The first release of a new online Performing Arts Encyclopedia is now accessible on the Library's Web site at www.loc.gov/performingarts/encyclopedia/.
The online encyclopedia, which will be updated and expanded regularly, was developed by the Library's Music Division to serve as a centralized guide to the collections and resources at the Library of Congress that pertain to music, theater and dance. The site brings together information about items housed in the Music Division, the Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division; the American Folklife Center; the Manuscript Division; and the Rare Book and Special Collections Division.
"The Library has grown into the world's largest repository of knowledge and creativity," said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. "We want Americans to take advantage of this opportunity to learn about the spirit of creativity that has emerged in song, dance, theater, film and writing."
The comprehensive online encyclopedia invites users to learn and experience the diversity of American performing arts through the Library's unsurpassed collections of scores, sheet music, audio and video recordings, films and photographs, many of which are unfamiliar to the public.
"The Library of Congress is extraordinarily rich in collections that celebrate the performing arts," said Susan Vita, acting chief of the Music Division. "By uniting these materials, many of which are housed in other Library divisions, the Performing Arts Encyclopedia integrates references found throughout these collections, making the task of the researcher more efficient and the results more rewarding. We are also pleased that the Web site will introduce some of our lesser-known holdings, making the encyclopedia a valuable tool for those who document the history of the arts in America and throughout the world."
Sheet music, finding aids and other materials related to recorded and written music can be found within the new online Performing Arts Encyclopedia.
The site offers something for everyone. Scholars may be interested in tracing nearly 700 names among the collections, including composer Leonard Bernstein, who is referenced in 11 separate collections. A secondary school teacher can find primary sources that can be used in the classroom such as sheet music about Abraham Lincoln, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War. Popular culture enthusiasts can read about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz or click on the vaudeville category and discover online resources featuring items from the Bob Hope Collection.
Visitors to the site can easily browse by subject or by personal name to retrieve lists of featured collections and resources such as exhibitions, finding aids, databases and related online presentations. If the collection has been digitized or is available online, a link to it will be provided. However, most collections are only available by visiting the Library in Washington, in person. Since some collections need to be retrieved from remote storage, in order to ensure the availability of materials, all researchers are advised to contact the Performing Arts Reading Room prior to visiting. Researchers may also use the Library's online reference service, "Ask a Librarian," which is accessible at www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/.
