News from the Library of Congress

September 2023

August 2023

  • August 31, 2023  (23-078)
    Library of Congress Awards 2023-2024 National Stereoscopic Association Research Fellowships The Library of Congress today announced Rachel Lee Hutcheson, Isabelle Lynch and Lynn Marie Mitchell as its next class of fellows awarded the National Stereoscopic Association Research Fellowship.Established in 2022 with a generous monetary donation from the National Stereoscopic Association, the fellowship supports research on stereoscopy and the history of photography within the Prints and Photographs Division holdings and the unparalleled photographic history collections...
    • Date: 2023-08-31
  • August 30, 2023  (23-076)
    Copyright Office Issues Notice of Inquiry on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence The U.S. Copyright Office today issued a notice of inquiry in Federal Register on copyright and artificial intelligence. The Copyright Office is undertaking a study of the copyright law and policy issues raised by generative AI and is assessing whether legislative or regulatory steps are warranted.The Copyright Office will use the record it assembles to advise Congress; inform its regulatory work; and offer information...
    • Date: 2023-08-30
  • August 24, 2023  (23-074)
    Dress as Your Favorite Literary Figure, Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and More During Live at the Library in September During Live at the Library in September, visitors are invited to attend an event to kick off the upcoming C-SPAN series “Books that Shaped America” on Sept. 7. Plus, dress as your favorite literary figure for a special Literary Costume Ball on Sept. 14. Visitors are invited to begin celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at the Library with special music and dance events in September....
    • Date: 2023-08-24
  • August 23, 2023  (23-072)
    Tens of Thousands Attend 2023 Library of Congress National Book Festival Tens of thousands of book lovers joined the Library of Congress National Book Festival in person on Aug. 12 at the Washington Convention Center, including capacity crowds on numerous stages. Videos of select stages are now available, and individual presentations will be made available on demand on the festival’s website during the week of Aug. 21.This year’s festival theme, “Everyone Has a Story,” celebrates...
    • Date: 2023-08-23
  • August 22, 2023  (23-070)
    Library of Congress Releases Newly Digitized Hebrew Manuscripts The Library of Congress has released some 230 newly digitized manuscripts written in Hebrew and similar languages such as Judeo-Arabic, Judeo-Persian and Yiddish. The collection, available online for researchers and the public for the first time, includes a 14th century collection of responsa by Solomon ibn Adret of Barcelona, considered one of the most prominent authorities on Jewish law of all time.The full digital...
    • Date: 2023-08-22
  • August 21, 2023  (23-073)
    Library of Congress to Host Congress.gov Public Forum on Sept. 13 The Library of Congress will hold its next Congress.gov forum on Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET. As the authoritative source for federal legislative information, Congress.gov is greatly enhanced by public feedback about the site.For the first time, the forum will take place both in person at the Library and via Zoom for participants who would prefer to join virtually....
    • Date: 2023-08-21
  • August 17, 2023  (23-066)
    Library of Congress Announces Fall 2023 Concert Series Brazilian jazz pianist, composer and vocalist Eliane Elias kicks off the fall 2023 season of Concerts from the Library of Congress on Oct. 13. The series presents a diverse lineup of chamber music and jazz concerts in the Library’s Coolidge Auditorium, along with conversations with musicians and composers, educational projects, and curated displays showcasing collections from the Library’s Music Division.Events are free and open...
    • Date: 2023-08-17
  • August 15, 2023  (23-069)
    C-SPAN and Library of Congress Announce New Primetime Book Series for Fall 2023 C-SPAN and the Library of Congress have announced a joint original feature production for fall 2023: "Books That Shaped America."The 10-part series – which C-SPAN will air LIVE on Mondays, starting Sept. 18 at 9 p.m. ET – will be a literary journey, tracing America's history by exploring masterpieces in literature that have had, and still have today, a major impact on society.The 10-week...
    • Date: 2023-08-15
  • August 4, 2023  (23-067)
    Library to Formally Add 'Red, White & Royal Blue' By Author Casey McQuiston to National Collection in Advance of Film Adaptation of Novel The Library will host Casey McQuiston, author of the bestselling book “Red, White & Royal Blue,” for a conversation on Tuesday, Aug. 8 at 6 p.m.McQuiston will be signing copies of “Red, White & Royal Blue” following their conversation in the Members Room in the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building. Copies of the book will also be available for purchase. The event is free, but...
    • Date: 2023-08-04
  • August 3, 2023  (23-068)
    National Book Festival Presents Activities for Families, Author Presentations for Kids and Young Readers Children, teens and families will find a full schedule of free activities at the 2023 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Saturday, Aug. 12. Explore a wide array of activities and programs for festival attendees of all ages in Hall DE (Level 2, North Building) of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Young readers of all ages...
    • Date: 2023-08-03

