Kissinger Scholar in Foreign Policy and International Relations in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress, beginning in September 2010.
Highsmith Launches 21st-Century America Photo Project
The cities, towns and countryside of 21st-century America, and the life of its people, are being documented by distinguished photographer Carol M. Highsmith, who is donating her photographs copyright-free to the Library of Congress to ensure worldwide access and preservation.
Library Launches National Digital Stewardship Alliance
The Library of Congress announced today the formation of the National Digital Stewardship Alliance (NDSA), a partnership of institutions and organizations dedicated to preserving and providing access to selected databases, web pages, video, audio and other digital content with enduring value.
Curious George Star of New Literacy PSAs
The Library of Congress and the Advertising Council have launched a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) to encourage parents to read with their children and inspire them to become lifelong learners, featuring the iconic children’s literary character Curious George.
Enter the Write It! Film It! Summer Video Contest
Don’t put those pencils away just yet! Even if school is out for the summer, the Exquisite Prompt Writing Challenge, based on the unpredictable episodic story "The Exquisite Corpse Adventure" (www.read.gov/exquisite-corpse/), continues with a new twist.
Library Places Gottlieb Jazz Images on Flickr
William Gottlieb, a columnist for the Washington Post and later a writer for Down Beat magazine, photographed jazz musicians and performers, capturing classic images from 1938 to 1948. A set of these iconic images, part of the Library of Congress William P. Gottlieb Collection, has been uploaded to Flickr.
Library of Congress Seeks Applicants for Kislak Fellowship
The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress is accepting applications for a Kislak Fellowship that offers a post-doctoral scholar an opportunity to conduct research related to the discovery, contact and colonial periods in Florida, the Caribbean and Mesoamerica using the Jay Kislak Collection.
DMCA Rules Regarding Access-Control Technology Exemptions
Section 1201(a)(1) of the copyright law requires that every three years I am to determine whether there are any classes of works that will be subject to exemptions from the statute’s prohibition against circumvention of technology that effectively controls access to a copyrighted work.
Library of Congress Talking-Book Program Receives APEX Award for Publication Excellence
The 20-page booklet "Talking Rooms: Walking Through History at the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Headquarters" has received an APEX 2010 Award of Excellence in the One-of-a-Kind Government Publication category.
10th Annual National Book Festival to Headline Follett, Glass, Kostova
The stellar lineup for the 10th annual National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, will include international best-selling author Ken Follett; Rae Armantrout, winner of this year’s Pulitzer Prize for poetry; National Book Award winner Julia Glass; Pat Mora, one of the nation’s most beloved writers for children; and Elizabeth Kostova, author of the worldwide sensations "The Historian" and "The Swan Thieves." They will be among more than 70 authors now slated to appear at the event on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010. The event, free and open to the public, will run from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. between 3rd and 7th streets on the National Mall.
Robert R. Newlen Joins Law Library of Congress
Robert R. Newlen has been appointed assistant law librarian for collections, outreach and services, a new position within the Law Library of the Library of Congress. Currently the assistant director of the Knowledge Services Group in the Congressional Research Service (CRS) in the Library of Congress, Newlen will join the Law Library in mid-August.
Library of Congress Seeks Volunteer Docents
The Library of Congress is recruiting the 2010 class of volunteer docents to lead tours of the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution.
New Analysis of Jefferson's Draft Show Changes in Declaration of Independence
Recent hyperspectral imaging of Thomas Jefferson’s rough draft of the Declaration of Independence has clearly confirmed past speculation that Jefferson made an interesting word correction during his writing of the document, according to scientists in the Library of Congress’ Preservation Research and Testing Division.
W.S. Merwin Named Poet Laureate
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today announced the appointment of W.S. Merwin as the Library’s 17th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2010-2011.
Talking-Book Program Honors TelecomPioneers
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), part of the Library of Congress, presented TelecomPioneers, a national organization of telecommunication employees and retirees, with a plaque in recognition of the group’s 50 years of repairing talking-book machines—an effort that has saved U.S. taxpayers an estimated $216 million.
