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Library of Congress: News
The latest news from the Library of Congress.
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
The Library of Congress has launched its first-ever mobile campaign to provide National Book Festival-goers with SMS text alerts about the festival, which will be held on the National Mall from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 26. By texting ‘BOOK’ to 61399, mobile-phone users can opt in to receive the latest festival announcements.
Library to Acquire Jack Kemp Papers
The family of former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Republican congressman, vice presidential candidate and professional football player Jack F. Kemp (1935-2009) has announced its intention to donate his papers to the Library of Congress. The papers are currently on deposit at Pepperdine University.
Roberta I. Shaffer Appointed Law LIbrarian of Congress
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Roberta I. Shaffer to the position of Law Librarian of Congress.
Short-Term Kislak Fellows Announced
The Library of Congress announces Luisa Elena Alcala and Jennifer Loughmiller-Newman as Short-Term Kislak Fellows at the Library’s John W. Kluge Center, where they will research cultures and history of the Americas.
Zany Serial Story, Website to Launch
National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jon Scieszka—the author of "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales" and the "Time Warp Trio" series—is the first in a chain of celebrated authors writing a serial adventure story for initial exclusive publication on the Library of Congress’ new read.gov website.
2009 Koussevitzky Foundation 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 seven composers. Jointly granting the commissions are the foundations and the performing organizations that will present the newly composed works.
K. Shankar Bajpai Named to Kluge Center
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has named K. Shankar Bajpai—who served as India’s ambassador to Pakistan, China and the United States—as Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Library’s John W. Kluge Center.
Library of Congress Gives Fay Kanin 100th Living Legend Award
Fay Kanin's name is legendary in Hollywood, but she has primarily left her mark behind the scenes of the motion picture industry and in the unheralded field of film preservation. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington recently honored Kanin for her 20 years of service to the Library as chair of the Library of Congress National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) with a presentation of the institution's 100th Living Legend Award.
Philip Trager Photo Archive at LC
Architecture and dance photographer Philip Trager, whose work is now on display at the National Building Museum exhibition "Form and Movement," will be placing his entire ongoing body of work in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress.
Library of Congress and DuraCloud Launch Pilot Program Using Cloud Technologies to Test Perpetual Access to Digital Content
How long is long enough for our collective national digital heritage to be available and accessible? The Library of Congress National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP) and DuraSpace have announced that they will launch a one-year pilot program to test the use of cloud technologies to enable perpetual access to digital content. The pilot will focus on a new cloud-based service, DuraCloud, developed and hosted by the DuraSpace organization. Among the NDIIPP partners participating in the DuraCloud pilot program are the New York Public Library and the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Library of Congress Celebrates Opening of Modules 3 and 4 and Cold-Storage Rooms at Ft. Meade Facility
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington, in a ribbon-cutting ceremony today with acting Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers, celebrated the completion of Modules 3 and 4 and four cold-storage rooms at the Library’s Ft. Meade high-density storage facility in Maryland.
Now in Session: The Library of Congress on iTunes U
In an ongoing effort to make its digital educational, historical and cultural resources available to web users across a broad spectrum of platforms, the Library of Congress today launched "The Library of Congress on iTunes U."
Cataloging Bulletin Free Online
The Library of Congress is making available to the worldwide library community free online access to the entire 31 years of the Cataloging Service Bulletin (CSB).
Nabokov Papers Opened for Research
The papers of Russian poet and novelist Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov (1899-1977) are now open to researchers in the Library of Congress Manuscript Division. The collection is of major value to Nabokov scholars as well as to specialists in the areas of Russian and American literary history and translation.
NLS Announces Awards
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) at the Library of Congress today presented awards to the Perkins Library for the Blind of Watertown, Mass., and to the Miami-Dade Public Library System’s Talking Books Library Service of Florida.
Swann Fellowships Announced
The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, announces fellowship awards to three applicants for the academic year 2009-2010: Yasemin Gencer, Amanda Lahikainen and Jason E. Hill.
Marie Arana at Kluge Center
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has named Marie Arana a distinguished visiting scholar at the John W. Kluge Center, where she is pursuing research on Simón Bolívar, the famed liberator of Latin America from Spain.
Millionth Page Posted in Chronicling America
The Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities today marked a major milestone in their partnership to digitize historic U.S. newspapers and make them widely available to the public on the Internet. During an event held at the Newseum, Deanna Marcum, Associate Librarian for Library Services at the Library of Congress, announced that the Chronicling America website (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/)—a free, national, searchable database of historic American newspaper pages published between 1880 and 1922—recently posted its millionth page.
Sotomayor is Subject of New Web Presentation
To serve congressional and public requests for resources pertaining to this historic nomination, the Law Library of Congress has developed a web presentation on Sotomayor on its Supreme Court Nominations site at www.loc.gov/law/find/court-nominations.php.
