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Video On-Demand

Video presentations and event recordings for the 2021 National Book Festival.
  • Film, Video 2025 National Book Festival Interview: Andrea Beatriz Arango
    Author Andrea Beatriz Arango attends the 2025 National Book Festival and speaks about her writing process and challenges faced in writing the book "It's All or Nothing, Vale."
    • Contributor: Arango, Andrea Beatriz
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video 2025 National Book Festival Interview: Fiona Davis
    Author Fiona Davis attends the 2025 National Book Festival and speaks about her writing process and challenges faced in writing the book "The Stolen Queen."
    • Contributor: Davis, Fiona
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video 2025 National Book Festival Interview: Kennedy Ryan
    Author Kennedy Ryan attends the 2025 National Book Festival and speaks about her writing process and challenges faced in writing the book "Can't Get Enough."
    • Contributor: Ryan, Kennedy
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video 2025 National Book Festival Interview: Tiffany D. Jackson
    Author Tiffany D. Jackson attends the 2025 National Book Festival and speaks about her writing process and challenges faced in writing the book "Blood in the Water."
    • Contributor: Jackson, Tiffany D.
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video 2025 National Book Festival Interview: V.E. Schwab
    Author V.E Schwab attends the 2025 National Book Festival and speaks about her writing process and challenges faced in writing the book "Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil."
    • Contributor: Schwab, V.E.
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video 2025 National Book Festival Opening Celebration
    The 2025 National Book Festival Opening Celebration celebrated the authors, moderators, and sponsors that participate in the National Book Festival. On the eve of the 2025 National Book Festival, join Acting Librarian of Congress Robert Randolph Newlen and festival co-chair David M. Rubenstein as they welcome five of the dozens of authors appearing at this year's festival. This special event, live from the Library…
    • Contributor: Rubenstein, David Henríquez, Cristina Barnett, Mac Newlen, Robert R. Green, John Turow, Scott Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video 2025 National Book Festival Sizzle
    2025 National Book Festival Sizzle
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Archiving the Arts: Music, Theater and Dance on the Library's Digital Shelves
    From concert calendars to artist statements and press kits, many performing arts materials live only online. Learn how the Library of Congress preserves these websites and how you can explore or use the Music Division's growing web archive of music, theater and dance today.
    • Contributor: Wertheimer, Melissa
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Celebrating the U.S. Poets Laureate: Joy Harjo, Ada Limón and Tracy K. Smith
    For the first time, the three most recent U.S. Poets Laureate came together on one stage. Ada Limón "Startlement", Joy Harjo "Washing My Mother's Body" and Tracy K. Smith "To Free the Captives", along with Robert Casper, who oversees the laureate program, discussed their groundbreaking work to promote poetry across the country. Moderated by Washington Post Book Critic Ron Charles.
    • Contributor: Harjo, Joy Charles, Ron Smith, Tracy K. Limon, Ada Casper, Robert
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on Her New Novel, "Dream Count"
    What happens when your dreams really do come true? Can the happiness that comes along with it actually last? Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's newest novel, "Dream Count," intertwines the stories of four women at different stages of life as they search for meaning and question the decisions they've made so far. Moderated by Michel Martin.
    • Contributor: Martin, Michel Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Chronicling America: Discover Digitized Historic Newspapers Online
    Find the hidden gems within old headlines using Chronicling America, the Library of Congress' free digital collection of historical newspapers. Perfect for educators, students, genealogists and local history enthusiasts, this workshop offers expert tips for searching, uncovering fascinating stories and using research guides to spark new journeys into the past.
    • Contributor: Pike, Robin
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video The Constitution Can Unify Our Nation with Yuval Levin
    How does the Constitution, written over 200 years ago, stay relevant? What can it do for us in the 21st century? In "American Covenant," Yuval Levin explores the important history of the Constitution, celebrates its power to forge unity in a diverse society and reveals how it charts a path to repairing America's fault lines today. Sponsors: Madison Council, Kluge Center.
    • Contributor: Levin, Yuval Yoder, Kevin
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Daniel Mendelsohn's New Translation of "The Odyssey"
    Despite modern technology, we still face many of the same problems as the ancients -- including getting seriously lost. Is there anything the Greeks can teach us about wayfinding, perseverance and even justice? Join classicist Daniel Mendelsohn as he discusses his English translation of "The Odyssey" and how he approached bringing new life to one of our oldest stories. Sponsor: Kluge Center.