Additions to National Recording Registry
The lyrics of a rapper whose message transcended conflict to embrace love, the 1970 song that immortalized a country legend, and battle sounds from World War II are among the aural treasures that have been selected for preservation by the Library of Congress. Today, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington named the 25 new additions to the eighth annual National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress, which will ensure that these cultural, artistic and historical recordings are always available to the American public.
Roberta Stevens Inaugurated as ALA President
Roberta A. Stevens, outreach projects and partnerships officer at the Library of Congress and National Book Festival project manager, will begin her term as president of the American Library Association (ALA) when she is inaugurated during a gala celebration in Washington, D.C., on June 29.
New International Institutions Join World Digital Library
The Library of Congress has completed the first stages of a three-year effort to enable cultural institutions in sub-Saharan Africa and the countries of the former Soviet Union to join the World Digital Library.
Seattle and Virginia Beach Libraries Receive Awards for Serving the Blind and Physically Handicapped
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), part of the Library of Congress, today presented awards to libraries in Seattle and Virginia Beach for outstanding service to the blind and physically handicapped communities.
Swann Foundation Announces Awards for 2010-2011
The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, announces fellowship awards to two applicants for the academic year 2010-2011: Leora Maltz-Leca and Jeffreen M. Hayes.
Submissions Open for Poetry at Noon Series
The Poetry and Literature Center at the Library of Congress is seeking submissions from poets who would like to read at the Poetry at Noon series for fall 2010 and spring 2011. Submissions must be postmarked by Thursday, July 15.
Alabama Center for the Book Moves
The Alabama Center for the Book has a new home, moving to the University of Alabama Libraries from the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities at Auburn University.
Dizard Appointed Chief of Staff
Robert Dizard Jr., senior adviser to the Librarian of Congress, has been appointed chief of staff.
Suddreth Appointed Chief of Support Operations
Lucy D. Suddreth has been appointed chief of support operations for the Library of Congress.
Folklife Center Names New Board Members
Maribel Alvarez of the University of Arizona, Jean Dorton of Big Sandy Community and Technical College in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, and Margaret Z. Robson of New Mexico have been appointed to the board of trustees of the American Folklife Center (AFC) at the Library of Congress. Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), president pro tempore of the United States Senate, appointed Dorton and Robson, while Alvarez was appointed by Librarian of Congress James H. Billington.
Law Library Staff Member Receives Award
The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) announced that the recipient of the 2010 Marian Gould Gallagher Distinguished Service Award is Marie Whited, cataloging liaison in the Law Library of Congress.
Digital Talking Books Celebrated
Two hundred librarians and staff who serve blind and physically handicapped individuals celebrated the national rollout of the digital talking-book system at the biennial conference hosted by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), part of the Library of Congress.
Library Appoints 41 Junior Fellows to Summer Internships
For the sixth year, college students from across the country will participate in the Library’s Junior Fellows Summer Internship Program. Working under the direction of Library specialists in various divisions, they will explore and increase access to the institution’s unparalleled collections and resources. In the past, summer interns have identified hundreds of historical, literary, artistic, cinematic and musical gems representing a rich cultural, creative and intellectual heritage.
Library Selects 2010-2011 Teacher-In-Residence
Sara Suiter, a third-grade Spanish-English immersion teacher at the Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School in the District of Columbia, has been selected as the Library’s 2010-2011 Teacher-in Residence.
VHP Marks the Anniversary of the Beginning of the Korean War
"The Korean War: Not Forgotten" features 26 candid, first-person accounts of Korean War veterans from the Veterans History Project (VHP) in the Library of Congress American Folklife Center. The presentation at www.loc.gov/vets/ marks the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War.
Library and Columbia Agree to Develop Geodata Clearinghouse
The Library of Congress and Columbia University announced today an agreement to create a web-based clearinghouse of information about best practices for preserving significant geospatial data.
