Library of Congress: News

Copyright Office Releases Section 109 Report

After more than a year of intensive study, the U.S. Copyright Office issued its report on whether to maintain, modify or eliminate Sections 111, 119 and 122 of the Copyright Act. It will serve as the basis for discussion for possible changes to the statutory licenses.

Swann Awards for 2008-2009

The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, announces the awarding of academic grants to five applicants for the 2008-2009 Swann Fellowship: Marie-Stéphanie Delamaire, Mazie Harris, Jared Richman, Christina Smylitopoulos and Veronica White.

Law Library of Congress Brochure Wins Award

The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) has named the Law Library of Congress the winner of the 2008 AALL/Thomson West Excellence in Marketing Award in the Best Brochure category.

Copyright Office Launches New Technology

Handling about 550,000 copyright claims annually, the U.S. Copyright Office in the Library of Congress is making it much easier for the public to register and protect its collective creativity. On July 1, the Copyright Office will enter the next phase in the implementation of its multi-year business process re-engineering effort to modernize operations from a paper-based to a Web-based processing environment.

Library Hires Preservation Research Scientists

To meet the challenges of preserving traditional and new media, the Library of Congress has hired four preservation research scientists as part of a multi-faceted preservation research initiative. Housed in the Preservation Research and Testing Division of the Library’s Preservation Directorate, the initiative will include the opening later this year of two "green" energy-efficient laboratories—a chemical and mechanical properties laboratory and an optical properties laboratory. The initiative will also include a new center to safeguard and make accessible the Library’s rare and valuable preservation science reference collection.

Library Appoints 50 Junior Fellows Summer Interns

This summer, 50 college students from across the country will reprise the annual "treasure hunt" as participants in the Library of Congress' 2008 Junior Fellows Summer Internship program.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Named Network Library of Year

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (Carnegie LBPH) has been named the 2007 Network Library of the Year by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) in the Library of Congress.

Letters About Literature Winners Announced

One hundred fifty young readers across the country were honored with state and national awards for their achievements in this year’s Letters About Literature (LAL) writing contest, sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

Three State Centers for the Book Recognized For Innovative Reading-Promotion Efforts

Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole has announced that affiliated state centers for the book from Kansas, Ohio and Rhode Island are the 2008 winners of the Boorstin Award for innovative reading-promotion efforts.

VHP Observes Memorial Day 2008

he Veterans History Project (VHP) of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center plans several activities and events for Memorial Day 2008, including the Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. in support of the White House Commission on Remembrance.

"Public Markets" is Published

Published by the Library of Congress and W.W. Norton & Company, "Public Markets" by Helen Tangires is a richly illustrated compendium of the wide variety of architectural structures devoted to the urban marketplace. Designers, urban planners and those intrigued by the intersection of history, commerce and architecture will find "Public Markets" to be a singular resource on the subject.

2007 National Recording Registry Announced

What our president said to the nation, what the nation said to the universe, and a cornucopia of musical milestones highlight the major themes of the 2007 National Recording Registry. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today named 25 additions to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress as part of its efforts to preserve the nation’s aural history.

Library Receives Charles Strouse's Papers

Celebrated American composer Charles Strouse presented his papers to the Library of Congress in a private ceremony today. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington formally accepted the gift on behalf of the Library and the American people and honored Strouse, perhaps best known for such musical-theater smashes as "Annie," "Bye Bye Birdie," "Applause" and "Golden Boy."

VHP Spotlights Stories of Jewish American Vets of WWII

The Library of Congress Veterans History Project (VHP), a program of the American Folklife Center, commemorates Jewish American Heritage Month with a special series of 10 first-hand stories of Jewish Veterans of World War II. The web presentation is available at www.jewishheritage.gov/.

Veterans History Project Commemorates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

The Library of Congress Veterans History Project, a program of the American Folklife Center, features the first-hand recollections of eight war veterans in "Going for Broke," a Web feature that commemorates Asian Pacific American Heritage month. The presentation can be found online at www.loc.gov/topics/asianpacific/.

Library Receives Original Spider-Man Story

In a deed of superheroic proportions, an anonymous donor has given the Library of Congress the original artwork by Steve Ditko for Marvel Comics' "Amazing Fantasy #15" -- the comic book that introduced Spider-Man in August 1962.

Library Opens Main Reading Room to 16-Year-Old Researchers

The Library of Congress today announced that the minimum age for use of the Main Reading Room to access the Library’s physical collections for research purposes has been lowered to 16. The previous requirement was that researchers be above high school age.

American Choral Music Web Site Launched

In collaboration with the American Choral Directors Association, the Library of Congress Music Division has launched a Web site as part of its online Performing Arts Encyclopedia, called "American Choral Music, 1870-1923." The site is available at http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/choralmusic/.

Winners of 2008 Bobbitt Poetry Prize

The distinguished Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry, created 20 years ago, will be awarded to two poets who teach at universities in Virginia: Bob Hicok of Virginia Tech and Charles Wright of the University of Virginia.

Library and Kaust in Digital Partnership

The Library of Congress and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) today announced a partnership in the history of science in the Arab and Islamic worlds. The Library and KAUST will jointly convene an international advisory committee of leading scholars and curators to map out a strategy for identifying, selecting, digitizing, cataloging, annotating, and promoting scholarly research about manuscripts and other rare and unique materials relating to science in the Arab and Islamic worlds, and for including these materials in the World Digital Library (WDL) and other digital library projects.

Library of Congress, History Channel Partnership

The Library of Congress and History™ have joined forces to create a multimedia partnership to showcase the Library’s collections to the vast audience of the History brands including the History channel, history.com and other television properties. The partnership will also bring historical content to more than 200,000 teachers across the country that use the channel’s branded educational materials in their classrooms.

Seven Living Legends Chosen, Library Experience Opens

The Library of Congress will honor seven new "Living Legends" as part of its public celebration on Saturday, April 12, at the Thomas Jefferson Building (10 First St. SE, Washington, D.C., 20540). The ceremony will help mark the opening of the "Library of Congress Experience," which offers visitors the opportunity to explore rare historical and cultural treasures through interactive technology and a companion Web site. Detailed information on the Experience can be found at www.loc.gov/experience/.