    • Contributor: Mendelsohn, Daniel Deggans, Eric
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video A Dog Is a Reader's Best Friend: Elias Weiss Friedman, Alexandra Horowitz, Mark Rowlands
    Have you ever wondered whether dogs dream? Or maybe you've giggled at a goofy dog meme? Join dog cognition expert Alexandra Horowitz, "Inside of a Dog", philosopher Mark Rowlands, "The Word of Dog", and popular Instagrammer The Dogist, Elias Weiss Friedman, "This Dog Will Change Your Life", for a conversation all about a reader's best friend. Sponsors: Madison Council, General Motors.
    • Contributor: Dewillems, Juliana Rowlands, Mark Friedman, Elias Weiss Horowitz, Alexandra
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video "Don't Corner Me; I Bite!" with Kelly Andrew, Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
    You know the saying "come closer, I don't bite?" Definitely don't trust that here. Brielle in "The Summer I Ate the Rich" by Maika and Maritza Moulite, and Vivienne in "I Am Made of Death" by Kelly Andrew both have a monstrous bite. For a delicious conversation about girls who fight when cornered, check out this talk, moderated by Shanetia P. Clark.
    • Contributor: Moulite, Maritza Clark, Shanetia P. Andrew, Kelly Moulite, Maika
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Dragons and Dark Creatures: Scary or Friendly?
    What goes bump in the night...may not be as scary as you think. In Christy Mandin's "Millie Fleur Saves the Night," a girl fights to help some peculiar nighttime creatures return to her town, and in Devin Elle Kurtz's "The Bakery Dragon," a baker teaches a tiny dragon a valuable lesson in sharing. Moderated by Shadra Strickland.
    • Contributor: Mandin, Christy Kurtz, Devin Elle Strickland, Shadra
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Family Fights: Novels Where Politics Hits Home, with Elizabeth Harris
    In a world that's more polarized than ever, tensions within families are bound to happen. In Elizabeth Harris' "How to Sleep at Night," the personal and political become intertwined when Ethan's husband runs for office. Moderated by Miwa Messer.
    • Contributor: Harris, Elizabeth Messer, Miwa
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Finding Hope: Thinking About the Environment with Kate Marvel and Alan Weisman
    How does it feel to live in a changing world? To feel one way about the environment and another way about it the next day? Kate Marvel, "Human Nature" and Alan Weisman, "Hope Dies Last" have been asking themselves those questions and weaving together stories of hope, resilience and grief to help us think deeply about nature. Sponsor: General Motors.
    • Contributor: Marvel, Kate Weisman, Alan Broughton, Jason
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Fiona Davis on Her New Historical Fiction Novel, "The Stolen Queen"
    What goes around comes around in Fiona Davis' speculative historical mystery, "The Stolen Queen." In Davis' new novel, two New York women scramble to recover a missing Egyptian artifact that may have awakened a curse.
    • Contributor: Davis, Fiona Sotomayor, Marianna
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video "A Fish Dish That Is Not Fish at All": Exploring Historical Vegetarian Recipes
    Vegetarian sections, meatless meals and meat substitutes appeared in U.S. community cookbooks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Using the Library of Congress' historical U.S. Community Cookbook collection, this presentation highlights vegetarian recipes of the era and connects them with historical events and influences that helped shape Americans' eating habits.
    • Contributor: Harbster, Jennifer "Jj"
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video From Scroll to Screen: Celebrating the Digitization of Hebrew Manuscripts
    Celebrate the successful conclusion of the Hebrew Manuscript Digitization Project, made possible through a generous grant from the Berg Foundation. The Library recently digitized 270 Hebrew manuscripts, highlighting their historical significance and ensuring their preservation for future generations. This milestone marks a key achievement in making these invaluable cultural treasures more accessible to researchers and the public.The event features a presentation by Sharon Mintz,…
    • Contributor: Mintz, Sharon Bitton, Yoram
    • Date: 2025-09-11
  • Film, Video The Future Is...Avoidable: Dystopias with Laila Lalami and Helen Phillips
    What would future dystopias controlled by algorithms and robots entail? In worlds where society runs on facial recognition, Helen Phillips, "Hum" and our dreams are under surveillance, Laila Lalami, "The Dream Hotel", these authors explore how futuristic technology affects our autonomy in a world perhaps not too far away. Moderated by Justine Kenin.