Library Opens New Exhibition Honoring Bob Hope and Political Satire
Legendary entertainer Bob Hope’s political humor, his relationship with U.S. presidents, and the interplay among the worlds of comedy, politics and civic activism are showcased in the new public exhibition, "Hope for America: Performers, Politics & Pop Culture," opening at the Library of Congress on Friday, June 11.
Audio of "The Exquisite Corpse Adventure" Now Available
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) has provided audio recordings for all the episodes of "The Exquisite Corpse Adventure," the rollicking episodic story available exclusively at Read.gov. These podcasts enhance the accessibility of this story, which is being created by some of America's finest writers and illustrators for young people. Read.gov is a website of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.
Blane Dessy To Head FLICC & FEDLINK
Blane K. Dessy has been named executive director of the Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) and the Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK) at the Library of Congress, effective June 20.
Authors, Website Announced for National Book Festival
Internationally known authors Isabel Allende, Brad Meltzer, Katherine Paterson, Jane Smiley, David Remnick and Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk will be among more than 70 writers headlining the 10th annual National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, between 3rd and 7th streets on the National Mall. The event, free and open to the public, will run from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (rain or shine).
Kluge Fellowship Applications Available
The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress is accepting applications for Kluge Fellowships that offer post-doctoral scholars an opportunity to conduct humanistic and social-science research in the Library’s large and varied collections.
McCartney to Be Awarded Gershwin Prize
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced today that the third Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song will be presented to Sir Paul McCartney at a special concert in the East Room of the White House on June 2, 2010.
Qatar Foundation, Library Sign Memo of Understanding
Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned, wife of the Emir of Qatar, Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development and UNESCO Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education, visited the Library of Congress today, where she met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Librarian of Congress James H. Billington to discuss cooperation between the Qatar Foundation and the Library.
Library's 2010 Florence Tan Moeson Fellows Announced
The Library has selected nine individuals to receive 2010 Florence Tan Moeson Fellowships. Under this program, scholars have the opportunity to conduct research using the Libraryâs Asian collections.
Library Collaborates With Chicago History Museum To Preserve Radio Icon Studs Terkel’s Historic Recordings
The Library of Congress and the Chicago History Museum are collaborating on a major project to digitally preserve and catalog thousands of unique and endangered sound recordings in the Museum’s Studs Terkel Collection of book interviews and WFMT radio programs. Louis "Studs" Terkel, revered as one of the nation’s leading and most prolific oral historians, amassed a wealth of stories in his more than 50 years as a radio host, scholar and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. He compiled a vast collection of recorded oral histories and interviews that reflect his broad expertise and eclectic interests in music, literature, art, history and politics.
Letters About Literature Winners Announced
Letters About Literature, a national reading and writing program that asks young people in grades 4 through 12 to write to an author (living or dead) about how his or her book affected their lives, has announced its 2010 winners.
Elena Kagan Is Subject of Web Presentation
On May 10, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Solicitor General Elena Kagan for appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Law Library of Congress has developed a web presentation on Kagan on its Supreme Court Nominations site.
Nominations Open for Bobbitt Poetry Prize
The Library of Congress is accepting nominations from publishers for the $10,000 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry. The prize, for the year 2010, will be awarded in the fall.
FLICC Opens Nominations for Librarian Awards
To honor the many innovative ways in which federal libraries, librarians and library technicians are fulfilling the information demands of government, business, research, scholarly communities and the American public, the Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) announces it is opening nominations for its national awards for federal librarianship for fiscal year 2009.
David Rubenstein Donates $5 Million to Library
David M. Rubenstein, co-founder and managing director of The Carlyle Group, announced today his donation of $5 million ($1 million per year for the next five years) to support the Library of Congress’s National Book Festival, which this year is celebrating its 10th anniversary, "A Decade of Words and Wonder."
AFC Announces New Members of Board of Trustees
atricia A. Atkinson of the Nevada Arts Council and Joanna Hess of the Indigenous Language Institute of Santa Fe, N.M., have been appointed to the board of trustees of the American Folklife Center.
