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Category: Library Work and Employees

Closeup photograph of the spine of three leather-bound volumes, one of them reading "Political Pamphlets"

Thomas Jefferson’s Library…

Posted by: Neely Tucker

Recreating Thomas Jefferson's personal library, which became the DNA of the Library of Congress, has been a fascination for antiquarians since an 1851 fire burned about two thirds of his original books. But for 27 years, one of the Library’s most ardent projects has been to examine its own stacks, other libraries, rare book dealers and antiquarians from multiple countries to replace the burned and missing volumes with exact copies — the same edition, publisher and so on — to replicate the world view that led the author of the Declaration of Independence to pen such a world-changing set of ideas. That effort is now getting as close to complete as it is ever likely to get.

Color portrait of Mac Bennett, seated, leaning forward with his forearms resting on his knees, looking to his left at the camera.

Mac Barnett Named New National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

Posted by: Neely Tucker

Mac Barnett, the bestselling author of more than 60 children's books, including “Twenty Questions,” “Sam & Dave Dig a Hole,” “A Polar Bear in the Snow” as well as the “Mac B., Kid Spy” series, will be inaugurated today as the 2025-2026 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. 

1930s-style illustration of a man falling in front of a moving car with a policeman yelling in the background

“V as in Victim,” The Library’s Newest Crime Classic

Posted by: Neely Tucker

This is a guest post by Zach Klitzman, a writer-editor in the Library’s Publishing Office. “All we want are the facts, ma’am,” from “Dragnet.” “Book ’em, Danno,” from “Hawaii Five-O.” David Caruso flipping on his sunglasses before offering a pithy line in “CSI: Miami.” These and other cop-show catchphrases have their roots in Lawrence Treat’s …

Medium length photo of Rubenstein standing in front of Joe Biden as the president drapes a medal around his neck.

David Rubenstein, Chair of the Library’s Madison Council, Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

Posted by: Carla D. Hayden

"On Saturday, Jan. 4, Library of Congress James Madison Council chair David M. Rubenstein was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House. This is a crowning achievement for his passionate support of our nation’s history and culture and the arts." -- A special blog from Librarian Carla D. Hayden

Half portrait of a woman sitting on a rocky outcrop by a large body of water. She is wearing a navy cap and a blue jacket, posing with her chin resting on her right palm.

My Job: Lara Szypszak

Posted by: Neely Tucker

Lara Szypszak is a reference librarian in the Manuscript Division. In this Q & A, she explains her work at the Library, her international travels and good times assisting Gershwin Prize recipients and National Book Festival authors while they're at Library events.