As part of our new Library of Congress Experience, the Library has been updating a lot of our materials and signage around our Capitol Hill complex. If our renovation in 1997 was a facelift for the Thomas Jefferson Building, then maybe we’ll call this a touch of Botox.
Some of the most noticeable changes include tall, beautiful exhibition banners in front and around the Thomas Jefferson Building.
There are also about a dozen wayfinding “pylons” scattered around our property, which have also been updated from a basic blue-and-white look to incorporate some gorgeous imagery from the Library, our new logo (yes, we have a new logo!), and some information about the new Experience. Pylons around the Thomas Jefferson Building are being updated first, with the Madison and Adams buildings to follow.
I included a single photo here, but if you want to see more, I put up a full slideshow on Flickr, here.
In one of the shots, you’ll notice a pair of what appears to be tourists or convention-goers (they had matching nylon bags with a big logo on the side) inspecting a pylon. It was kind of fascinating: They were walking around the pylon in circles, bending down, moving up closer to look at details.
I knew they were attractive signs, but I had no idea they would stop pedestrians in their tracks!
Comments (5)
Loved the slideshow! Is that a de Laudonniere etching of our Timucuan Indians on one of the banners?
I saw some Web Content Managers jobs advertised at the LOC – how very tempting!
I don’t like banners around beautiful Building. The original splendor and harmony of the 1897 Thomas Jefferson Building with full of modern style banners.
I just came across your blog today and I think you’re doing a great job here, in introducing to the public the richness and beauty found inside the Library of Congress. Congratulations!
By the way, I saw those pylons in Flickr, and I think they look great -providing an exciting contrast to the somber elegance of the Thomas Jefferson Building. Your creativity is inspiring.
The pictures are fantastic, its always insightful to see another library.
I don’t like big banners.