David Mao Appointed Deputy Law Librarian
David S. Mao has been appointed to the newly created position of Deputy Law Librarian of Congress.
Exquisite Corpse Adventure Launches Guess the Mystery Author Contest
WETA's AdLit.org and the NCBLA are joining to launch the Exquisite Corpse Adventure Mystery Author Contest. Currently, clues are being posted on the NCBLA's blog every Monday and Wednesday at www.thencbla.blogspot.com and every Friday at www.AdLit.org.
Library of Congress Unveils Redesigned Prints and Photographs Online Catalog
The Library of Congress’ extensive Prints and Photographs Online Catalog (PPOC) now has a new look and exciting new features. A dynamic redesign offers clean and visually inviting pages, with easy-to-use features for searching, browsing and sharing. The improved catalog can be found at www.loc.gov/pictures/.
New Library Publication Features Architecture of Dams
Published by the Library of Congress and W.W. Norton & Company, “Dams” by Christine Macy is a compendium of historic images of North American dams, emphasizing the unique design and engineering complexities of these impressive structures. The book is a singular reference for architects, designers, engineers, students and all those fascinated by the monumental presence of dams in America.
“Concerts from the Library of Congress" Radio Series Airs
The “Concerts from the Library of Congress” radio series continues in April with new programming on Classical WETA 90.9 FM. Hosted by veteran broadcaster and conductor Bill McGlaughlin, the 13-part series features chamber music performances recorded live in the Library's Coolidge Auditorium over the past 18 months.
Digital Talking-Book Internet Service Delivers One Millionth Download
On Feb. 21, 2010, Tonia Gatton downloaded the digital talking-book version of “Charlotte’s Web” to her home computer. She knew she was going to read a classic of children’s literature. What she didn’t know was that she was also making history. Gatton’s talking-book selection marked the one millionth piece of reading material delivered by the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) service, a new initiative from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress.
“Fields of Vision” Series Features 20th-Century Photographers
Selected images from the works of Farm Security Administration (FSA)/Office of War Information (OWI) photographers Esther Bubley (1921-1998), Jack Delano (1914-1997) and John Vachon (1914-1975) are now featured in the Library of Congress series titled “Fields of Vision.”
Library of Congress to Offer Junior Fellows Summer Internships
This summer the Library of Congress is once again offering special 10-week paid internships to college students. For a stipend of $3,000, the 2010 class of Junior Fellows Summer Interns will work full-time from June 7 through Aug. 13 with Library specialists to inventory, describe, and explore collection holdings and to assist with digital preservation outreach activities throughout the Library. The focus of the program is on increasing access to collections and awareness of the Library’s digital preservation programs by making them better known and accessible to researchers including scholars, students, teachers and the general public.
Swiss Psychiatrist Carl Jung’s “Red Book” Is Focus of Library Exhibition Opening June 17
Nearly a century after its creation, “The Red Book” by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) will be the centerpiece of a new Library of Congress exhibition titled “The Red Book of Carl G. Jung: Its Origins and Influence” on view June 17 through Aug. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, in the Thomas Jefferson building, located at 10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C.
National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Website Debuts
Entries are currently being accepted in a contest presented as part of the relaunch of a website devoted to a reading-promotion program for young people sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, the Children’s Book Council (CBC) and Every Child a Reader, the CBC foundation.
Resource Description and Access (RDA) Accessible through Cataloger’s Desktop
The Library of Congress and the co-publishers of Resource Description and Access (RDA) have announced that subscribers to Cataloger’s Desktop will be able to access the new RDA Toolkit, a separate subscription service rolling out in June 2010, via Cataloger’s Desktop.
“Libraries & the Cultural Record” Honors John Y. Cole’s Contributions to Library
For more than 30 years, John Y. Cole has led the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress as its founding director and has devoted his scholarly pursuits to the Library’s history and influence on the culture of the nation. To recognize his achievements, the journal “Libraries & the Cultural Record” has just published a book in honor of Cole by devoting the entire issue to his more than 40-year career at the Library of Congress.
