The Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress, from the Prints and Photographs Online CatalogMembers of the American Library Association ? at least 20,000 strong (from what I?m told) ? will be descending on Washington, D.C., starting later this week for their Annual Conference and Exhibition. While the bulk of the activities will be at the Convention Center, the Library of Congress will be doing its best to roll out the red carpet too.
This is the first time in several years that ALA has held its annual conference in D.C., so we hope to welcome our librarian friends in style ? and substance.
First, we are hosting a whole passel of open houses for members with ALA credentials on Friday afternoon, June 22. A complete schedule can be found on this handy PDF flyer. (Feel free to pass it along to any ALA members you know!) In addition, the magnificent Main Reading Room will be kept open Friday for an additional two hours for ALA members (until 7 p.m.)
On Monday, June 25, at 4 p.m. in the Library?s Coolidge Auditorium, ALA members and LOC staff are invited to attend a conversation between Librarian of Congress James Billington and Brian Lamb of C-SPAN on issues of importance to libraries.
Library of Congress staff will be conducting several tours and programs, as well.
And finally, Library staff will be staging a full schedule of programming at the LOC?s booth (#1741) at the Convention Center.
If I might put in a ?plug,? from Saturday through Tuesday, I will be taking the noon-hour shift (joined by my colleague John Sayers) to give presentations on three major Library activities and initiatives: the upcoming 2007 National Book Festival, the Library?s new Lifelong Literacy public-service campaign (in conjunction with the Ad Council), and a top-notch, technologically advanced and interactive visitors experience that will open next spring at the LOC. If you stop by booth #1741, be sure to say hi!
All of this information and more can be found on LOC?s ALA microsite at this link.
Comments (6)
This is exciting! This is such a great thing for all of us to finally have a nice library to go to. Look at how great the architecture is. I can’t wait to go veiw it myself next time i’m in DC.
Breathtaking! Its wonderful, I think this library is one of the biggest library in the world, I heard it has more than 29 million catalogued books collections and other print materials in 470 languages & more than 58 million manuscripts with seperate room for reading. It would be my pleasure to visit such historical monument.
-Bob
Its wonderful.
It was a huge Exibition Held by American Library Association.As Their mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services. I think they are trying their best to succeed in their mission.
Very interesting!
I visited the main reading room on Friday evening during the extended hours for conference attendees and it was wonderful! Many thanks for affording us this opportunity.