Library of Congress Experience Sneak Preview

Check out the Library of Congress Blog for a preview video, also posted on YouTube, of the new Library of Congress Experience.

Study Group Issues Report Recommending Changes in Copyright Law to Reflect Digital Technologies

After nearly three years of intensive work, the independent Section 108 Study Group has issued its report and recommendations on exceptions to copyright law to address how libraries, archives and museums deal with copyrighted materials in fulfilling their missions in the digital environment. The report is available at www.section108.gov. Section 108 is the section of the Copyright Act that provides limited exceptions for libraries and archives so that they may make copies to replace copyrighted works in their collections when necessary, preserve them for the long term and make them available to users.

Karamah Joins the Global Legal Information Network

Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization, has become an associate member of the Global Legal Information Network (GLIN), a cooperative international legal database administered by the Law Library of Congress.

Library Launches Historic Baseball Resources Site

America’s Library salutes America’s favorite pastime with the launch of a new resource page: www.loc.gov/topics/baseball/. Highlighted are select Library resources on the popular sport, including player profiles, historical news and events, collection guides and presentations and more.

Thomas Jefferson Building Special Closures April 3 - 11

The Great Hall, exhibitions and Sales Shop in the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress will be closed from Thursday, April 3 through Friday, April 11 in preparation for the opening of a new Library of Congress Experience for visitors. Ceremonies to celebrate the debut of the new Library of Congress Experience will begin at 11 a.m. on April 12. The Great Hall and exhibitions will reopen after the noon ribbon cutting.

Library of Congress, Bantam Books Honor Louis L'Amour

Louis L’Amour, one of the most prolific and bestselling writers of all time, has been honored by the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress as its inaugural "Champion of the Book"—a unique designation reserved for those who have made an important contribution to the world of books.

Koussevitzky Foundation Awards Seven Commissions

The Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress and the Koussevitzky Music Foundation, Inc., have awarded commissions for new musical works to seven composers. The foundations and the performing organizations that will present the newly composed works are jointly granting the commissions.

"Library of Congress Experience" Debuts April 12

The Library of Congress–the largest library in the world and the oldest U.S. federal cultural institution–on Saturday, April 12, debuts an immersive, new "Library of Congress Experience," offering visitors unique historical and cultural treasures brought to life through cutting-edge interactive technology and a companion Web site.

Library of Congress To Offer Junior Fellows Summer Internships

This summer the Library of Congress, home of the U.S. Copyright Office, is once again offering special 10-week, paid internships to college students. For a stipend of $3,000, Junior Fellows Summer Interns will work full-time, starting on June 2 and ending on Aug. 8, to help locate and itemize uncataloged materials submitted to the office as part of the copyright registration process. In the past, summer interns have identified hundreds of literary, artistic, film and musical gems among the Library’s copyright deposits and gift collections.

Digital Preservation Program Launches Newsletter

A monthly online newsletter highlighting the important work that the Library of Congress’s digital preservation program is performing to collect and preserve the nation’s heritage in digital form will launch in March.

1507 World Map is Subject of New Book

More than 500 years after its creation, Martin Waldseemüller’s 1507 World Map—the first map to display the name "America"—continues to fascinate cartographers, historians and those interested in the nation’s founding and the mapping of the globe. Acquired by the Library of Congress in 2003 and currently on display in the Thomas Jefferson Building in a sealed, oxygen-free encasement, the map is the subject of a new book, "The Naming of America" by John W. Hessler.

Library Communications System For Deaf Staff

The Library of Congress has become one of the first federal agencies to implement an agency-wide "videophone" system that enables its deaf staff members who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate with both hearing and deaf individuals. Using the videophones, deaf staff members can place Video Relay Service (VRS) calls, which are "relayed" through an ASL interpreter at a call center, to hearing individuals. Likewise, using the videophones, deaf individuals can place point-to-point calls with other deaf people who use ASL.

New Email Alerts and RSS Feeds

The Library has added new email alert services and RSS feeds in the following areas: Hours of Operation, Folklife (including News, Events, and Newsletter from the American Folklife Center), Legal Issues (including News, Research, Webcasts, and Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library), and news from Chronicling America, the Historic American Newspaper project.

LOC and IMLS Preservation Outreach

The Preservation Directorate of the Library of Congress has announced that Karen Motylewski from IMLS will serve a one-year detail at the Library as special projects liaison. She will help both agencies advance shared goals for preservation and conservation awareness and action throughout the nation. She will assist the Library in meetings, in training sessions and in developing emergency plans.

Library Receives Book From Window of China Project

The Library of Congress has begun to receive donated books from the National Library of China through the Window of China Project. Founded in 2006, the Window of China Project donates books to national libraries and other institutions around the world.

James Forman Papers Donated to the Library

At a ceremony held today at the Library of Congress, the papers of civil-rights activist James Forman were given to the Library by Forman’s sons James Jr. and Chaka. Their mother, Constancia Romilly, also attended the event.

W.R. Smyser To Kissinger Chair

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed W. R. Smyser, adjunct professor in the BMW Center for German and European Studies, Georgetown University, as the Henry Alfred Kissinger Scholar in Foreign Policy and International Relations in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.

Library of Congress-Flickr Pilot Project

Out of some 14 million prints, photographs and other visual materials at the Library of Congress, more than 3,000 photos from two of the institution's most popular collections are being made available on Flickr, a popular photo-sharing site, to include only images for which no copyright restrictions are known to exist.

Three Images of the Crowd at Lincoln's Second Inauguration Discovered at Library of Congress

Details of Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration come into clearer focus with the recent discovery at the Library of Congress of three glass negatives that show the large crowd gathered at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., for the president's address on March 4, 1865.

Library of Congress and Foundation Center Create New Funding Guide for Preserving Historical, Cultural Collections

The Library of Congress and the Foundation Center, in a joint partnership, have recently compiled a new Web-based fundraising guide to help the preservation community save the nation’s millions of at-risk artifacts for future generations.