Center for the Book Establishes U.S. Virgin Islands Affiliate
The Library of Congress and the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands have announced the creation of the Virgin Islands Center for the Book, the first center affiliate in the United States territories. Gov. John P. deJongh Jr. and Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole made the announcement during a National Library Week reception at the Government House in St. Croix.
Preservation Funding Guide
The Library of Congress and the Foundation Center, building on a partnership established two years ago, have released the second edition of a web-based fundraising guide to help preservationists save millions of at-risk historical and cultural artifacts.
Seventh Annual Recording Registry Announced
The unforgettable lyrics of a Broadway and movie classic, the historic recital of one of the nation’s greatest contraltos, and the speech that warned of "an iron curtain" descending across the continent have made the list of recordings that have been identified as cultural, artistic and historical treasures to be preserved for future generations. Today, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington named the 25 new additions to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress as part of its efforts to ensure that the nation’s aural history is not lost or forgotten.
U.S. Copyright Office Adjusts Fees
The U.S. Copyright Office in the Library of Congress is amending its fees for copyright services. Thanks to cost-savings achieved through increased office automation, some fees will remain the same or decrease. Other fees—mostly for services requiring manual labor—will rise.
Library Appoints Junior Fellows Summer Interns
For the fifth year, college students from across the country will participate in the Library’s Junior Fellows Summer Internship. Working under the direction of Library specialists in various divisions, they will explore and increase access to the institution’s unparalleled collections and resources.
VHP Spotlights Disabled Vets in Web Presentation
The Library of Congress Veterans History Project (VHP), a program of the American Folklife Center, spotlights stories of disabled veterans in "The Unhealed Wounds," a special web presentation accessible at www.loc.gov/vets/. The presentation covers veterans of four wars whose afflictions range from amputated limbs to severe facial trauma to diagnosed cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
National Union Catalog Celebrates 50
The National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC), a cooperative cataloging program of the Library of Congress and eligible archival and manuscript repositories located throughout the United States and its territories, celebrates its 50th anniversary in May 2009.
Library of Congress Acquires ASCAP Collection
The Music Division in the Library of Congress has acquired archival materials from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publisher (ASCAP) Foundation, the not-for-profit arm of the world's largest performing-rights organization, representing more than 275,000 creators.
GLIN Garners Excellence in Government Award
The Global Legal Information Network (GLIN), a database administered by the Law Library of Congress, was among the "Top Five" projects to receive a 2009 excellence in government award from the Industry Advisory Council (IAC). GLIN was recognized for "excellence in transparency" (openness and accountability).
Letters About Literature Reading-Promotion Program Winners Announced
Letters About Literature, a 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 2009 winners.
Library, UNESCO and Partners Launch World Digital Library
The Library of Congress, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and 32 partner institutions today launched the World Digital Library, a website that features unique cultural materials from libraries and archives from around the world.
Kay Ryan Serves Second Term
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Kay Ryan to serve a second term as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry.
World Digital Library Launch Slated
The Library of Congress, UNESCO and 32 partner institutions on April 21 will launch the World Digital Library, a website that features unique cultural materials from libraries and archives from around the world.
Library Report Examines Digital Copyright of Unpublished Recordings
The Library announced today the completion of a commissioned report that examines copyright issues associated with unpublished sound recordings. This new report from the Library of Congress and the Council on Library and Information Resources addresses the question of what libraries and archives are legally empowered to do, under current laws, to preserve and make accessible for research their holdings of unpublished sound recordings made before 1972.
Library of Congress in New Media Initiatives
The Library of Congress will begin sharing content from its vast video and audio collections on the YouTube and Apple iTunes web services as part of a continuing initiative to make its incomparable treasures more widely accessible to a broad audience. The new Library of Congress channels on each of the popular services will launch within the next few weeks.
John Hope Franklin, 1915-2009
Civil rights historian and Kluge Prize recipient John Hope Franklin has died.
Archie Green, 1917-2009
Archie Green, prominent scholar of labor-related folklore and champion of the American Folklife Center, has died.
"World War II: 365 Days" Is Published
"Dec. 7, 1941," President Franklin Delano Roosevelt told Congress and the nation, was "a date which will live in infamy." The phrase has become shorthand for Japan's attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, which triggered the nation's involvement in World War II. That date -- and many others in the World War II era -- are featured in a new book titled "World War II: 365 Days" by Margaret E. Wagner, which has been published by Harry N. Abrams Inc. in association with the Library of Congress.
Library Acquires Abstract Prints
The Library of Congress has acquired an exceptional collection of American Abstract Expressionist prints from the 1940s to 1960s, now available through the Library’s Prints and Photographs Division.
Florence Tan Moeson Fellows Appointed
The Library has announced the recipients of the 2009 Florence Tan Moeson Fellowship. Under this program, seven scholars will have the opportunity to conduct research using the Library’s Asian collections.
Nominations Sought for Scholar to Deliver Kellogg Lecture
The Library of Congress seeks nominations for scholar to give the inaugural lecture for the Frederic R. and Molly S. Kellogg Biennial Lecture on International Jurisprudence at the Library of Congress. The lecture, to be held at the Library of Congress, is planned for Oct. 30, 2009.
