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Category: Guest Blog Posts

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Peter Parley Explains the Moon to Children, Part 1

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

Today’s guest post is by Jacqueline Coleburn and Anthony Mullan. Jackie is a rare book cataloger at the Library of Congress and is cataloging the Library’s rare children’s books.  Peter Parley books are a particular interest of hers. These books, which were very popular in the 1830s, 40s, and 50s, offer insight into the evolution …

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Thoreau’s View of the Railroad

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

Today’s guest post is by Michael Sconzo, an intern from the University of Virginia in the Science, Technology, and Business Division.  Using inspiration and access to the extensive collections of the Library Congress, Michael was asked to write blog posts on the theme of transportation.  After reflection, he chose to write on the impact of …

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How “Shop Class” Helped Win the War: The “Model Aircraft Project” of World War II

Posted by: Nancy Lovas

This post was written by Michelle Cadoree Bradley, a Science Reference Specialist in the Science, Technology and Business Division. In the collections of the Library of Congress, there are thousands of books in red buckram binding. These fairly innocuous exteriors can sometimes hide unique items. One such item from the stacks is the book Model Aircraft Project from …

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Mosquitos: Our “Unfriendly” Neighbors! Zika and Other Mosquito-Borne Diseases

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

This is a guest post by Tomoko Y. Steen, Ph.D. a Science Reference librarian in the Science, Technology & Business Division. Every summer when the temperatures reach their peak, daily news coverage begins to express concern about mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquitos have been our unfriendly neighbors for many centuries during the summer months and year round …

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Roosevelt, Muir, and The Camping Trip

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

This guest post was written by Constance Carter the previous head of Science Reference who now volunteers here at the Library. One of the most delightful children’s books I have read is Barb Rosenstock’s The Camping Trip that Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and our National Parks (New York, Dial Books for Young Readers, …

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Building Product Source: Spotlight on Sweet’s Catalog File

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

This post was written by John F. Buydos a Reference Librarian in the Science Section. The Sweet’s Catalog File is a building product source and a frequently used title here at the Library. It is an example of a master catalog (i.e., catalogs or partial catalogs from several manufacturers, with a combined index) in the …