“The Library of Congress and the Center for the Book: Historical Essays in Honor of John Y. Cole” is a special issue (2010, vol. 45, no. 1) of the University of Texas journal “Libraries & the Cultural Record: Exploring the History of Collections of Recorded Knowledge.”
Veterans History Project Spotlights the Service of Submariners
United States Navy submariners Robert Hunt and Arthur Rehme’s remarkable stories are just two of 12 candid, first-person accounts the Veterans History Project (VHP) of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress is spotlighting in a website feature titled, “Submarines: The Silent Service." These one-of-a-kind stories of those who volunteered to serve during conflicts from World War II to the Cold War may be found at www.loc.gov/vets/.
Poet Laureate’s Project, “Poetry for the Mind’s Joy,” Featured on Library of Congress Website
Detailed information on U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan’s poetry project with community colleges—“Poetry for the Mind’s Joy”—can now be found on the Library of Congress website at www.loc.gov/poetry/mindsjoy/.
Veterans History Project Marks Tenth Year with Events and Initiatives
The Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress American Folklife Center has planned national and local events, activities and initiatives during 2010 to mark the 10th anniversary of its congressional mandate to collect, preserve and make accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans.
New Reference Work on Regional Americana
"Series Americana: Post Depression-Era Regional Literature, 1938-1980: A Descriptive Bibliography" by Carol Fitzgerald has just been published by Oak Knoll Press and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.
William Roger Louis Named to Kluge Chair
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed William Roger Louis, a distinguished historian from the University of Texas at Austin, to the John W. Kluge Center Chair for Countries and Cultures of the North.
Library O'Sullivan Photos on Display at Smithsonian
Timothy H. O'Sullivan is considered one of the most important photographers of the American West. In the 19th century, O'Sullivan -- carrying a heavy, large-format camera and boxes of glass-plate negatives that were developed in the field -- created a large and distinguished body of work. The Library of Congress holds more than 900 O'Sullivan images in the Prints and Photographs Division.
Ninety-three items from the Library's collection will be displayed in a major exhibition "Framing the West: The Survey Photographs of Timothy H. O'Sullivan" from Friday, Feb. 12, to Sunday, May 9, at the Smithsonian Institution's American Art Museum, Eighth and F streets, N.W., Washington, D.C.
Frontier Photos Subject of New Book
Published jointly by the Library of Congress in association with Yale University Press and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, "Framing the West," is the companion catalog to a new Smithsonian exhibition of the same name. The volume includes essays by Toby Jurovics, the exhibition curator, who is the curator of photography at the American Art Museum; Carol Johnson, curator of photography at the Library of Congress; Glenn Willumson, associate professor at the University of Florida; and Will Stapp, an independent scholar.
New Home for New York Center for the Book
The Library of Congress has approved a proposal from the New York Library Association that it become the new host of the New York Center for the Book.
THOMAS Upgrades Mark System's 15th Anniversary
In celebration of its 15th anniversary, the Library’s public legislative information system known as THOMAS has been updated for the second session of the 111th Congress. New items include a bookmarking and sharing toolbar, a "Top Five" bills of the week feature, a new RSS feed, links to contact information for members of Congress, a tip of the week, enhanced visibility of the PDF versions of bills and an increased timeout interval.
American Folklife Center Announces Recipients of Archie Green Fellowships
Robert McCarl, Steve Zeitlin, Nick Spitzer and Maureen Loughran have been awarded the 2010-2011 Archie Green Fellowships from the American Folklife Center (AFC).
“The Exquisite Corpse Adventure” Exclusive Story: Episode 6 Released Online
Episode six of "The Exquisite Corpse Adventure," an episodic story available exclusively from the Library of Congress, will debut Friday, Dec. 4, at www.Read.gov. Authors Patricia and Fredrick McKissack and illustrator James Ransome are featured with this episode titled "Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!"
