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Category: Washington DC

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Library in the News: November 2015 Edition

Posted by: Erin Allen

Willie Nelson was the talk of the town as the Library celebrated his work and career during a concert in November, as he received the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. “When Willie took the stage to accept the Gershwin prize, you could see the pride on his face,” wrote Brendan Kownacki for Hollywood on the …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Going to Extremes: The Greatest Wedding Cake on Earth?

Posted by: Erin Allen

(The following is an article written by Audrey Fischer, managing editor of the Library of Congress Magazine, and featured in the November/December 2015 issue. You can read the issue in its entirety here.) The Library’s food collections include once-edible artifacts. On Feb. 10, 1863, an event occurred that caused a media sensation and distracted the …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Opening Day … For the Library

Posted by: Erin Allen

Until 1897, the Library of Congress was housed in the U.S. Capitol Building itself. Librarian of Congress Ainsworth Rand Spofford (1864–97) was the first to propose that the Library be moved to a dedicated building. He also was instrumental in establishing the copyright law of 1870, which placed the Copyright Office in the Library and …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Rosanne Cash Curates a Carnegie Hall Exhibit with AFC

Posted by: Erin Allen

(The following post was written by Stephen Winick and originally appeared on Folklife Today, the blog of the American Folklife Center.) When Rosanne Cash, recognized by the Library as one of the most compelling figures in popular music, was asked to curate a series of concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York, she graciously brought …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Pics of the Week: #LibraryOpenHouse

Posted by: Erin Allen

The Library of Congress once again opened the doors to its magnificent Main Reading Room on Monday for a special open house, held twice each year. More than 6,100 visitors enjoyed the opportunity to learn about the Library’s services, resources and collections, speak with reference librarians and even go inside the decks to view the …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

Library in the News: September 2015 Edition

Posted by: Erin Allen

In September, the Library of Congress had some big headlines – from the announcements of new collections to celebrating the 15th annual National Book Festival and the inaugural reading of the new poet laureate. The Library received a very special visitor and a very special book to add to its collections last month. During his …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

The Joy of Reading

Posted by: Erin Allen

The following is an article, written by Jennifer Gavin of the Library’s Office of Communications, for the September/October 2015 issue of the Library of Congress Magazine, LCM. You can read the issue in its entirety here.) The Library of Congress promotes the pleasure and power of reading. Thomas Jefferson famously stated, “I cannot live without …

Image of an ornate clock showing 2:05 with sculpted male figures sitting on each side of the clock face

With Largest Cast Ever, Festival is One For the Books

Posted by: Erin Allen

The Library of Congress National Book Festival next weekend opens its latest chapter with a few new plots and the largest cast of characters in festival history. The 15th annual festival will offer its biggest-ever roster of speakers, take a first fling with literary love, go back to the movies, pay tribute to America’s warriors …