    • Contributor: Kenin, Justine Lalami, Laila Phillips, Helen
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Geena Davis Makes Space with Her Picture Book
    Can you grow up too fast? Sheila, the girl inside this book, sure thinks so! As she grows taller and taller than her page, she'll have to learn to take up space. Join Academy Award-winner Geena Davis to discuss her new self-illustrated children's book, "The Girl Who Was Too Big for the Page," with National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Mac Barnett.
    • Contributor: Newlen, Robert Randolph Barnett, Mac Davis, Geena
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video The Gilded Life of Richard Morris Hunt: America's Premier 19th Century Architect
    Celebrated in the 19th century as America's premier architect, Richard Morris Hunt was known for his opulent Gilded Age mansions and for shaping the nation's cultural institutions. Library of Congress curator Mari Nakahara presents new insights from author Sam Watters' decade of research into the Library's Hunt collection, drawing from over 15,000 items, and invites future users to explore this unique resource.
    • Contributor: Nakahara, Mari
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Great Reads from Great Places with Cristina Henríquez and Willy Vlautin
    Home isn't just where the heart is -- it's where our stories live, too. Join Willy Vlautin, "The Horse" and Cristina Henríquez, "The Great Divide" for trips to the Nevada desert and Panama's shores as they discuss the places at the heart of their stories, which were selected by state Centers for the Book as Great Reads from Great Places. Moderator: Lee Ann Potter.
    • Contributor: Potter, Lee Ann Henríquez, Cristina Vlautin, Willy
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Hamilton Biographer Ron Chernow on Mark Twain
    A man who does not read Mark Twain's biography has no advantage over the one who cannot...wait, is that the right quote? A century after his death, Mark Twain continues to shape American literature. Join Pulitzer Prize-winner Ron Chernow as he returns to the festival with "Mark Twain" to discuss the life and death of the iconic author. Moderated by David M. Rubenstein.
    • Contributor: Rubenstein, David M. Chernow, Ron
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Horror in Hostile Worlds: Agustina Bazterrica and Stephen Graham Jones
    The past is full of horrors. Too bad the present isn't better. The narrators in Agustina Bazterrica's "The Unworthy" and Stephen Graham Jones' "Buffalo Hunter Hunter" -- a member of a mysterious convent and vampire who haunts the Blackfeet Nation, respectively -- face-off with the buried past and the tidal pull of violence in the present. Andrew Limbong moderates this historical horror panel.
    • Contributor: Jones, Stephen Graham Limbong, Andrew Bazterrica, Agustina
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video How in the World to Understand our Global Economy with Ian Kumekawa and Patrick McGee
    What do your smartphone and a Swedish barge have in common? Although they may seem unassuming, both embody the hidden stories of our global economy. Join historian Ian Kumekawa, "Empty Vessel" and reporter Patrick McGee, "Apple in China" for a conversation about the sudden rise and invisible costs of globalization -- and where the global economy is sailing next. Moderated by Ken Biberaj. Sponsor:…
    • Contributor: McGee, Patrick Biberaj, Ken Kumekawa, Ian
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video How Maps Interpret Earth and Other Worlds
    Whether on paper or phone screens, we 21st-century humans are so used to maps as infallible reference points that it's easy to forget every map is a subjective interpretation of place-based reality. Using examples from the Library of Congress Geography and Map Division, this program explores the creative ideas and scientific innovations that made today's maps possible.
    • Contributor: Mattson, Lena
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Inspire Learning: Resources for K-16 Educators
    Learn how the Library of Congress brings learning to life for K-16 educators with primary source-based programs, classroom materials and fellowships and grants. Get a tour of what's available, ask questions and share how you've used Library resources to spark curiosity and creativity.
    • Contributor: Potter, Lee Ann
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video It All Began with Binding: 125 Years of Preserving the Library's Collections
    Discover the fascinating story of how the Library of Congress has protected the largest library collection in the world -- from the Declaration of Independence to the Magna Carta. From its humble beginnings as the binding office in 1900 to cutting-edge conservation today, learn how 125 years of preservation has shaped the field of preservation science -- and history.
    • Contributor: Shovlin, Keith F. Gordon-Falls, Ronlicia
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video It Turns Out You Can Have It All: New Romance Novels by Alexis Daria and Kennedy Ryan
    It's getting hot in here! Romance sensations Alexis Daria and Kennedy Ryan appear at the festival to chat all about their swoony new books. In Daria's "Along Came Amor," a divorced teacher gets more than she bargained for with her no-strings fling, and in Ryan's "Can't Get Enough," an independent businesswoman meets her match in a handsome tech billionaire.