Chair of Modern Culture Named
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has named Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney, an anthropology professor at the University of Wisconsin, to the John W. Kluge Center’s Chair of Modern Culture.
Stevie Wonder To Premiere Commissioned Work at Library of Congress Feb. 23
Singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder, the awardee of the second Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, will premiere a special musical work he has written on commission for the Library of Congress on Monday, Feb. 23.
Library Offers Junior Fellows Summer Internships
This summer the Library of Congress, home of the U.S. Copyright Office, is once again offering special 10-week, paid internships to college students.
President Obama Gives Gershwin Prize for Popular Song to Stevie Wonder Feb. 25
President Barack Obama will give the Second Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song to Stevie Wonder on Feb. 25 at a special concert in the East Room of the White House. The program will air on PBS stations nationwide on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009, at 8 p.m. ET.
Veterans Project Recounts Drama of Helicopters, Crews
For nearly 60 years, helicopters have played an increasingly important role in American combat operations. The Library of Congress Veterans History Project spotlights stories of skill and heroism in "Helicopters: The Multi-Mission Aircraft," a special Web presentation.
Interpretive Programs Officer Appointed
William "Jake"Jacobs has been appointed chief of the Interpretive Programs Office (Interpretive Programs Officer).
2009 Witter Bynner Fellows
Poet Laureate Kay Ryan has chosen two gifted voices in poetry, Christina Davis and Mary Szybist, for the 2009 Witter Bynner Fellowships, and will introduce the poets on Feb. 26 at the Library of Congress.
Jeffrey Alexander To Kluge Center
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has named Jeffrey C. Alexander, the Lillian Chavenson Saden Professor of Sociology at Yale University, as a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Library’s John W. Kluge Center.
Book on Slavery, Civil War, Aimed at Young People
"Traveling the Freedom Road: From Slavery and the Civil War Through Reconstruction" by Linda B. Osborne has been published by the Library of Congress and Harry N. Abrams Inc. The book draws on interviews in the Library of Congress collections with former slaves to convey the aspirations, sorrows, courage and hopes of ordinary people living through this period.
Library Commissions Bibliographic Study
The Library of Congress today announced the next phase of its investigation into the creation and distribution of bibliographic data in U.S. and Canadian libraries. The Library has commissioned a study to research and describe the current marketplace for cataloging records in the MARC format, with primary focus on the economics of current practices, including existing incentives and barriers to both contribution and availability.
Library Receives Grant For Map Cataloging
The Library of Congress has received a Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) to support a project that will catalog 125,000 sheet maps of Africa.
25,000th Digitized Book
The Library of Congress will digitally scan "The Heroic Life of Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator" as the 25,000th book in its "Digitizing American Imprints" program, which scans aging "brittle" books often too fragile to serve to researchers.
New Lincoln Book Is Published
From more than 2,000 pieces in its Lincoln document collection, the Library of Congress has selected 40 manuscripts to feature in a new book titled "In Lincoln’s Hand: His Original Manuscripts With Commentary by Distinguished Americans."
Guide on Presidential Food
Alison Kelly, a reference librarian in the Science, Technology and Business Division (ST&B) at the Library of Congress, has compiled "Presidential Food: Selected Resource Guide" for reporters, culinary historians and the interested public to use during the inauguration and early days of the new presidency.
Book of Library Photographs Reprinted
"Library: The Drama Within," with photographs by Diane Asséo Griliches and a new introduction by John Y. Cole, the director of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, has just been reprinted in an edition published by Bunker Hill Publishing.
25 Films Named to National Film Registry
ibrarian of Congress James H. Billington today named 25 important motion pictures--classics and genres from every era of American filmmaking--to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, including "The Asphalt Jungle," "Deliverance," "A Face in the Crowd," "The Invisible Man," "Sergeant York" and "The Terminator."
President-Elect Obama To Take Oath of Office on Lincoln-Inaugural Bible from Library of Congress
President-elect Barack Obama on Jan. 20, 2009, will take the oath of office on a Bible from the Library of Congressâ collections that is steeped in history â the same Bible upon which Abraham Lincoln swore March 4, 1861, to uphold the Constitution.
Sermons and Orations Relating to 2009 Presidential Inauguration Sought
On Jan. 20, 2009, the United States will inaugurate Barack Obama, the country’s first African-American president. In anticipation of citizens’ efforts to mark this historic time around the country, the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress will be collecting audio and video recordings of sermons and orations that comment on the significance of the inauguration of 2009.
Pallante New Associate Register of Copyrights
Register of Copyrights Marybeth Peters has named Maria A. Pallante to the position of Associate Register for Policy and International Affairs, effective December 21, 2008. Pallante brings extensive experience to the position, having worked as a copyright lawyer for more than 18 years in Washington, D.C. and New York City, in both the public and private sectors. She succeeds David O. Carson, who will return to his former position as general counsel of the office.