Library of Congress, Microsoft Announce Agreement to Support New Interactive Experience for Visitors

The Library of Congress and Microsoft Corp. have signed a cooperative agreement that will change the way Library visitors experience history. The joint technology initiative will electronically deliver the Library’s immense collection of historical artifacts to patrons visiting its Thomas Jefferson Building in Washington, D.C., and will allow unparalleled and immersive interactive experiences that will bring the institution’s vast historical collections and exhibits to life–on-site and online–through the upcoming myloc.gov Web site.

Center for the Book Receives Raven Award From Mystery Writers of America

Mystery Writers of America (MWA) has announced that the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress is one of two recipients of its 2008 Raven Award, which honors outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing.

Library of Congress Seeks Nominations for the Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Poetry Prize

The Library of Congress is accepting nominations from publishers for the $10,000 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry. The prize will be awarded in April, which is National Poetry Month.

Digital Preservation Program Adds New Partners To Preserve State Government Digital Information

Twenty-one states, working in four multistate demonstration projects, are today joining the Library of Congress’s National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP) in an initiative to catalyze collaborative efforts to preserve important state government information in digital form.

Jon Scieszka Named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed children’s book author Jon Scieszka as the first National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. The position was created to raise national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education, and the development and betterment of the lives of young people.

Librarian of Congress Announces National Film Registry Selections for 2007

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today named 25 motion pictures— classics from every era of American filmmaking—to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, including "Bullitt," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," Grand Hotel," "Oklahoma!" and "12 Angry Men."

Poet Laureate Charles Simic and Other Noted Poets to be Featured in "The Poet and the Poem" Radio Series

U.S. Poet Laureate Charles Simic and 19 other noted poets will be featured in the winter 2008 season of "The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress." The radio series is available to all public radio stations through Public Radio Satellite Service via National Public Radio distribution.

Library of Congress Publishes Catalog of Items From the Jay I. Kislak Collection of the Early Americas

"Collecting, for me, has always been an adventure, a journey of exploration … Over the years, the path of collecting has led me through wonderful passageways into history and cultures."

So explains Jay I. Kislak in his introductory note to "The Jay I. Kislak Collection at the Library of Congress," a broad introduction to Kislak’s gift to the Library. In 10 richly illustrated chapters, this book examines in detail more than 900 items from the collection that show the extensive range of the collector’s vision.

Images of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building Added to the Carol M. Highsmith Archive

Distinguished architectural photographer Carol M. Highsmith, who began donating her work to the Prints and Photographs Division at the Library of Congress in 1992, has turned her lens on the Library itself.

In more than 400 color digital images, Highsmith has captured both the artistry and symbolism of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building, from the floor of the Great Hall to the dome of the Main Reading Room. These images and others can be found online at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pp/highsmhtml/highsmabt.html.

Library of Congress Makes Grant To Southeastern Louisiana University To Foster Instructional Use of Digital Materials

The Library of Congress today made a grant to Southeastern Louisiana University to join a program designed to encourage the educational use of the Library’s vast collections of online primary source materials.

Working Group on Bibliographic Control Releases Draft Report

The Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control has released its draft report on the future of bibliographic description in light of advances in search engine technology, the popularity of the Internet and the influx of electronic information resources.

Library of Congress, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Deutsche Nationalbibliothek and OCLC Enhance VIAF Project

The Library of Congress, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek and OCLC have signed a memorandum of understanding to extend and enhance the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF), a project that virtually combines multiple name authority files into a single name authority service.

Martha Anderson Named Director of Program Management for Digital Preservation Program

Martha Anderson was today named director of program management for the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP).

House Passes Bipartisan Resolution to Establish "National Veterans History Project Week"

U.S. Representative Jon Porter (R-NV) has announced that the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Resolution 770, a bipartisan resolution designating the week of November 11 through November 17, 2007 as "National Veterans History Project Week." The special observance mobilizes America to record the oral history of its wartime veterans. Co-sponsors of the resolution include U. S. Representative Ron Kind (D-WI), original sponsor of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress American Folklife Center, and 23 other members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Veterans History Project Spotlights WWII Stories from China-Burma-India

The Library of Congress Veterans History Project, a program of the American Folklife Center, will feature a special series of narratives from World War II’s China-Burma-India Theater via the project’s Web site www.loc.gov/vets/.

John Philip Sousa, "The March King," Subject of New Web Site

o commemorate the birthday of world-renowned bandleader and composer John Philip Sousa on Nov. 6, 1854, a new Web site dedicated to the composer of "The Stars and Stripes Forever" is now available from the Library of Congress at www.loc.gov/lcp.

Silent Movies Are Subject of New Library Publication

n his new book, "Silent Movies: The Birth of Film and the Triumph of Movie Culture," Peter Kobel has created the definitive visual history of silent film. Published this month by the Library of Congress in association with Little, Brown & Co., this richly illustrated work draws on the Library’s extraordinary collection of posters, paper prints, film stills and memorabilia—most of which has never been in print. More than 400 images capture the birth of film and the rise of such icons as Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Clara Bow and Rudolph Valentino.

NLS Director Recognized by Braille Institute of America

Frank Kurt Cylke, director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, received the 2006 Golden Cassette Award for Library Partnership from the Los Angeles-based Braille Institute of America Library Services Inc.

Library of Congress Offers Information on Fire Recovery for Collections

In response to the fires in Southern California and the resulting damage to personal and public collections, the Library of Congress has updated its preservation Web page on emergency care.

Library of Congress Collaborates with Xerox To Test Format for Digitally Preserving, Accessing Treasured Images

As part of the Library of Congress’s mission to ensure that America’s history and heritage are available and accessible for generations to come, the Library and Xerox Corporation are working together on a project to develop better ways to store, preserve and access treasured digital images. The collection includes such images as a panorama of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake, a photograph of Abraham Lincoln taken four days before he was assassinated and a picture of the Wright brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk.