"Poet and Poem" Radio Series for 2010
Seventeen noted writers will be featured in the 2010 season of "The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress." The radio series is available to all public radio stations via the Public Radio Satellite System’s ContentDepot, starting Jan. 13, 2010.
Alan Lomax Fellowships Available
The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress invites qualified scholars to apply for a post-doctoral fellowship for advanced research based on the Alan Lomax Collection.
Paul McCartney Awarded Third Gershwin Prize
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today named music legend Paul McCartney as the recipient of the third Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. An all-star tribute concert is planned for spring 2010.
American Folklife Center Announces Fellowship to Honor Archie Green
A fellowship has been created at the American Folklife Center (AFC) at the Library of Congress to honor the memory of Archie Green (1917-2009), the pioneering folklorist who championed the establishment of the center. The Archie Green Fellowship will support new documentation and research into the culture and traditions of American workers and will create digital archival materials that will be preserved in the AFC’s archive and made available to researchers and the public.
House Designates National Veterans History Project Week
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H. Res. 866 on November 3, 2009, to designate National Veterans History Project Week "to encourage public participation in a nationwide project that collects and preserves the stories of the men and women who served our Nation in times of war and conflict."
VHP Spotlights Service of Native American Vets
The Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress American Folklife Center spotlights his story and other interviews of Native Americans in "Willing to Serve: American Indians," a website feature that comprises nine first-person accounts of those who volunteered to serve during conflicts from World War II to Iraq. These one-of-a-kind stories can be found at www.loc.gov/vets/.
Cataloger's Desktop 3.0 Now Available
The Library of Congress this week launched Cataloger's Desktop 3.0, a major modernization of its popular web-based subscription service of important cataloging and metadata resources.
Michael Handy Appointed Deputy Associate Librarian for Library Services
Michael Handy, special assistant to the associate librarian for Library Services, has been appointed deputy associate librarian for Library Services. He will be responsible for new initiatives in Library Services, ensuring that projects and programs are carried out effectively and integrated into the existing organizational structure.
Accepting Swann Fellowship Applications
The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, is accepting applications for its graduate fellowship for the 2010-2011 academic year. Applications are due by close of business on Friday, Feb. 15, 2010, and notification will occur in the spring.
VHP Launches Field Kit Companion Video
The Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress American Folklife Center offers a new video to help volunteer interviewers navigate the VHP Field Kit—a "how-to" guide on recording the first-person oral histories of American wartime veterans. Visit www.loc.gov/vets/ to download the video. RealPlayer is required.
Reports Released on Bibliographic Record Production
The Library of Congress is releasing today the results of its analysis of the creation and distribution of bibliographic data in U.S. and Canadian libraries.
Young Readers Center Opens
The Library of Congress, for the first time in its history, has a space devoted to the reading interests of children and teens in its historic Thomas Jefferson Building.
On Oct. 23, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington welcomed a group of young people, parents and others to the new Young Readers Center. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and her three children and Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) and his son helped open the new center.
Ft. Meade Facility Wins Award
The team that managed construction of Modules 3 and 4 and four Cold Storage Rooms at the Library of Congress Ft. Meade High-Density Storage Facility were honored with a national award yesterday in Orlando, Fla., from the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA).
Library's NDIIPP Project Receives Award
Government Computer News (GCN) has named the Library of Congress National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP) as one of the top federal information technology projects of 2009. The award was presented during the annual GCN Annual Awards Gala on October 22.
Sanborn Maps Online Checklist
The Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress announces the new Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps Online Checklist, which can be accessed directly at www.loc.gov/rr/geogmap/sanborn/. This collection of maps, produced for business purposes, has proven to be a boon to historians.
New PSAs Launched to Promote Reading
The Library of Congress and the Advertising Council joined today to launch a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to encourage children and adults to become engaged in reading and all other forms of literacy.
