Top of page
Posted by: Matt Raymond
One of the myriad new ways we’re marking the 10th National Book Festival — “A Decade of Words and Wonder,” as we say — is to give you, the National Bookworms, as it were a chance to make your voice heard. This year we have posted a poll at loc.gov/bookfest asking people to vote for …
Posted in: Books, Events, LC Web site, National Book Festival
Posted by: Matt Raymond
PBS tonight airs the long-awaited “Paul McCartney: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song In Performance at the White House” at 8 p.m. EDT, with an encore showing at 9:30. It’s an all-star concert that features music from McCartney himself and Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, Jonas Brothers, Herbie Hancock, Corinne Bailey Rae, Dave …
Posted by: Matt Raymond
Tim Daly gingerly wound his way up a narrow spiral staircase to a low-ceilinged, vaulted alcove overlooking the ornate Ceremonial Office of the Librarian of Congress. Surveying the VIPs on the crowded floor below–members of Congress, Hollywood A-listers, Library leadership–he pulled out a digital camera to capture the celebratory moment. Then he paused. “I wonder …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Events, History, Music, Preservation
Posted by: Matt Raymond
The history of our nation — from the earliest settlers through the present day — is a story of ambition and resilience, a story of human ingenuity conquering the impossible. In its new epic series “America The Story of Us,” which premieres Sunday night (April 25) at 9 p.m. EDT, HISTORY will retell the extraordinary …
Posted in: Audiovisual, Collections, Events, History, Photos, Video
Posted by: Matt Raymond
(The following is a guest post by my colleague Donna Urschel.) Did you ever wonder how the literary giants create their work? Does it just pour out of them effortlessly? Or is there some sort of magic trick? On April 1, master poet Kay Ryan, the 16th Poet Laureate of the United States, will provide …
Posted by: Matt Raymond
Most musicians probably would be satisfied during a performance with a single standing ovation. But at a rousing concert Tuesday in the Coolidge Auditorium, the crowd leapt to their feet in applause no less than four times for a half dozen of country music’s most popular and influential stars—and even surprise “guest performer” Librarian of …
Posted by: Matt Raymond
Even for many of those who might yawn their way through the gridiron action on Sunday between New Orleans and Indianapolis, they will perk right up and stare intently at the screen during the station breaks. Super Bowl commercials have become something of an event of their own, alongside the actual game. The Inside Adams …
Posted in: Collections, Curators, Education, Events, History
Posted by: Matt Raymond
Have you ever had to keep a secret? A huge, exciting secret? A few weeks ago the head of our Music Division called to inform me that the third recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song would be Sir Paul McCartney. I’m fairly certain that they heard my reaction in the …
Posted by: Matt Raymond
Legendary comedian Carl Reiner spoke to a standing-room-only audience at the Library the other day, and I had the very good fortune of attending. I guess I should not have been surprised that this 87-year-old man was every bit as funny and incisive as he always has been. He spun terrific yarns, was always quick …