"Concerts from the Library of Congress" Radio Series To Launch on Nov. 5

Beginning in November, the Library of Congress Music Division, WETA-FM and CD Syndications will be launching a 13-week classical music radio series slated for broadcast nationwide. Bill McGlaughlin, creator and host of the Peabody Award-winning program "Saint Paul Sunday Morning," hosts "Concerts from the Library of Congress," which features excerpts from past performances held in the Library’s historic Coolidge Auditorium.

Library of Congress and UNESCO Sign World Digital Library Agreement

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and UNESCO Assistant Director for Communication and Information Abdul Waheed Khan today signed an agreement at UNESCO headquarters in Paris pledging cooperative efforts to build a World Digital Library Web site.

Library of Congress Partners with British, Canadian and Australian National Libraries on RDA Implementation

Four national libraries have joined forces to implement a new standard for resource description and access designed for the digital environment in which libraries now operate. The Library of Congress, the British Library, Library and Archives Canada, and the National Library of Australia have agreed on a coordinated implementation of "RDA: Resource Description and Access," the successor to the "Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules."

New Guide to Library's Air and Space Collections Is Published

The possibility of flight captured human imagination long before the Montgolfier brothers’ unmanned hot air balloon succeeded in carrying a duck, a rooster and a sheep above the city of Versailles in 1783. Before and after that date, people sketched, painted, photographed, sang about and described in words the ways a human being might fly like a bird. Each time someone achieved an advance in flight, the world took note. The record of these advances is described in "Aeronautical and Astronautical Resources of the Library of Congress: A Comprehensive Guide" by Ronald S. Wilkinson, John F. Buydos and others.

Library of Congress Display of Tibetan Items to Mark Dalai Lama's Receipt of Congressional Medal

The Congressional Gold Medal -- the nation’s highest civilian honor -- will be presented to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet on Oct. 17. In honor of the occasion, the Library of Congress will present "Celebrating Tibet," a special display of Tibetan items.

Library of Congress Receives Collection of Oral Histories from Prominent African Americans

The National Visionary Leadership Project (NVLP) has donated more than 200 original videotaped interviews from prominent African Americans to the Library of Congress. These oral histories, housed in the American Folklife Center, are the seed of what will be an open collection that will grow in the coming years.

Veterans History Project Web Site Enhances Experience of "The War"

The Library of Congress Veterans History Project, a program of the American Folklife Center, has produced a companion Web site for the PBS series "The War," by Ken Burns.

Library of Congress's National Book Festival Attracts More Than 120,000 Book Lovers To the National Mall

Today, more than 120,000 book lovers gathered on the National Mall for the seventh annual National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and hosted by Mrs. Laura Bush. Festival-goers were entertained by their favorite authors, illustrators and poets as they celebrated creativity and imagination among 11 standing-room-only pavilions including Children; Teens & Children; Fiction & Fantasy; Mysteries & Thrillers; History & Biography; Home & Family; and Poetry. For those who were unable to attend the festival or missed a pavilion, the authors’ presentation are available as webcasts on the festival homepage (www.loc.gov/bookfest).

World War II Is Subject of New Library Publication

A unique addition to World War II scholarship, "The Library of Congress World War II Companion," by Margaret E Wagner, Linda Barrett Osborne and Susan Reyburn, has been published in association with Simon & Schuster. Edited and with an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David M. Kennedy, this comprehensive, one-volume, fact- and quote-filled resource documents the harrowing years from 1937 through 1945, when totalitarianism threatened to engulf the world.

Center for the Book Announces 2007-2008 Letters About Literature Reading Promotion Program

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, in partnership with Target Stores, invites readers in grades 4 through 12 to enter its Letters About Literature reading and writing competition for children and young adults. To enter, readers write a personal letter to an author, explaining how his or her work changed their view of the world or themselves. Young readers may select authors from any genre—fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic.

Library's Map Treasures Are Highlighted in "Cartographia"

Drawn from the world’s largest cartographic collection, housed in the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress, "Cartographia: Mapping Civilizations," by Vincent Virga, has been published by the Library in association with Little, Brown and Company.

Swann Foundation Accepting Fellowship Applications

The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, is accepting applications for its graduate fellowship for the 2008-2009 academic year. Applications are due by close of business on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008, and notification will occur in the spring.

William F. May Appointed to Maguire Chair in American History at the John W. Kluge Center

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed William F. May to the Cary and Ann Maguire Chair in American History and Ethics at the John W. Kluge Center for a three-month tenure from September to December.

Statement by the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center

Recent media coverage has portrayed veterans who have donated interviews to the Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress American Folklife Center as having made "fraudulent" claims regarding the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Jefferson Building Special Closures, Sept. 14 and Sept. 28

Public access to the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress will be limited on two dates in September.

Library of Congress Launches New Literacy Campaign, Public Outreach Features on Web Site

As a prelude to its annual National Book Festival in Washington on Sept. 29, the Library of Congress today launched a series of public outreach initiatives designed to promote the joy of reading and to better share the Library's programs and collections with the public.

Eric Hansen Named Chief of Preservation Research and Testing Division

Eric Hansen has been named chief of the Preservation Research and Testing Division at the Library of Congress. He is scheduled to start on Sept. 17.

Library of Congress Partners with WWOZ-FM and Grammy Foundation® To Preserve Legendary Musical Recordings

WWOZ-FM, the legendary community-supported radio station in New Orleans, has gifted the Library of Congress with more than 7,000 hours of live jazz and blues recordings spanning 15 years. The contribution, which comes after Hurricane Katrinaâs floodwaters nearly destroyed the stationâs primary tape storage facility, will ensure the safety of the stationâs collection of historic recordings. In support of this remarkable gift, the GRAMMY FoundationÂ® has awarded WWOZ $45,000 in grants toward the preservation of the collection.

Library of Congress Seeks Volunteer Docents

Each year the Library of Congress receives more than 1 million visitors eager to view the magnificent Thomas Jefferson Building in Washington, D.C., and to learn about the treasures it contains. Led by staff and a cadre of volunteer docents, the number of tours is expected to increase when the Library debuts its new interactive experience for visitors in April 2008 and the tunnel from the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center to the Library is later completed.

