Happy New Year! Let’s look back on some of the Library’s headlines in December. Topping the news was the announcement of the new selections to the National Film Registry. Outlets really picked up on the heavy 80s influence of the list.
“It’s loaded with millennials,” said Christie D’Zurilla of The Los Angeles Times. “Ten of the 25 films selected by the Librarian of Congress this year were born after 1980.”
The Washington Post noted the teen angst theme of several movies on this year’s list, including “The Decline of Western Civilization,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Rushmore” and “Blackboard Jungle.” Reporter Michael O’Sullivan spoke with “Decline” director Penelope Spheeris, who said she doesn’t find it odd that thematically related films appear on the list.
“The youth-in-revolt genre has an enduring appeal, since adolescence and early adulthood are when we are forming our identities,” she said. “[The registry has] become a vital reference library for upcoming generations of young people.”
Slate Magazine said there is “a little something for everyone in the NFPB’s latest batch.”
The Library’s Veterans History Project also received media coverage in December, particularly with the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7. Several regional outlets shared stories of collecting efforts, including Honolulu Civil Beat, St. Louis Public Radio and the Brown County Democrat.
“How much cooler is that, that our kids can archive these living histories into the Library of Congress?” said Emily Lewellen, teacher at Brown County High School who works with the school’s History Club members.
Late November, the Library announced a collaboration with the Digital Public Library of America to share its rich digital resources with DPLA’s database of content records.
“This is an important partnership for both institutions, as it bolsters the DPLA’s role as a valuable nexus for cross-institutional data and ensures the accessibility of the LOC’s significant digital resources,” wrote Allison Meier for Hyperallergic.
“You don’t have to be an historian or cartographer to appreciate why this partnership is a big deal,” wrote William Fenton for PC Magazine. “The Library of Congress isn’t just the nation’s de facto library, but also the largest library in the world. It’s an institution that Americans can and should celebrate and, under the leadership of Librarian Carla Hayden, the LOC has crafted an ambitious strategic plan that will greatly expand its online presence. Digitization will benefit students, educators, researchers, and all inquisitive citizens, particularly those who do not live within commuting distance of Washington D.C.