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The Library of Congress is the de facto national library of the United States and the research arm of the United States Congress. It is one of the largest libraries in the world. Its collections include more than 29 million catalogued books and other print materials in 470 languages; more than 58 million manuscripts; the largest rare book collection in North America, including a Gutenberg Bible, over 1 million US Government publications, 1 million issues of world newspapers spanning the past three centuries, 33,000 bound newspaper volumes, 500,000 microfilm reels, and over 6,000 comic books LOC, Serial and Government Publications Division; and the world's largest collection of legal materials, films, 4.8 million maps, sheet music and 2.7 million sound recordings. The head of the Library is the Librarian of Congress.
History
The Library of Congress was established on April 24, 1800, when President John Adams signed an act of Congress providing for the transfer of the seat of government from Philadelphia to the new capital city of Washington. The legislation appropriated $5,000 "for the purchase of such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress ..., and for fitting up a suitable apartment for containing them...." The original library was housed in the new Capitol until August 1814, when invading British troops set fire to the Capitol building, destroying the contents of the small (3,000 volumes) library.
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"Poet and Poem" Radio Series for 2010
Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:44:04 -0000
Seventeen noted writers will be featured in the 2010 season of "The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress." The radio series is available to all public radio stations via the Public Radio Satellite System’s ContentDepot, starting Jan. 13, 2010.
Alan Lomax Fellowships Available
Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:58:40 -0000
The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress invites qualified scholars to apply for a post-doctoral fellowship for advanced research based on the Alan Lomax Collection.
Paul McCartney Awarded Third Gershwin Prize
Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:17:50 -0000
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today named music legend Paul McCartney as the recipient of the third Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. An all-star tribute concert is planned for spring 2010.
American Folklife Center Announces Fellowship to Honor Archie Green
Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:21:23 -0000
A fellowship has been created at the American Folklife Center (AFC) at the Library of Congress to honor the memory of Archie Green (1917-2009), the pioneering folklorist who championed the establishment of the center. The Archie Green Fellowship will support new documentation and research into the culture and traditions of American workers and will create digital archival materials that will be preserved in the AFC’s archive and made available to researchers and the public.
House Designates National Veterans History Project Week
Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:46:50 -0000
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H. Res. 866 on November 3, 2009, to designate National Veterans History Project Week "to encourage public participation in a nationwide project that collects and preserves the stories of the men and women who served our Nation in times of war and conflict."
VHP Spotlights Service of Native American Vets
Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:46:04 -0000
The Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress American Folklife Center spotlights his story and other interviews of Native Americans in "Willing to Serve: American Indians," a website feature that comprises nine first-person accounts of those who volunteered to serve during conflicts from World War II to Iraq. These one-of-a-kind stories can be found at www.loc.gov/vets/.
Library of Congress: Upcoming Events
Library Announces December Film Series
Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:44:05 -0000
The Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation in Culpeper, Va., celebrates the holidays and film preservation in its December film series, starting Dec. 3. The Packard Campus Theater will be closed on Christmas weekend.
Ambassador of Singapore to Deliver Lecture on Dec. 2
Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:55:07 -0000
The theme of international commerce and cross-border economic development will be addressed at the inaugural program of the Asian Ambassadors Lecture Series, which will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2, in the Mumford Room of the Library of Congress, located on the sixth floor of the James Madison building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.
Louis Braille Bicentennial Exhibition
Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:45:12 -0000
The Library of Congress commemorates the 200th anniversary of Braille’s birth with "Louis Braille: His Legacy and Influence," an exhibition in the foyer of the Mumford Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, runs today through Jan. 30, 2010. The exhibition can be viewed online at myloc.gov/Exhibitions/braille/Pages/default.aspx.
“Molto Animato! Music and Animation” Opens on Nov. 12
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:53:19 -0000
A new Library exhibition, "Molto Animato! Music and Animation," opens on Thursday, Nov. 12, and will be on view through March 28, 2010.
Barbara Lynn and Friends
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:35:34 -0000
Barbara Lynn and Friends perform Texas rhythm and blues.
Israeli Classical Music Is Subject of Nov. 19 Lecture
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:33:46 -0000
Ronit Seter, a scholar in the field of Israel art music, will pose the question "Is Israeli Classical Music Jewish?" at a discussion to be held at noon on Thursday, Nov. 19 in the African and Middle Eastern Division Reading Room (Room 220), located on the second floor of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building at 10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C.
Library of Congress - Official site of the national library of the US. Basic and advanced catalog search including books, periodicals, photographs, images, and sound recordings. Sections for librarians, archivists and researchers.
Meta Description: [ The Library of Congress. The Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution, and it serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world, with more than 120 million items. The collections include books, sound recordings, motion pictures, pho... ]
America's Library - Stories and facts celebrate the library's 200th anniversary.
American Memory - Consists of primary source and archival materials relating to American culture and history, more than 7 million digital items from more than 100 historical collections.
Cataloging Directorate - Provides innovative and effective bibliographic control of the Library's collections and leadership to the library and information communities in the development of cataloging theory and practice.
Meta Description: [ The mission of the Bibliographic Access Divisions
is to provide innovative and effective bibliographic control of the Library's
collections and leadership to the library and information communities in the
development of cataloging theory and practice. ]
Country Studies: Area Handbook Series - A continuing series of books prepared by the Federal Research Division sponsored by the Department of the Army. This online series presently contains studies of 100 countries.
Meta Description: [ Country Studies - Federal Research Division, Library of Congress ]
Jefferson's Legacy - A brief history of the Library of Congress and a chronology of the collections with a selected bibliography on the library.
Library of Congress: Bicentenial Symposia - Biographies of speakers and commentators at the Frontiers of the Mind symposium.
Meta Description: [ Biographies of speakers and commentators at theFrontiers of the Mind symposium. ]
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped - Administers a free library program of braille and recorded materials circulated to eligible borrowers.
Meta Description: [ The U.S. Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped administers a free library program of braille and recorded materials circulated to eligible borrowers. ]
State and Local Governments - The Library of Congress reference guide and index of links to organizations representing various facets of state and local governments including bodies representing executive and legislative branches of government.
U.S. Copyright Office Home Page - Office of public record for copyright registration and deposit of copyright material.
Meta Description: [ U.S. Copyright Office is an office of public record for copyright registration and deposit of copyright material. ]
World Treasures of the Library of Congress: Beginnings - Exhibition, divided into four sections: Introduction, Creating, Explaining and Ordering, and Recording the Past.
Meta Description: [ The international collections of the Library of Congress started with the arrival of the Thomas Jefferson library in 1815. Today the Library's international collections are unparalleled; they are comprehensive in scope and include research materials in more than 450 languages and in many media. ]
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