"West Side Story: Birth of a Classic" Opens on Sept. 26

Fifty years ago, on September 26, 1957, "West Side Story" opened on Broadway. The show went on to become a landmark musical in a league with works such as "Show Boat" and "Oklahoma!" The Library of Congress celebrates the golden anniversary of this historic musical with "West Side Story: Birth of a Classic."

Folklorist Archie Green Honored with Living Legend Award

The Library of Congress honored labor folklorist and American Folklife Center founding father Archie Green with its Living Legend medal at a special evening concert on Aug. 16. Accepting on his behalf was his son, Derek Green.

Digital Preservation Program Makes Awards to Preserve American Creative Works

The Library of Congress, through its National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP), today announced eight partnerships as part of its new Preserving Creative America initiative to address the long-term preservation of creative content in digital form. These partners will target preservation issues across a broad range of creative works, including digital photographs, cartoons, motion pictures, sound recordings and even video games. The work will be conducted by a combination of industry trade associations, private sector companies and nonprofits, as well as cultural heritage institutions.

Library of Congress Acquires Media Pioneer's Collection

The Tony Schwartz Collection will be housed at the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation (www.loc.gov/avconservation/packard/), which is under the purview of the Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division. A complete compilation of Schwartz’s work from 1947 to 1999, the collection parallels the growth of modern audio technology and the broadcast industry by documenting American life and culture during the latter half of the 20th century.

Center for the Book Publishes Bilingual Volume on Reading Promotion in the U.K., Russia and U.S.

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, along with the British Council and the Pushkin Library Foundation in Russia, has recently published "Building Nations of Readers: Experience, Ideas, Examples," a handbook on reading promotion. Produced in cooperation with the Section on Reading of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the illustrated 261-page volume, written in both English and Russian, describes reading promotion and reader development in the United Kingdom, Russia and the United States.

Librarian of Congress Appoints Charles Simic Poet Laureate

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has announced the appointment of Charles Simic to be the Library’s 15th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry.

Simic will take up his duties in the fall, opening the Library’s annual literary series on Oct. 17 with a reading of his work. He also will be a featured speaker at the Library of Congress National Book Festival in the Poetry pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 29, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

"American Treasures of the Library of Congress" To Close Aug. 18

After 10 years on display, "American Treasures of the Library of Congress," an unprecedented exhibition of rare and unique items in the nation’s library, will close on Aug. 18.

Library Accepts Historic Gift of Packard Campus

Audio-visual conservation work by the Library of Congress is taking a giant leap forward as the Library acquires its new Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation in a signing ceremony this evening.

NLS Director Frank Kurt Cylke Receives Award from the American Council of the Blind

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) presented the Robert S. Bray Award to Frank Kurt Cylke, director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, on July 4, 2007, during the ACB National Convention in Minneapolis.

New Materials Added to "France in America" Web Site Include Documents From Confederacy, Birth of Civil Rights Movement

The Library of Congress has completed a major expansion of its bilingual "France in America" online presentation with the addition of 247 items from its collections. The presentation, at http://international.loc.gov/intldl/fiahtml/, is one of five bilingual presentations in the Library's Global Gateway Web site (http://international.loc.gov/).

Kay Kaufman Shelemay Appointed To Chair of Modern Culture in the John W. Kluge Center

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Kay Kaufman Shelemay, an ethnomusicologist from Harvard University, to the Chair of Modern Culture in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.

Swann Foundation Announces Two Fellows for 2007-2008

The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, has selected Ellen Berg and Prudence Peiffer to receive Swann Foundation fellowships for 2007-2008.

Construction Under Way for Encasement of Waldeemüller Map, "Birth Certificate of America"

The only known copy of the 1507 world map by Martin Waldseemüller, the first map to use the name "America," spent nearly 400 years in obscurity in the library of a castle in southern Germany. Rediscovered in 1901 and purchased by the Library of Congress in 2003, this crown jewel of cartography will be secured in a state-of-the-art encasement and placed on permanent display later this year.

Library of Congress Announces Award-Winning Authors To Participate in Seventh Annual National Book Festival

he 2007 National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and hosted by Mrs. Laura Bush, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 7th and 14th streets (rain or shine). The festival is free and open to the public.

U.S. Army and Federal Research Division Publish History of Battle Command Training Program

Published by the U.S. Army and co-authored by Priscilla Offenhauer and David L. Osborne of the Library of Congress’s Federal Research Division (FRD), the new "History of the U.S. Army Battle Command Training Program, 1986–2003" explains the development of this program and its role in U.S. military operations over the past two decades. This organizational history of the BCTP also describes the basic components and methodology of the battle simulation, discussing significant changes to the program since its inception.

Visiting Scholar Jenna Weissman Joselit To Study Ten Commandments in American Culture

Jenna Weissman Joselit, a Princeton University professor who was recently appointed Visiting Scholar at the John W. Kluge Center, is studying the variety of cultural forms in which the Ten Commandments appear in American culture.

FLICC Announces Awards for Federal Librarianship

The Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) has announced the winners of its national awards for federal librarianship, which recognize the many innovative ways that federal libraries, librarians and library technicians fulfill the information demands of government, business and scholarly communities and the American public.

Library of Congress Announces National and State Winners in Letters About Literature Program

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and Target Stores have announced the national and state winners in the 2006–2007 Letters About Literature reading and writing program.

Librarian of Congress To Name National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

The Library of Congress has announced the newly created post of National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Appointed for a two-year term by the Librarian of Congress, the ambassador will speak to the importance of fiction and nonfiction in the lives of young people. Selected for extraordinary contributions to the world of books for children and teens, he or she will encourage the appreciation of young people’s literature throughout the United States by both personal and media appearances.