Library Studies State Copyright Laws
The Library of Congress announced today the release of the fifth in a series of landmark studies commissioned by the U. S. Congress and published by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) that highlight the challenges facing archives, libraries and other cultural institutions specializing in the preservation and public access to historic recorded sound materials. The report examines copyright laws in 10 U.S. states related to sound recordings released before 1972. This is the first in-depth analysis of individual state copyright laws.
Genaro Arriagada Named to Kluge Center
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has named Genaro Arriagada, former ambassador of Chile to the United States, as a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Library’s John W. Kluge Center.
David Christian Named to Kluge Center
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has named David Christian, a professor from Australia, as Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Library’s John W. Kluge Center.
Abdolkarim Soroush Named to Kluge Center
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has named Abdolkarim Soroush—renowned Iranian thinker, philosopher and reformer—as Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Library’s John W. Kluge Center.
Library Launches Multimedia Website Aimed at Readers
During the National Book Festival, on Saturday, Sept. 26, the Library of Congress will launch a new multimedia website offering resources from throughout the Library designed to encourage the reading of books and to interest users in learning about the authors and illustrators who create them.
C. Raja Mohan Named Kissinger Scholar
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed C. Raja Mohan, professor of South Asian studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, as the Henry Alfred Kissinger Scholar in Foreign Policy and International Relations in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.
Baseball is Subject of New Library of Congress Publication
The Library of Congress, home of the world’s largest baseball-related collection, presents "Baseball Americana: Treasures from the Library of Congress," a lavishly illustrated history of the national pastime. From baseball’s biggest stars to sandlot street urchins, from its most newsworthy stories to Little-League games, the book tells the history of the sport’s hardscrabble origins, rich cultural heritage and uniquely American character.
Herblock's Work is Subject of New Retrospective Volume
To mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of political cartoonist Herbert Block (Herblock), the Library of Congress and the Herb Block Foundation, in association with W. W. Norton & Company, have published "HERBLOCK: The Life and Works of the Great Political Cartoonist." Written by Haynes Johnson and Harry L. Katz, this richly illustrated volume will delight Herblock fans as well as a new generation of cartoon enthusiasts.
Students Demonstrate WDL Use in Classroom
The Library of Congress today demonstrated the potential offered by the World Digital Library to enrich the learning of students, both in the classroom and at home, for more than 100 guests in the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building.
2010 Calendars Available at the Library of Congress
Eight calendars featuring the wide-ranging collections of the Library of Congress have been released for 2010. Produced by the Library of Congress in cooperation with Pomegranate Communications, Universe Publishing or Cavallini & Co., the calendars draw on the Library's collections to illuminate and illustrate different facets of travel, literature, history and film.
FLICC Awards for Federal Librarianship
The Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) has announced the winners of its national awards for federal librarianship, which recognize the many innovative ways that federal libraries, librarians and library technicians fulfill the information demands of government, business and scholarly communities, and the American public.
AFC Presents New American Memory Collection
The Library of Congress' American Folklife Center debuts a new presentation, "American English-Dialect Recordings: The Center for Applied Linguistics Collection," as part of the Library's American Memory collections website today. The collection can be found at memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/linguistics/.
VHP Spotlights Coast Guard, Merchant Marines
The Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress American Folklife Center spotlights the interviews of United States Coast Guard and Merchant Marine veterans in "They Also Served," a website feature that comprises a dozen first-person accounts of those who went to sea to transport troops, deliver vital supplies, protect our shores, and patrol enemy waters. These one-of-a-kind stories can be found at www.loc.gov/vets/.
U.S. Air Force Photos Acquired
Master fine-art photographer Nicholas A. Price spent 18 months, from 2005 to 2007, capturing images of the men and women of the U.S. Air Force to tell the story of their pride and dedication, stamina and service. Price took more than 8,000 photographs and painstakingly selected 60 to become the touring exhibition "Cleared Hot! An Exclusive and Personal Photographic Journey into the U.S. Air Force."
Library Brings National Book Festival Direct to Mobile-Phone Users