Library Announces Holiday Hours
The following is the holiday operational schedule, including closures, for the public for the Library of Congress through January 2009.
2008 Kluge Prize Recipients Named
Peter Robert Lamont Brown and Romila Thapar will receive the 2008 Kluge Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the Study of Humanity in a ceremony Dec. 10 at the Library of Congress. They are the sixth and seventh recipients since the Prizeâs 2003 inception.
GLIN Database Offers New Features
A new version of the Web-accessible Global Legal Information Network (GLIN) was released on Nov. 24, 2008, offering users three new features.
2008 Kluge Prize Recipients Named
Peter Robert Lamont Brown and Romila Thapar will receive the 2008 Kluge Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the Study of Humanity in a ceremony Dec. 10 at the Library of Congress. They are the sixth and seventh recipients since the Prize’s 2003 inception.
Poet and Poem 2009 Series
U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan and 30 other noted poets will be featured in the 2009 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.
Library Adds New Features for Visitors, Extends Hours
Beginning Dec. 11, a series of innovative features at the Library of Congress will greet visitors, seamlessly integrating the onsite experience in the Thomas Jefferson Building with the Library’s online experience, all part of the new "Library of Congress Experience," which launched this past spring.
Library of Congress, National Library of China Sign World Digital Library Agreement
The Library of Congress and the National Library of China have concluded an agreement to cooperate in developing the World Digital Library.
Library Merges Acquisition, Cataloging Functions
As result of the latest reorganization at the Library of Congress, a book acquired as a copyright deposit, purchase, gift or an exchange will go to one division instead of several for centralized processing—the ordering, cataloging, shelflisting, barcoding and other activities that enable users to find one particular book among more than 23.3 million unique titles in printed formats (plus another 8.9 million that are duplicate copies) held at the Library.
New Chiefs Named in Library Reorganization
As part of an internal reorganization at the Library of Congress, three new chiefs have been named in newly-created divisions within the Acquisitions and Bibliographic Access (ABA) directorate, according to Beacher Wiggins, director of ABA in Library Services.
Library Receives Howard Ashman Papers
The Music Division of the Library of Congress has acquired the papers of noted stage and film lyricist Howard Ashman. Ashman is best remembered as the lyricist (collaborating with composer Alan Menken) for the stage musical "Little Shop of Horror" and the Disney animated film musicals "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin."
Library's Historic Recordings on NPR
Historic recordings named by the Library of Congress to the National Recording Registry will be featured in a five-part series on NPR’s "All Things Considered," beginning Sunday, Nov. 9, at 5 p.m. (EST). This is the third consecutive year that the national radio network has broadcast a series showcasing selections to the registry that were targeted for preservation because they were "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant."
VHP Spotlights 92nd Infantry Division
The Library of Congress Veterans History Project (VHP), a program of the American Folklife Center, commemorates Veterans Day on Nov. 11 and National Veterans Awareness Week, Nov. 9-15, with a special Web presentation at www.loc.gov/vets featuring the firsthand recollections of soldiers from the 92nd Infantry Division of World War II.
Letters About Literature Submissions
The postmark entry deadline for Letters About Literature (LAL), a nationwide writing contest that celebrates the relationship between young readers and authors, is Dec. 6. Sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in association with Target, LAL invites students on three competition levels (elementary, middle school and secondary) to write a personal letter to an author explaining how his or her work somehow changed the reader’s view of the world or of himself or herself.
2009 Calendars and Cards Feature Library Collections
Four calendars and three sets of Knowledge Cards featuring the wide-ranging collections of the Library of Congress have been released for 2009.
Science, Technology & Business Chief Appointed
Ronald Bluestone has been appointed chief of the Library’s Science, Technology and Business Division.
VHP Celebrates Veterans Awareness Week
The Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress American Folklife Center issues a challenge for Americans to interview veterans from their families or communities during National Veterans Awareness Week, Nov. 9-15, and throughout the year. Interview guidelines are available online at www.loc.gov/vets.
Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibit Opens Feb. 12, 2009
"With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition" opens at the Library of Congress on Feb. 12, 2009, in celebration of the 200th birthday of America’s 16th president, offering the public the opportunity to view rarely seen treasures from the Library’s collections.
Library of Congress Announces New Asian Division Chief
Peter R. Young, director of the National Agricultural Library (NAL) since 2002, has been appointed chief of the Asian Division of the Library of Congress.
Library of Congress Appoints Chief of the Federal Research Division
David Osborne has been appointed chief of the Library’s Federal Research Division (FRD).
Jefferson's Draft Declaration on View for Nine More Days
After being on display since last April, a major treasure of the Library of Congress—Thomas Jefferson’s handwritten draft of the Declaration of Independence, with edits by his fellow founding fathers John Adams and Benjamin Franklin—will be taken off display in the Library’s "Creating the United States" Exhibition in the Thomas Jefferson Building after Oct. 29, 2008 in accordance with document-preservation guidelines. It is not expected to return to public display for several years.