Laura Campbell Recognized as Laureate by Computerworld Honors Program

Laura E. Campbell, associate librarian for Strategic Initiatives and chief information officer for the Library of Congress, today received the prestigious 2007 EMC Information Leadership Award from the Computerworld Honors Program. The award was presented during the 19th Annual Laureates Medal Ceremony & Gala Awards Evening at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington. For almost two decades, Computerworld Honors has acknowledged those individuals and organizations that have used information technology to benefit society.

Library of Congress Seeks Nominations for the Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt Poetry Prize

The Library of Congress is seeking nominations from publishers for the $10,000 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry, which will be presented in the fall of 2007.

Five State Centers for the Book Recognized for Innovative Reading Promotion Projects

Affiliated state centers for the book from California, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana and Maine are the 2007 winners of the Boorstin Award for innovative reading promotion projects, announced John Y. Cole, director of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress.

"The Road to Jerusalem" Is Published

Published by the Library of Congress in association with University of Pennsylvania Press, "The Road to Jerusalem: Pilgrimage and Travel in the Age of Discovery" is a ground-breaking work of scholarship that constructs a historical narrative around the Library’s rich collection of early modern printed books on travel. Author F. Thomas Noonan’s research in this collection sparked this reexamination of an essential component of European history and culture. The text traces the history of early modern pilgrimage to Jerusalem in light of the history of early modern travel in general – travel that was itself renewed and colored by such cultural twists and turns as the Renaissance and the Reformation.

Veterans History Project Honors Vets with "The Great War"

The Veterans History Project, a program of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center, presents "The Great War," a tribute to World War I veterans, in a new section of its Web site at www.loc.gov/vets. Rich in personal detail, photographs, journals and letters, "The Great War" provides a virtual tour of some of the most compelling collections in the Veterans History Project archives and features stories of nearly two dozen men and women who served in WWI.

Gershwin Prize-winner Paul Simon’s Song Notes Added to Music Division Collection

The Library of Congress will receive the works-in-progress manuscript in which Paul Simon worked out the lyrics for his song "Graceland," Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced upon awarding the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song to Simon during a dinner on May 22 in the Great Hall of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building.

Library of Congress Receives Guarneri Violin for Collection

More than 50 years after acquiring its first Guarneri del Gesù violin, the Library of Congress will now be able to boast that it has twins. Around 1730 to 1732, Guarneri made two violins from the same piece of wood. The Library’s newest addition, the "Baron Vitta," will donated by the estate of the late Miyoko Yamane Goldberg, wife of the late teacher and violinist Szymon Goldberg. The other violin is the "Kreisler," owned by the late eminent Austrian violinist Fritz Kreisler and given to the Library in 1952.

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Makes Room for Digital Talking Books

Marking the end of an era and preparing for the onset of digital talking books, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, announced that it will no longer require its network libraries to retain copies of books on recorded discs.

Florence Tan Moeson Fellows Appointed

As the Library of Congress observes Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with a variety of events (www.loc.gov/topics/asianpacific), it is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2007 Florence Tan Moeson Fellowship. Under this program, eight scholars will have the opportunity to conduct research using the Library’s Asian collections. Comprising nearly 2.8 million items, the collections are among the most significant outside of Asia.

Koussevitzky Foundation Announces Commission Winners

The Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress and the Koussevitzky Music Foundation, Inc., have awarded commissions for new musical works to five composers. The commissions are being granted jointly by the foundations and the performing organizations that will present the newly composed works.

Veterans History Project Launches Field Kit, Web Resource

To support the recently announced initiative by the Library of Congress, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and Ken Burns to collect oral histories of America’s World War II veterans, the Library of Congress Veterans History Project has produced new resources to help the public learn about and participate in the effort.

Law Librarian Rubens Medina Receives 2007 Federal 100 Award

Law Librarian of Congress Rubens Medina has received a Federal 100 Award for shepherding the 2006 upgrade of the Global Legal Information Network (GLIN), which gave legal researchers access to nearly 130,000 laws and related legal materials from nations across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas â searchable in 13 languages.

History of the Hymn "Amazing Grace" Now Online

A new Web site devoted to the history of the hymn "Amazing Grace" documents the song’s origins from the late 1700s to the current century, as well as its more than 3,000 published recordings.

Library of Congress To Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month with Lectures and Web Site

With a national theme of “The American Jewish Experience: Celebrating Religious Pluralism, Cultural Diversity and Commitment to American Civic Culture,” the second annual Jewish American Heritage Month will be celebrated by the Library of Congress with public lectures and a new Web presentation.

Veterans History Project Chronicles Unique Wartime Contributions During Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

The Library of Congress Veterans History Project, a program of the American Folklife Center, will celebrate Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month throughout May. Eight fully digitized collections of Asian Pacific American veterans will be added to the "Experiencing War" Web series on May 1.

Star-Studded Lineup Confirmed for Library of Congress Concert Honoring Gershwin Prize Recipient Paul Simon

A star-studded cast of performers and presenters has been confirmed, with more to come, to pay tribute to Paul Simon as he receives the first annual Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song on Wednesday, May 23 at 8 p.m. at the Warner Theatre located at 1299 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C.

Library of Congress Launches Its First-Ever Blog in Celebration of 207th Birthday

The Library of Congress might be turning 207 years old tomorrow (April 24, 2007), but with the addition of the first-ever public blog to its award-winning Web site, it quite possibly has never looked younger.

Long a pioneer and leading provider of online content, with a Web site at www.loc.gov that makes 22 million digital items available at the click of a mouse and receives 5 billion hits per year, the Library of Congress will launch the blog at www.loc.gov/blog/.

Library of Congress Nominated for Two Webby Awards

The Library of Congress's award-winning Web site at www.loc.gov has been nominated for two prestigious Webby Awards, which are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.

Library of Congress To Receive Original Manuscript of Composition by Teen Prodigy Jay Greenberg

The original manuscript of "Quintet for Strings," written by 15-year-old composer Jay Greenberg, will be given to the Library of Congress at an April 27 concert benefiting the Project Harmony Child Protection Center in Omaha, Neb. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington will accept the gift from Greenberg at the conclusion of its performance the night of the concert.

