The following guest post is by Amber Paranick, a librarian in the Newspaper & Current Periodical Reading Room. Today, January 19th, we celebrate the 206th birthday of Edgar Allan Poe. Poe was an American writer, poet, and critic during the romantic era and is perhaps best known for his stories of mystery and horror. He […]
Among the many materials in the Library’s Rare Book and Special Collections Division that focus on book design and fine printing are nearly two-dozen small chapbooks popularly known as Robert Frost‘s “Christmas Cards.” The chapbooks, first issued in 1929 and annually from 1934-1962, are collectible curiosities. While you might expect each one to feature a […]
The following guest post, part of our “Teacher’s Corner” series, is by Rebecca Newland, Teacher in Residence at the Library of Congress. Developing skills in written expression is as important a life skill as it is a school skill. One step in developing writing skills is drafting. Students are sometimes reluctant to revise work after […]
Emily Dickinson was born 184 years ago today. To celebrate, the Library of Congress invited poetry lovers this Monday to enter “A fairer House than Prose” with a marathon reading of Emily Dickinson’s poems and a special display of Dickinson materials from its Rare Book and Special Collections Division. The event, held in Room 119 […]
The following is a cross-post from the Library of Congres Blog, from Senior Public Affairs Specialist Jennifer Gavin. Many larger-than-life figures have served as the Librarian of Congress. As the Library once again plays host to that seminal document affirming the rule of law, Magna Carta, today we shine a spotlight on the man who […]
From the Catbird Seat is excited to launch a new monthly series, “Teacher’s Corner,” by Rebecca Newland, Teacher in Residence at the Library of Congress. “Teacher’s Corner” will highlight ways that K-12 teachers and librarians can effectively use poetry- and literature-related primary sources from the Library in the classroom. Bringing primary sources into the poetry […]
The following guest post is by Amber Paranick, a librarian in the Newspaper & Current Periodical Reading Room. I got the idea for this post by quite literally stumbling on it. I was running to catch my bus and tripped and almost fell. I looked down at my feet and much to my admiration was […]
The following guest post is by Yvonne French, webmaster for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. I enjoy poetry readings as much as the next English major, but I relish poetry lectures–so when I found out former National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia was going to talk about “Poetry […]
The following is a guest post by Megan Armenti, Specialist, Congressional Research Service. When I first met my husband and From the Catbird Seat blogger–Peter Armenti–I was immediately drawn in by his sincere smile, warm personality, and quintessential shy librarian nature. I soon discovered that he held a deep-seated love for poetry, one that I didn’t fully […]
The following is a guest post by Rebecca Newland, Teacher in Residence at the Library of Congress. It is cross posted on the Teaching with the Library of Congress blog. One way for teachers to engage students with poetry is to connect poems and poets to historical events. Students gain a deeper appreciation of poets […]