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A group of about a dozen smiling adults and children holding up copies of books.

The Library’s 2025 Literacy Award Winners

Posted by: Neely Tucker

Literacy Partners, a 52-year-old New York City nonprofit that works with families, both parents and children, won the top prize in the 2025 Library of Congress Literacy Awards, taking home the $150,000 David M. Rubenstein Prize. Since 2013, the Literacy Awards have handed out 247 prizes, totaling more than $4.3 million, all from philanthropic donations. More than 200 organizations from 42 countries have been recognized for their work.

The words "National Book Festival" above a large number 25 are spelled out across the orange spines of several books.

The National Book Festival’s 25th Edition!

Posted by: Neely Tucker

The National Book Festival’s 25th edition returns to D.C. on September 6 with a stellar list of novelists, historians, poets, young-adult and childrens authors, more than 90 in all. You’ll see novelists such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Scott Turow and Jess Walter; non-fiction authors such as Ron Chernow, Jill Lepore and Geraldine Brooks; and Academy …

Half portrait of Bill Moyers, smiling, turned slightly to the camera, smiling. He's wearing a dark suit, a blue shirt and a red tie.

Bill Moyers: A Lifetime Preserved at the Library of Congress

Posted by: Neely Tucker

Bill Moyers, who died yesterday at the age of 91, was at the Library’s Coolidge Auditorium one night in the fall of 2023 to mark the preservation of more than 1,000 of his public television programs in The American Archive of Public Broadcasting. a collaboration between the Library and GBH, the public media production company in Boston. It was a crowning night to one of the most influential careers in American media.

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. 

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, in black and white half portrait, stands behind a table, leafing through a large book, with a painted portait of a judge behind her

Sandra Day O’Connor Papers Now Open for Research

Posted by: Neely Tucker

A major portion of the papers of Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, consisting of approximately 600 containers, opened for research use this week. Housed in the Manuscript Division, the collection documents the trajectory of O’Connor’s life in politics and law in Arizona and, later, as the U.S. Supreme Court’s first woman justice.

Mariah Carey, Santa Claus and Librarian Carla Hayden, all in holiday attire, post at Christmas tree in the Great Hall. Carey holds a framed certificate from the National Recording Registry.

All I Want for Christmas Is … Mariah Carey at the Library?

Posted by: Neely Tucker

Mariah Carey surprised a festive crowd during the Library’s Santa Claus edition of “Live! At the Library“ last night, making an entrance as her signature hit, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” played in the Great Hall. Decked out in a stage-worthy sparkling dress and pink high heels, she picked up the song's framed certificate of induction from the National Recording Registry from Librarian Carla Hayden and - like most everyone else at the party - posed for a couple of pictures by the Christmas tree.

A pre-teen boy claps both hands to his face as he yells into the bathroom mirror

Home Alone? Check Out The 2023 National Film Registry!

Posted by: Neely Tucker

A sizzle reel introduces the 25 influential films from the past 102 years have been selected for the 2023 Library of Congress National Film Registry, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced today, inluding blockbusters such as "Fame," "Home Alone" and "Apollo 13," the popular romance "Love & Basketball," and influential feature films and documentaries such as "12 Years a Slave," "Matewan," "Alambrista!" and "Maya Lin: A Strong, Clear Vision."

Color photograph of a young Wynton Marsalis in suit and ite, holding a trumpet

Wynton Marsalis, “Black Codes” and Thoughts on the Highway

Posted by: Neely Tucker

It is midafternoon on a recent weekday and jazz legend Wynton Marsalis is driving across the Southwest, taking the call on speakerphone that his 1985 album, “Black Codes (From the Underground),” has been inducted into the 2023 class of the National Recording Registry. With endless desert spreading about behind and before him, he took a few minutes to talk about the album and its pointed political statement.