July 2023

  • July 26, 2023  (23-065)
    Library to Host Summer 2023 Copyright Public Modernization Committee Meeting The Library of Congress will host the summer 2023 meeting of the Copyright Public Modernization Committee virtually on Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. ET. Participants will hear from Library and Copyright Office staff about the latest developments of the Enterprise Copyright System.In addition to updates from Library and Copyright Office staff on the development of the Enterprise Copyright System, attendees will participate in...
    • Date: 2023-07-26
  • July 25, 2023  (23-064)
    Better Angels Society Announces Finalists for Fifth Annual Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize For Film The Better Angels Society, the Library of Congress, and the Crimson Lion/Lavine Family Foundation today announced the six finalists for the fifth annual Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film. The award, which was established in 2019, recognizes late-stage documentaries that use original research and compelling narrative to tell stories that bring American history to life through archival materials.“We’ve seen time and again...
    • Date: 2023-07-25
  • July 20, 2023  (23-063)
    Enjoy Movies on the Lawn, Café Concerts During Live at the Library in August Enjoy summer movies and music on the lawn this August during Live at the Library. On Aug. 3, take a bachata class from Julissa Cruz of the Latin Vintage Dance Company before a screening of “Mary Poppins.” Plus, join the Library of Congress for screenings in the historic Coolidge Auditorium later in the month, and enjoy café concerts in the Great Hall starting Aug....
    • Date: 2023-07-20
  • July 6, 2023  (23-062)
    George Saunders to Receive 2023 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced today that the 2023 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction will be awarded to George Saunders.One of the Library’s most prestigious awards, the annual Prize for American Fiction honors an American literary writer whose body of work is distinguished not only for its mastery of the art but also for its originality of thought and imagination. The...
    • Date: 2023-07-06

June 2023

  • June 30, 2023  (23-061)
    Library of Congress Offers Third Round of Grant Funding to Support Contemporary Cultural Field Research within Diverse Communities The Library of Congress is offering the third round of grants available to individuals and organizations working to document cultures and traditions of Black, Indigenous and communities of color traditionally underrepresented in the United States. The Community Collections Grants from the Library’s American Folklife Center offer a wide range of opportunities for many to document experiences from their own perspectives, while enriching the Library’s...
    • Date: 2023-06-30
  • June 22, 2023  (23-059)
    Enjoy Summer Movies and Music on the Lawn During Live at the Library in July Enjoy summer movies and music on the lawn beginning on July 6 with a screening of “Iron Man” and a performance by Batalá Washington, D.C.’s all-women Afro-Brazilian drumming troop. To celebrate the upcoming National Book Festival, all of the movies presented are adapted from books or comics. Plus, join historian Kevin M. Hymel as he discusses his books on George S. Patton at the...
    • Date: 2023-06-22
  • June 22, 2023  (23-060)
    Library of Congress National Book Festival Partners with PBS Books to Share Voices from the Festival with Viewers Nationwide Book lovers across the nation can join the 2023 Library of Congress National Book Festival on PBS Books, which will host a series of virtual interviews with some of the festival’s featured authors beginning July 20 in partnership with PBS stations across the country. This marks the eighth collaboration between the Library of Congress National Book Festival and PBS Books, a national programming initiative...
    • Date: 2023-06-22
  • June 14, 2023  (23-058)
    Library of Congress Acquires Music Manuscripts and Papers of Composer John Adams The Library of Congress has acquired the music manuscripts and papers of contemporary American composer, conductor and writer John Adams. Adams is known for works including the opera “Nixon in China” and concert pieces such as “Shaker Loops,” “Harmonielehre,” “Road Movies,” “Chamber Symphony” and “Short Ride in a Fast Machine.”John Coolidge Adams was born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1947. His career has taken place...
    • Date: 2023-06-14
  • June 9, 2023  (23-049)
    Library of Congress National Book Festival Announces Full Author Lineup The 2023 Library of Congress National Book Festival returns to the Washington Convention Center on Saturday, Aug. 12. The festival’s theme, “Everyone Has a Story,” celebrates the storyteller in us all. Attendees will hear conversations that reflect their lived experiences and stories, with presentations for every type of reader. Memoirs will be featured on several stages, including actor Elliot Page’s “Pageboy” and R.K. Russell’s...
    • Date: 2023-06-09
  • June 6, 2023  (23-056)
    Library of Congress Launches Video Game Challenge for Civic Engagement The Library of Congress is calling on video game developers to create fun and lightweight video games related to civics that incorporate Library resources. This challenge is part of an effort to improve public knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of American citizens. Winning video game entries, to be announced early next year, will receive $35,000 in cash prizes.The Library of Congress Friends’ Choice...
    • Date: 2023-06-06