    • Contributor: Ryan, Kennedy Daria, Alexis White, Jenn
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video It Was Just Yesterday: New Takes on Recent History with Paul Elie and Clay Risen
    It's easy to forget, with popular new histories about distant eras, just how influential recent history is. Clay Risen's "Red Scare" tells the story of McCarthyism after World War II, based in part on recently declassified sources, and Paul Elie's "The Last Supper" paints a vivid group portrait of influential pop culture figures in the 1980s. Moderated by Kevin Butterfield. Sponsor: Kluge Center.
    • Contributor: Butterfield, Kevin Risen, Clay Elie, Paul
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video It's Gonna Get Scary in Here: Eerie Reads
    The time has come. No more kid gloves. It's time to scare your pants off! Kaylani's summer starts glamorously ??? until death comes knocking in Tiffany D. Jackson's "Blood in the Water." Casey is excited about a sleepover, until his guest starts looking less and less human in Paul Tremblay's "Another." Get your spine tingling in this event moderated by Jummy Olabanji.
    • Contributor: Tremblay, Paul Jackson, Tiffany D. Olabanji, Jummy
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video "J vs. K," with Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft
    K loves to write and his stories are K-LASSIC! J loves to draw and his wordless stories are J-ENIUS! They're both aiming for the title of creative storytelling champion at school. What could possibly go wrong? Enjoy this hilarious tale of real-life and creative rivalry between Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft, co-authors of "J vs. K."
    • Contributor: Alexander, Kwame Halsband, Megan Craft, Jerry
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Jill Lepore on the History of the Constitution
    As America's 250th anniversary approaches, the Constitution is becoming more important than ever. But how did the founding fathers approach crafting such a document? In her newest book, "We the People," Jill Lepore chronicles the Constitution's history using her database at the Amendments Project, highlighting the possibilities proposed amendments could bring, and have brought, to the nation. Moderated by Carlos Lozada. Sponsor: Madison Council.
    • Contributor: Lepore, Jill Lozada, Carlos
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video John Green on His Latest Book, "Everything Is Tuberculosis"
    Did you know the world's deadliest disease is...tuberculosis? In his new book "Everything Is Tuberculosis," John Green explores the history of the disease and the ways it has shaped our modern world, from fashion to urban planning. When we already have a cure, why is tuberculosis still the world's deadliest disease? And what can we do to help? Sponsor: General Motors.
    • Contributor: Simon, Scott Green, John
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Justice on Trial: Literary Thrillers with Ron Currie and Scott Turow
    What are the lengths you would go to in order to protect the ones you love? Would you betray the systems you vow to protect? Would you seek revenge? Join Ron Currie, "The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne" and Scott Turow, "Presumed Guilty" as they discuss injustice and revenge in American towns, big and small. Moderated by Colleen Shogan.
    • Contributor: Currie, Ron Shogan, Colleen Turow, Scott
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Katherine Applegate Introduces "Pocket Bear," Your New Favorite Stuffie!
    Have you seen those videos where craftsmen repair much-loved stuffed animals? Cross those with the joys and melancholy of "Toy Story," and you get Katherine Applegate's "Pocket Bear"! Hear about a loyal, brave stuffed bear and his mission to save his family at Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured while helping his friends chase their dreams. Moderated by Catherine Fravel.
    • Contributor: Fravel, Catherine Applegate, Katherine
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Katherine Rundell Presents The Impossible Creatures Series
    Do you love a thrilling adventure, feisty characters, and a world full of remarkable creatures? Join Katherine Rundell, author of the bestselling children's fantasy novel "Impossible Creatures," as she shares the next book in the series, "The Poisoned King," with fans of all things magical. Katherine Rundell is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of "Impossible Creatures" and "The Poisoned King." Her other…
    • Contributor: Rundell, Katherine Dowdy, Sasha
    • Date: 2025-09-27
  • Film, Video Kids Who Grieve and Move Forward
    For children who experience grief, it's hard to know how to move forward. After experiencing loss -- through injury in "It's All or Nothing, Vale" by Andrea Beatriz Arango, parental loss in "The Trouble with Heroes" by Kate Messner, and a friend's death in "All the Blues in the Sky" by Renée Watson -- characters learn to heal. Moderated by Hena Khan.