Teachers Tapped for National Panel
The Library of Congress has assembled a group of teachers and experts from all areas of the country and grade levels in an effort to develop a new professional-development curriculum for K-12 educators. The Library's Educational Outreach division convened the first meeting of this national review committee in October in Washington, D.C.
"National Treasures, Local Treasures" Travels to Denver
"National Treasures, Local Treasures: The Library of Congress at Your Fingertips," an educational program that brings the riches of the Library to selected cities across the country, will make its second stop at the Denver Central Library on Monday, Oct. 27, from 6-8 p.m. The library is located at 10 W. 14th Ave. Parkway.
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 2009-2010 academic year. Applications are due by close of business on Friday, Feb. 13, 2009, and notification will occur in the spring.
Federal Agencies Collaborate on Guidelines for Digitization
The Library of Congress is among a dozen federal agencies launching an initiative to establish a common set of guidelines for digitizing historical materials. Basing its efforts on a combination of collaborative research and combined experience, the Federal Agencies Digitization Guidelines Initiative will address a variety of issues related to the complex activities involved in the digitization of cultural heritage items.
Two working groups have been formed, one addressing content that can be captured in still images, the other involved with content categorizing sound, video, or motion-picture film. The initiative includes a just-launched Web site, www.digitizationguidelines.gov.
Architect Eero Saarinen Subject of New Book
Published by the Library of Congress and W.W. Norton & Company, "Eero Saarinen: Buildings from the Balthazar Korab Archive," edited by David G. De Long and C. Ford Peatross, illustrates 19 of Saarinen’s commissioned designs in nearly 800 photographs drawn from Korab’s archive.
Center for the Book, Read It LOUD! Form Partnership
The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the Read It LOUD! Foundation have formed a partnership to encourage parents and other caregivers to read to their children daily. The goal of the partnership is to inspire 5 million parents and caregivers to read daily to their children by 2014.
Library Seeks Nominations for National Recording Registry
The Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, is seeking nominations once again from the public of recordings that are "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" for this year’s consideration. The recordings must be at least 10 years old. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 31.
Andre Kostelanetz Papers Donated to Library of Congress
Papers of conductor and arranger André Kostelanetz are being donated to the Library of Congress by the musician’s estate, marking a significant expansion of the collection Kostelanetz provided to the Library during his lifetime. Kostelanetz, who died in 1980, was a major figure in U.S. popular music and on radio for half a century.
Hundreds of Volunteers Support Book Festival
The 2008 National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and hosted by First Lady Laura Bush, will be supported by the volunteer efforts of hundreds of Junior League of Washington members as an estimated 120,000 book-lovers flock to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27. The festival, which is free and open to the public, will be held on the Mall between 3rd and 7th streets, rain or shine.
Library of Congress Buildings Subject of New Publication
"On These Walls: Inscriptions and Quotations of the Library of Congress," by John Y. Cole, has just been republished in a revised edition with more than 100 full-color illustrations by noted photographer Carol M. Highsmith.
Library Announces New Chief of the NAVCC Packard Campus
The Library of Congress has appointed Patrick Loughney as the chief of the Packard Campus of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, in Culpeper, Va. Loughney will oversee the state-of-the-art facility where the Library of Congress acquires, preserves and provides access to the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of movies, television programs, radio broadcasts and sound recordings.
"Fields of Vision" Features 20th-Century Photographers
Selected images from the works of FSA-OWI photographers Russell Lee (1903-1987), Ben Shahn (1898-1969) and Marion Post Wolcott (1910-1990) are now featured in the first of three volumes in a new Library of Congress series titled "Fields of Vision." Edited by Amy Pastan, an independent editor formerly with the National Gallery of Art, each volume in the series includes an introduction to the work of the featured FSA photographer by a leading contemporary author or writer.
"National Treasures, Local Treasures" Makes First Stop At Broward County Library
"National Treasures, Local Treasures: The Library of Congress at Your Fingertips," an educational program that brings the riches of the Library to selected cities across the country, will make its debut at the Broward County Public Library on Friday, Sept. 19, at 10:30 a.m. The Main Library is at 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Laura, Jenna Bush At National Book Festival
First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter, Jenna Bush, co-authors of the book "Read All About It!" will join the authors and special guests presenting at the 2008 National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and Mrs. Bush. The festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, rain or shine, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 3rd and 7th streets. The festival is free and open to the public.
VHP Honors Hispanic Americans
The Library of Congress Veterans History Project (VHP), a program of the American Folklife Center, will commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) with a special Web presentation profiling American veterans of Hispanic descent. Twelve fully digitized collections have been added to the "Experiencing War" Web series. Learn more at www.loc.gov/vets/.