May 2023

  • May 31, 2023  (23-051)
    Library Welcomes Junior Fellows to Summer Internship Program The Library of Congress announced the appointment of 50 undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students to its Junior Fellows Program on May 22. Following three years of being conducted virtually in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s students will work in a new hybrid style, either remotely or on-site. This year’s students are from 21 states and the District of Columbia. The group will...
    • Date: 2023-05-31
  • May 31, 2023  (23-055)
    Annual Summer Movies on the Lawn to Present National Film Registry Selections The Library of Congress will host its annual “Summer Movies on the Lawn” series starting July 6. The series featuring films from the Library’s National Film Registry will be presented Thursday evenings at sundown on the southeast lawn of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building. Music will be presented prior to each film, with live performances on July 6, July 20 and Aug. 3.The scheduled...
    • Date: 2023-05-31
  • May 26, 2023  (23-052)
    Library of Congress Launches COVID-19 American History Project The Library of Congress has announced the congressionally-funded COVID-19 American History Project, a multiyear effort to collect, preserve and make available to the public the oral histories of frontline healthcare workers, survivors of loved ones who died, and others impacted by the pandemic. The project will also encourage the public to share their COVID-19 experiences with StoryCorps, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and...
    • Date: 2023-05-26
  • May 23, 2023  (23-028)
    Library of Congress Awards More than $200,000 to Five Projects Highlighting Uses of Digital Collections The Library of Congress today announced that five awards, totaling more than $200,000, have been awarded from the Connecting Communities Digital Initiative through a program available to Libraries, Archives, Museums and Higher Education institutions. The 2023 awardees will use these funds to create projects that offer creative approaches to the Library’s digital collections and center Black, Indigenous, and Latino or Hispanic studies. “We’re excited...
    • Date: 2023-05-23
  • May 18, 2023  (23-047)
    Ada Limón to Reveal Poem for NASA Europa Clipper Mission During Live at the Library in June During Live at the Library in June, U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón — recently reappointed for a historic two-year term — will unveil her original poem written for the NASA Europa Clipper mission. Plus, celebrations for the Juneteenth holiday will honor African American folk music and photography. Celebrate Pride with a concert saluting Billy Strayhorn on June 8, and view a display of LGBTQ+...
    • Date: 2023-05-18
  • May 18, 2023  (23-050)
    Connecting Communities Digital Initiative Announces Next Round of Award Opportunities for Libraries, Archives, Museums, Higher Education and Artists/Scholars in Residence Individuals and educational and cultural institutions who seek to imaginatively remix and reuse the Library of Congress’ digital collections and create projects centering one or more of the following groups, Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander and/or other communities of color — are invited to apply to award opportunities through the Connecting Communities Digital Initiative.The Connecting Communities Digital Initiative, part...
    • Date: 2023-05-18
  • May 15, 2023  (23-048)
    Library of Congress Festival of Film and Sound Announces Full Lineup of Rare Cinema and Special Guests The Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center is announcing the full lineup of rare cinema and special guests to be featured at the inaugural Library of Congress Festival of Film and Sound. The new four-day film festival will be held June 15-18 in association with the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center at the American Film Institute’s beautifully restored 1938 art deco theater...
    • Date: 2023-05-15
  • May 10, 2023  (23-045)