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington Receives Inaugural Lafayette Prize

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington is the recipient of the inaugural Lafayette Prize, given by the French-American Cultural Foundation for contributions to the development of relations between the United States and France.

Library of Congress and PBS Collect and Preserve Oral Histories of U.S. Wartime Veterans

The Library of Congress Veterans History Project and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) today announced a joint community engagement initiative designed to gather first-hand recollections of the diverse men and women who served our nation during wartime. The public outreach campaign begins this spring and will continue beyond the broadcast of Ken Burns’ new film, "The War," which is scheduled to air on PBS beginning on September 23, 2007.

Pennsylvania and Michigan Libraries Receive Awards for Serving the Blind and Physically Handicapped

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) at the Library of Congress today presented awards to the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH), Free Library of Philadelphia, and to the Washtenaw County Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled (LBPD) of Ann Arbor, Mich.

Library of Congress and Bibliotheca Alexandrina To Cooperate in Developing World Digital Library

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Ismail Serageldin signed an agreement today at the Library of Congress outlining four areas in which the two institutions will cooperate in building a World Digital Library.

StoryCorps Project Wins Peabody Award

The StoryCorps Project, a national initiative encouraging Americans to record one another’s stories in sound, won a rare Institutional Award during the 66th annual Peabody Awards, administered by the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. The StoryCorps recordings, more than 9,000 interviews to date, are being archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

Papers of Former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger Are Donated to the Library of Congress

The papers of former Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger have been given to the Library of Congress by his widow, Jane Weinberger, in a ceremony held today at the Library. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington accepted the gift from Caspar Weinberger Jr. on behalf of his mother.

Life on the Ohio and Erie Canal Documented in New Online Presentation

"Captain Pearl R. Nye: Life on the Ohio and Erie Canal" offers a fascinating look -- through recordings, letters and photographs -- at a way of life that was eventually supplanted by the railroad. The presentation, one of more than 135 thematic collections in the American Memory Web site, is available at http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/nye/.

Jefferson Building Closing Early, March 29

On Thursday, March 29, the Great Hall, exhibitions and Sales Shop in the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress will be closed to the public beginning at noon.

Americans Can Read the News Before It Was History on New Web Site

The Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities today announced that "Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers" is debuting with more than 226,000 pages of public-domain newspapers from California, Florida, Kentucky, New York, Utah, Virginia and the District of Columbia published between 1900 and 1910. The fully-searchable site is available at www.loc.gov/chroniclingamerica/.

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington Testifies on the Library's Digital Evolution

In today's digital environment, it takes only 15 minutes to produce an amount of information equivalent to the 134 million analog (physical) materials the Library of Congress has acquired in more than two centuries. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and other Library officials today provided testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch regarding how the Library is transforming itself to accommodate the digital age. The Librarian’s full testimony is available at www.loc.gov/about/welcome/speeches/digital/digitalage.html

Oxford University Professor Raymond Dwek Appointed To Chair of Technology and Society

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Raymond Dwek, director of the Glycobiology Institute at Oxford University, to the Chair of Technology and Society in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.

Library of Congress To Offer Junior Fellows Summer Internships

This summer the Library of Congress, home of the U.S. Copyright Office, is once again offering special 10-week, paid internships to college students. For a stipend of $3,000, Junior Fellows Summer Interns will work full-time, starting on June 4 and ending on Aug. 10, to help locate and itemize uncataloged materials submitted to the office as part of the copyright registration process. In the past, summer interns have identified hundreds of literary, artistic, film and musical gems among the Library’s copyright deposits.

Librarian of Congress Congratulates Thomas Hampson on Receiving Honorary Membership in Society of American Music

Baritone Thomas Hampson was awarded an honorary membership by the Society for American Music in Pittsburgh on March 1 during the opening day of its annual conference. A champion of American music, the singer was selected in recognition of the recent "Song of America Tour" for the Library of Congress, as well as his many recordings of American music and the work he does through his Hampsong Foundation.

"Women Who Dare" Book Series Adds Four New Titles

From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to the peak of Mount Everest, armed with picket signs, pickaxes or simply a voice of their own, women have changed the course of history through their courage and spirit, often in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

Their achievements have been chronicled in four new titles in the "Women Who Dare" book series, published by the Library of Congress in association with Pomegranate Communications: "Marian Anderson" by Howard Kaplan, "Margaret Mead" by Aimee Hess, "Women Explorers" by Sharon M. Hannon and "Women for Change" by Sara Day.

Recordings by Historical Figures and Musical Legends Added To the 2006 National Recording Registry

What do President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, legendary performer and songwriter Eubie Blake, Gershwin Prize-winning musician Paul Simon and The Rolling Stones have in common? Today, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington named sound recordings made by them and 21 others to the National Recording Registry to be preserved for all time.

National Literary Society of the Deaf Becomes a Center for the Book Reading Promotion Partner

Twenty-eight deaf people, interested in furthering their education, attended the first meeting of the National Literary Society of the Deaf (NLSD) on Feb. 6, 1907, at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. One hundred years later, that group has grown to some 2,000 organizations and individuals, who will certainly celebrate NLSD’s reading promotion partnership with the Library’s Center for the Book.

Paul Simon To Be Awarded First Annual Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by Library of Congress

Paul Simon, one of America’s most respected songwriters and musicians, will be the recipient of the first annual Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Named in honor of the legendary George and Ira Gershwin, this newly created award recognizes the profound and positive effect of popular music on the world’s culture. The prize will be given annually to a composer or performer whose lifetime contributions exemplify the standard of excellence associated with the Gershwins.

Keynote Address by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz Headlines Women's History Month Events

The Library of Congress’s extensive holdings include millions of items pertaining to women’s history and culture. A display featuring some of these items will be on view throughout March in the foyer of the James Madison Building. The Library has also launched an online resource page to highlight its collections about women and their accomplishments.

Veterans History Project Celebrates Women's History Month with Special Web Feature

The Veterans History Project, a program of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center, will celebrate Women’s History Month on March 1, 2007, with "Women at War," an addition of 12 fully digitized collections to the "Experiencing War" Web series. Learn more at www.loc.gov/warstories/.