Stevie Wonder Receives Library of Congress Gershwin Prize
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today named singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder—who burst on the scene in the early 1960s as a musical prodigy, and whose dance hits and love songs segued over the years into thoughtful commentaries on the joy and injustice in our world—as the recipient of the Second Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The award presentation will take place in the Great Hall of the Library on Feb. 23, 2009.
"Learning From Katrina" Web Page
Today marks the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s devastating impact to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. In commemoration, and in light of the current hurricane season, the Library of Congress announces a Web site titled "Learning from Katrina," which provides insights for better responses to record and artifact damage by hurricanes.
Book of Secrets on Display
Shortly following the release of "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," millions of moviegoers might have left theaters around the world believing that the Library of Congress, the world’s largest library, was home to a book that holds all of the U.S. presidents’ secrets from alien autopsies to the truth about the JFK assassination, as well as the location of buried treasure. That was fiction, but the real story and the "reel" story merge a little when the "Book of Secrets" movie prop and a bonus feature about the Library and its formidable collections went on display this summer in the South Orientation Gallery on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building. Visitors to the Jefferson will have an opportunity to see the display through Sept. 27.
Library Partnership Preserves End-of-Term Government Web Sites
The Library of Congress, the California Digital Library, the University of North Texas Libraries, the Internet Archive and the U.S. Government Printing Office today announced a collaborative project to preserve public United States Government web sites at the end of the current presidential administration ending January 19, 2009. This harvest is intended to document federal agencies' online archive during the transition of government and to enhance the existing collections of the five partner institutions.
Library of Congress Launches "E-Giving" Site For Donations
While the Library of Congress relies upon congressional appropriations to carry out its missions, much of its work also depends on the generosity of the private sector: individuals, corporations and foundations.
It is now much easier to support the de facto national library through financial donations with the launch of the Library’s new "e-Giving" Web site at www.loc.gov/donate/.
Library of Congress Seeks Volunteer Docents
Each year the Library of Congress receives more than 1 million visitors eager to view the magnificent Thomas Jefferson Building in Washington, D.C., and to learn about the treasures it contains. In April 2008, the Library inaugurated its new Library of Congress Experience featuring three new exhibitions and interactive displays for visitors. In December 2008, the tunnel from the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center to the Library will open. These developments are expected to bring even more visitors to the Library.
To address this growth, beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 2, the Library's Visitor Services Office is offering a 16 week training program for volunteer docents who will gain the skills necessary to lead tours of the Library's historic Thomas Jefferson building.
VHP Commemorates Armed Forces Integration
The Library of Congress Veterans History Project (VHP), a program of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center, is commemorating the 60th anniversary of the historic integration of the United States armed forces on July 26.
Kay Ryan Named Poet Laureate
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today announced the appointment of Kay Ryan as the Library’s 16th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2008-2009.
Library, NARA Form World Digital Library Partnership
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein announced today that the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) will became a founding partner in the World Digital Library (WDL).
Copyright Office Releases Section 109 Report
After more than a year of intensive study, the U.S. Copyright Office issued its report on whether to maintain, modify or eliminate Sections 111, 119 and 122 of the Copyright Act. It will serve as the basis for discussion for possible changes to the statutory licenses.
Swann Awards for 2008-2009
The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, announces the awarding of academic grants to five applicants for the 2008-2009 Swann Fellowship: Marie-Stéphanie Delamaire, Mazie Harris, Jared Richman, Christina Smylitopoulos and Veronica White.
Law Library of Congress Brochure Wins Award
The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) has named the Law Library of Congress the winner of the 2008 AALL/Thomson West Excellence in Marketing Award in the Best Brochure category.
Copyright Office Launches New Technology
Handling about 550,000 copyright claims annually, the U.S. Copyright Office in the Library of Congress is making it much easier for the public to register and protect its collective creativity. On July 1, the Copyright Office will enter the next phase in the implementation of its multi-year business process re-engineering effort to modernize operations from a paper-based to a Web-based processing environment.
Library Hires Preservation Research Scientists
To meet the challenges of preserving traditional and new media, the Library of Congress has hired four preservation research scientists as part of a multi-faceted preservation research initiative. Housed in the Preservation Research and Testing Division of the Library’s Preservation Directorate, the initiative will include the opening later this year of two "green" energy-efficient laboratories—a chemical and mechanical properties laboratory and an optical properties laboratory. The initiative will also include a new center to safeguard and make accessible the Library’s rare and valuable preservation science reference collection.
Library Appoints 50 Junior Fellows Summer Interns
This summer, 50 college students from across the country will reprise the annual "treasure hunt" as participants in the Library of Congress' 2008 Junior Fellows Summer Internship program.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Named Network Library of Year
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (Carnegie LBPH) has been named the 2007 Network Library of the Year by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) in the Library of Congress.
Letters About Literature Winners Announced
One hundred fifty young readers across the country were honored with state and national awards for their achievements in this year’s Letters About Literature (LAL) writing contest, sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.