    FEDLINK Awards Recognize Federal Library Community Achievement The Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK) 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 the government, business and scholarly communities and the American public.Federal libraries and staff throughout the United States and abroad competed for the awards. The award winners will be...
    • Date: 2023-05-10
  • May 9, 2023  (23-046)
    Library of Congress Completes Digitization of Yongle Encyclopedia, Largest Reference Work of Pre-Modern Era The Library of Congress has completed a yearslong effort to digitize the Yongle Encyclopedia (Yongle dadian 永樂大典), the largest reference work created in pre-modern China, and possibly the world. Digital publication of the 41 volumes held in the Library’s collections provides open access to one of the most extensive attempts in world history to capture the entirety of human knowledge in book form.The massive...
    • Date: 2023-05-09
  • May 3, 2023  (23-043)
    Library of Congress Hosts Panel Discussion About Preserving Personal Stories During "Welcome Home" Event for Vietnam War Veterans Library of Congress Hosts Panel Discussion About Preserving Personal Stories During “Welcome Home” Event for Vietnam War Veterans The Library of Congress Veterans History Project will host a panel discussion on preserving personal documents and artifacts as part of a three-day celebration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to “Welcome Home” Vietnam veterans and honor their enduring legacy of service.The Veterans History Project...
    • Date: 2023-05-03
  • May 2, 2023  (23-044)
    Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens Papers Open for Research at the Library of Congress A major portion of the papers of Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens is opening for research use on May 2 in the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress. The collection documents the evolving position of one of the longest-serving justices on the Supreme Court and the transformation of the court itself.Stevens (1920-2019) was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1975 by...
    • Date: 2023-05-02
  • May 1, 2023  (23-039)
    Meg Medina Embarks on Tour as National Ambassador for Young People's Literature National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Meg Medina will launch her national tour with a visit to the communities of Lake Charles, Louisiana and Newburgh, New York this spring and summer.During her tour, Medina will inspire students and families to experiment with “book talks” — the process of sharing books to start conversations and build excitement about reading. Medina, the eighth national ambassador, aims...
    • Date: 2023-05-01

April 2023

  • April 27, 2023  (23-A02)
    Jefferson Building Access May 9-10 On Wednesday, May 10, a special event in the Great Hall will reduce access in the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. All exhibitions, public spaces and the Library Shop in the Jefferson Building will be closed for the entire day, and no timed-entry passes will be offered to the public.Researchers may access the Jefferson Building reading rooms as they will be...
    • Date: 2023-04-27
  • April 24, 2023  (23-040)
    U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón Appointed for a Historic Two-Year Second Term Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden has appointed Ada Limón to serve a two-year second term as the nation’s 24th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry.The act of Congress establishing the poet laureate position states that the Librarian may appoint a laureate “for one- or two-year terms.” This is the first time a laureate will serve the longer option. Limón’s second term will begin in September...
    • Date: 2023-04-24
  • April 21, 2023  (23-038)
    Honor Vietnam Veterans, Celebrate Jewish-American Heritage Month and More During Live at the Library in May Honor Vietnam War veterans during Live at the Library on May 11 in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. Cultural events in May also will celebrate Yiddish history in the United States and the history of recipes and cookbooks in America.On Thursday evenings, the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building and all exhibitions are open for extended hours from 5...
    • Date: 2023-04-21