Online Collection Presents Oral Histories of U.S. Diplomats

On Feb. 21, a new online collection of interviews with some of the most prominent diplomats of the 20th century will be available from the Library of Congress at http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/diplomacy/.

Librarian of Congress Names Media Entrepreneur Gerry Lenfest as Chairman of the James Madison Council

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today announced that he has named H.F. (Gerry) Lenfest as chairman of the James Madison Council, the Library’s private-sector advisory body. He succeeds Edwin L. Cox Sr. of Dallas, who will continue as a member of the Madison Council.

Charles Kupchan Named Henry Alfred Kissinger Scholar

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Charles A. Kupchan, a professor in the School of Foreign Service and in the Government Department at Georgetown University, as the Henry Alfred Kissinger Scholar in Foreign Policy and International Relations in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.

Library of Congress To Host Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation Fellowship

The Library of Congress, starting in 2007, will host a new fellowship that will help highlight the work of women architects represented in the Library’s collections. The Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation (BWAF) in New York City will administer the fellowship.

Law Library of Congress To Celebrate 175th Anniversary in 2007

In celebration of its 175 years of service to Congress and the nation, the Law Library of Congress is launching a yearlong series of events designed to celebrate its achievements and showcase its unparalleled resources.

Grace Cavalieri and "The Poet and Poem" Radio Series Celebrate 30th Anniversary

Grace Cavalieri, host of "The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress," will celebrate 30 years of interviewing poets with the spring 2007 season of the radio series that is available to all public radio stations.

$2 Million Sloan Foundation Grant To Help Digitize Thousands of Books

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today announced that the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has awarded the Library of Congress a $2 million grant for a program to digitize thousands of public-domain works, with a major focus on at-risk "brittle books" and U.S. history volumes.

Launch of Web Site Leads List of Special Events Honoring Black Achievement

The Library of Congress holds several million items of African-American history and culture. In celebrating the history of African-Americans, the Library has launched an online resource page (www.loc.gov/africanamericans) featuring its rich African-American collections, from slave narratives to veterans’ oral histories; stories on major historical figures; ready-to-use lesson plans for teachers; collection guides; and online exhibitions.

Contemporary Japanese Print Exhibition Starts March 29

"On the Cutting Edge: Contemporary Japanese Prints" will feature 212 fine prints from the College Women’s Association of Japan (CWAJ) Print Show. The exhibition marks the 50th anniversary of the CWAJ Print Show and celebrates the donation of the show’s prints to the collections of the Library of Congress.

Jefferson's Copy of Koran Used in Congressional Swearing-in

When Rep.-elect Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) took his individual ceremonial oath of office on Jan. 4, it was with one hand upon Thomas Jefferson's copy of the Koran.

"Expanding the NLS Experience" Wins MarCom's Platinum Award for 2006

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, received a Platinum Award from the 2006 MarCom Creative Awards for its national outreach campaign "Expanding the NLS Experience."

U.S. Congressman Major Owens Named Distinguished Visiting Scholar at John W. Kluge Center

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has named Congressman Major R. Owens (D-NY) as a distinguished visiting scholar in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.

National Library Service for the Blind Announces New Administrator of Braille Certification

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, will turn over administrative tasks of the braille certification program to the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), beginning in early 2007.

Librarian of Congress Adds Home Movie, Silent Films and Hollywood Classics to Film Preservation List

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has added 25 motion pictures to the National Film Registry to be preserved for all time, bringing the total number of films on the registry to 450.

Thomas Jefferson Building Closed, Morning of Jan. 4

Due to a special event at the Library of Congress, the Thomas Jefferson Building will be closed to the public until 1 p.m. on Thursday, January 4.

2006 National Film Registry Picks to be Announced on Dec. 27

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington will announce the 2006 selections to the National Film Registry on Wednesday, December 27. This group of titles will bring the total number of films on the registry to 450.

Library of Congress Launches RSS Feeds

The Library of Congress has launched a series of news feeds using the RSS (Really Simple Syndication) technology.

Since its launch in 1994, the Library's award-winning Web site has been the destination of Web users seeking authoritative information and unparalleled collections, with more than 22 million digital objects available in 186 terabytes of content, including photographs, maps, music, film, books and reference information on topics ranging from American history to science and technology to popular culture. The RSS service was launched in response to public requests for alerts on additions to the Library's digital collections, updates of events at the Library's public venues in Washington and news of the institution.

Library of Congress and U.S. Copyright Office Issue Notice of Public Roundtable on Exceptions in Copyright Law For Libraries and Archives

The public roundtable is part of the work of the Section 108 Study Group, which is charged with making recommendations on the exceptions and limitations applicable to libraries and archives under section 108 of the Copyright Act, especially as section 108 affects libraries’ use of digital media.

The roundtable discussion will be held in Chicago on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2007, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST, at DePaul University College of Law, Lewis Building, 10th Floor, Room 1001, 25 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604.

2006 John W. Kluge Prize Winners Announced

John Hope Franklin, 91, and Yu Ying-shih, 76, have been named the recipients of the third John W. Kluge Prize for lifetime achievement in the study of humanity.

Da Vinci Drawing in First Public Viewing Outside of Italy

For the first time ever, Leonard da Vinci's preparatory drawing for the painting "Adoration of the Magi" will be on public display outside of Italy. The Library of Congress will host a special two-day showing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7, and Friday, Dec. 8, at the Library of Congress.

Working Group Established To Discuss Future of Bibliographic Control

Advances in search-engine technology, the popularity of the Internet and the influx of electronic information resources have greatly changed the way libraries do their work. To address those changes, the Library of Congress has convened a Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control to examine the future of bibliographic description in the 21st century.

Jo Ann C. Jenkins Appointed Chief Operating Officer

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Jo Ann C. Jenkins as chief operating officer, effective Jan. 1, 2007.

New Chief of Music Division

Susan Vita has been appointed chief of the Library of Congress Music Division.