Three State Centers for the Book Recognized For Innovative Reading-Promotion Efforts
Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole has announced that affiliated state centers for the book from Kansas, Ohio and Rhode Island are the 2008 winners of the Boorstin Award for innovative reading-promotion efforts.
VHP Observes Memorial Day 2008
he Veterans History Project (VHP) of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center plans several activities and events for Memorial Day 2008, including the Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. in support of the White House Commission on Remembrance.
"Public Markets" is Published
Published by the Library of Congress and W.W. Norton & Company, "Public Markets" by Helen Tangires is a richly illustrated compendium of the wide variety of architectural structures devoted to the urban marketplace. Designers, urban planners and those intrigued by the intersection of history, commerce and architecture will find "Public Markets" to be a singular resource on the subject.
2007 National Recording Registry Announced
What our president said to the nation, what the nation said to the universe, and a cornucopia of musical milestones highlight the major themes of the 2007 National Recording Registry. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today named 25 additions to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress as part of its efforts to preserve the nation’s aural history.
Library Receives Charles Strouse's Papers
Celebrated American composer Charles Strouse presented his papers to the Library of Congress in a private ceremony today. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington formally accepted the gift on behalf of the Library and the American people and honored Strouse, perhaps best known for such musical-theater smashes as "Annie," "Bye Bye Birdie," "Applause" and "Golden Boy."
VHP Spotlights Stories of Jewish American Vets of WWII
The Library of Congress Veterans History Project (VHP), a program of the American Folklife Center, commemorates Jewish American Heritage Month with a special series of 10 first-hand stories of Jewish Veterans of World War II. The web presentation is available at www.jewishheritage.gov/.
Veterans History Project Commemorates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
The Library of Congress Veterans History Project, a program of the American Folklife Center, features the first-hand recollections of eight war veterans in "Going for Broke," a Web feature that commemorates Asian Pacific American Heritage month. The presentation can be found online at www.loc.gov/topics/asianpacific/.
Library Receives Original Spider-Man Story
In a deed of superheroic proportions, an anonymous donor has given the Library of Congress the original artwork by Steve Ditko for Marvel Comics' "Amazing Fantasy #15" -- the comic book that introduced Spider-Man in August 1962.
Library Opens Main Reading Room to 16-Year-Old Researchers
The Library of Congress today announced that the minimum age for use of the Main Reading Room to access the Library’s physical collections for research purposes has been lowered to 16. The previous requirement was that researchers be above high school age.
American Choral Music Web Site Launched
In collaboration with the American Choral Directors Association, the Library of Congress Music Division has launched a Web site as part of its online Performing Arts Encyclopedia, called "American Choral Music, 1870-1923." The site is available at http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/choralmusic/.
Winners of 2008 Bobbitt Poetry Prize
The distinguished Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry, created 20 years ago, will be awarded to two poets who teach at universities in Virginia: Bob Hicok of Virginia Tech and Charles Wright of the University of Virginia.
Library and Kaust in Digital Partnership
The Library of Congress and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) today announced a partnership in the history of science in the Arab and Islamic worlds. The Library and KAUST will jointly convene an international advisory committee of leading scholars and curators to map out a strategy for identifying, selecting, digitizing, cataloging, annotating, and promoting scholarly research about manuscripts and other rare and unique materials relating to science in the Arab and Islamic worlds, and for including these materials in the World Digital Library (WDL) and other digital library projects.
Library of Congress, History Channel Partnership
The Library of Congress and History™ have joined forces to create a multimedia partnership to showcase the Library’s collections to the vast audience of the History brands including the History channel, history.com and other television properties. The partnership will also bring historical content to more than 200,000 teachers across the country that use the channel’s branded educational materials in their classrooms.
Seven Living Legends Chosen, Library Experience Opens
The Library of Congress will honor seven new "Living Legends" as part of its public celebration on Saturday, April 12, at the Thomas Jefferson Building (10 First St. SE, Washington, D.C., 20540). The ceremony will help mark the opening of the "Library of Congress Experience," which offers visitors the opportunity to explore rare historical and cultural treasures through interactive technology and a companion Web site. Detailed information on the Experience can be found at www.loc.gov/experience/.
Library of Congress Experience Sneak Preview
Check out the Library of Congress Blog for a preview video, also posted on YouTube, of the new Library of Congress Experience.
Study Group Issues Report Recommending Changes in Copyright Law to Reflect Digital Technologies
After nearly three years of intensive work, the independent Section 108 Study Group has issued its report and recommendations on exceptions to copyright law to address how libraries, archives and museums deal with copyrighted materials in fulfilling their missions in the digital environment. The report is available at www.section108.gov. Section 108 is the section of the Copyright Act that provides limited exceptions for libraries and archives so that they may make copies to replace copyrighted works in their collections when necessary, preserve them for the long term and make them available to users.
Karamah Joins the Global Legal Information Network
Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization, has become an associate member of the Global Legal Information Network (GLIN), a cooperative international legal database administered by the Law Library of Congress.
Library Launches Historic Baseball Resources Site
America’s Library salutes America’s favorite pastime with the launch of a new resource page: www.loc.gov/topics/baseball/. Highlighted are select Library resources on the popular sport, including player profiles, historical news and events, collection guides and presentations and more.
Thomas Jefferson Building Special Closures April 3 - 11
The Great Hall, exhibitions and Sales Shop in the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress will be closed from Thursday, April 3 through Friday, April 11 in preparation for the opening of a new Library of Congress Experience for visitors. Ceremonies to celebrate the debut of the new Library of Congress Experience will begin at 11 a.m. on April 12. The Great Hall and exhibitions will reopen after the noon ribbon cutting.
Library of Congress, Bantam Books Honor Louis L'Amour
Louis L’Amour, one of the most prolific and bestselling writers of all time, has been honored by the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress as its inaugural "Champion of the Book"—a unique designation reserved for those who have made an important contribution to the world of books.
Koussevitzky Foundation Awards Seven Commissions
The Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress and the Koussevitzky Music Foundation, Inc., have awarded commissions for new musical works to seven composers. The foundations and the performing organizations that will present the newly composed works are jointly granting the commissions.
"Library of Congress Experience" Debuts April 12
The Library of Congress–the largest library in the world and the oldest U.S. federal cultural institution–on Saturday, April 12, debuts an immersive, new "Library of Congress Experience," offering visitors unique historical and cultural treasures brought to life through cutting-edge interactive technology and a companion Web site.
Library of Congress To Offer Junior Fellows Summer Internships
This summer the Library of Congress, home of the U.S. Copyright Office, is once again offering special 10-week, paid internships to college students. For a stipend of $3,000, Junior Fellows Summer Interns will work full-time, starting on June 2 and ending on Aug. 8, to help locate and itemize uncataloged materials submitted to the office as part of the copyright registration process. In the past, summer interns have identified hundreds of literary, artistic, film and musical gems among the Library’s copyright deposits and gift collections.
Digital Preservation Program Launches Newsletter
A monthly online newsletter highlighting the important work that the Library of Congress’s digital preservation program is performing to collect and preserve the nation’s heritage in digital form will launch in March.
1507 World Map is Subject of New Book
More than 500 years after its creation, Martin Waldseemüller’s 1507 World Map—the first map to display the name "America"—continues to fascinate cartographers, historians and those interested in the nation’s founding and the mapping of the globe. Acquired by the Library of Congress in 2003 and currently on display in the Thomas Jefferson Building in a sealed, oxygen-free encasement, the map is the subject of a new book, "The Naming of America" by John W. Hessler.
Library Communications System For Deaf Staff
The Library of Congress has become one of the first federal agencies to implement an agency-wide "videophone" system that enables its deaf staff members who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate with both hearing and deaf individuals. Using the videophones, deaf staff members can place Video Relay Service (VRS) calls, which are "relayed" through an ASL interpreter at a call center, to hearing individuals. Likewise, using the videophones, deaf individuals can place point-to-point calls with other deaf people who use ASL.
New Email Alerts and RSS Feeds
The Library has added new email alert services and RSS feeds in the following areas: Hours of Operation, Folklife (including News, Events, and Newsletter from the American Folklife Center), Legal Issues (including News, Research, Webcasts, and Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library), and news from Chronicling America, the Historic American Newspaper project.
LOC and IMLS Preservation Outreach
The Preservation Directorate of the Library of Congress has announced that Karen Motylewski from IMLS will serve a one-year detail at the Library as special projects liaison. She will help both agencies advance shared goals for preservation and conservation awareness and action throughout the nation. She will assist the Library in meetings, in training sessions and in developing emergency plans.
Library Receives Book From Window of China Project
The Library of Congress has begun to receive donated books from the National Library of China through the Window of China Project. Founded in 2006, the Window of China Project donates books to national libraries and other institutions around the world.
James Forman Papers Donated to the Library
At a ceremony held today at the Library of Congress, the papers of civil-rights activist James Forman were given to the Library by Forman’s sons James Jr. and Chaka. Their mother, Constancia Romilly, also attended the event.
W.R. Smyser To Kissinger Chair
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed W. R. Smyser, adjunct professor in the BMW Center for German and European Studies, Georgetown University, as the Henry Alfred Kissinger Scholar in Foreign Policy and International Relations in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.
Library of Congress-Flickr Pilot Project
Out of some 14 million prints, photographs and other visual materials at the Library of Congress, more than 3,000 photos from two of the institution's most popular collections are being made available on Flickr, a popular photo-sharing site, to include only images for which no copyright restrictions are known to exist.
Three Images of the Crowd at Lincoln's Second Inauguration Discovered at Library of Congress
Details of Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration come into clearer focus with the recent discovery at the Library of Congress of three glass negatives that show the large crowd gathered at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., for the president's address on March 4, 1865.
Library of Congress and Foundation Center Create New Funding Guide for Preserving Historical, Cultural Collections