    • Contributor: Arango, Andrea Beatriz Watson, Renée Messner, Kate Khan, Hena
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Kindness Is a Bridge to Friendship with Debbie Levy
    How can you become friends with someone you don't know or understand? Try reaching out with kindness! Debbie Levy's "The Friendship Train" details the true story of kids working to transport food to the hungry in the aftermath of World War II. Moderated by Monica Valentine.
    • Contributor: Valentine, Monica Levy, Debbie
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video The Latest in the "Legendborn" Series, with Tracy Deonn
    When you make a drastic choice, you have to live with it...right? Bree has done just that: separated herself from community and loved ones, to save them from herself. But when danger arises anyway, what's the right call to make? The "Legendborn" series is back with "Oathbound" -- hear what happens in the third installment from Tracy Deonn.
    • Contributor: Deonn, Tracy Matsuyama, Yukari
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio "The Invisible Parade"
    There's no party like a party for the dead...you'll want to bring a treat, and some courage! Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio weave a family story set on Día de Muertos in "The Invisible Parade," full of magic, bravery, love and humor. Moderated by Raúl the Third. Sponsor: Madison Council.
    • Contributor: The Third, Raúl Bardugo, Leigh Picacio, John
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Listening Is Witnessing: Revelatory Nonfiction with Brian Goldstone and Gianna Toboni
    Reporting isn't just the art of asking questions; it's also the art of listening and being a humane witness to other people's stories. Join seasoned, immersive journalists Brian Goldstone, "There Is No Place for Us" and Gianna Toboni, "The Volunteer" to discuss how they report on tough topics and find the heart of their new books. Moderated by Steven Portnoy.
    • Contributor: Toboni, Gianna Portnoy, Steven Goldstone, Brian
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video "Listening to the Law" with Justice Amy Coney Barrett
    Ever wondered what exactly goes on in the Supreme Court? The thought process and reasoning behind landmark decisions? Justice Amy Coney Barrett pulls aside the curtain in her new book, "Listening to the Law," to offer her perspective and stories from the highest court in the nation. Moderated by David M. Rubenstein.
    • Contributor: Rubenstein, David M. Newlen, Robert Randolph Coney Barrett, Justice Amy
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Meet Mac Barnett, the New National Ambassador for Young People's Literature!
    Join Mac Barnett, the 2025-26 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, as he discusses his new book, "The First Cat in Space and the Wrath of the Paperclip," and his ambassador platform, "Behold, the Picture Book!"
    • Contributor: Barnett, Mac Vance, Usha Reynolds, Jason
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video "Memorial Days" with Geraldine Brooks
    What do you do after receiving the worst phone call of your life? After decades of happy marriage, Geraldine Brooks learned about her husband's sudden death. In this program, Brooks talks about her new memoir, "Memorial Days," in which she reflects on the aftermath of his death and the trip she took to give herself time to mourn. Moderator: John Williams. Sponsor: Madison Council.
    • Contributor: Newlen, Robert Randolph Williams, John Brooks, Geraldine
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video The Missing: Liz Moore and Chris Whitaker in Conversation
    Two of the most popular, and haunting, literary thrillers of the past year are set in the 1970s and feature missing people. In Liz Moore's "The God of the Woods," a wealthy teenager vanishes from a summer camp, and in Chris Whitaker's "All the Colors of the Dark," a boy tries to discover why girls disappear from his town. Moderated by Mimi Montgomery.
    • Contributor: Whitaker, Chris Montgomery, Mimi Moore, Liz
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video The National Library Service and the Not-So-Secret History of Audiobooks
    Since 1931, the National Library Service has provided free audio and braille books and magazines to people who are blind, have low vision or a print disability like dyslexia. Learn how this Library of Congress program advanced audio technology and helped pave the way for today's audiobook phenomenon.
    • Contributor: Yasner, Jason
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video No More Bad Hair Days, with Raúl the Third
    Not all heroes wear capes. Well, some do, like crime-fighting barbers "it's part of the job!" In Raúl the Third's graphic novel "The Snips: A Bad Buzz Day," descendants of the buzz cut creator, Buzz and Boffo, work with their friends to restore the family business' reputation, keep the town safe and still make time to do that perfect lineup. Moderated by Troy-Jeffrey Allen.
    • Contributor: The Third, Raúl
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Pirates, Demons and Other Good Guys: Joe Abercrombie and Shannon Chakraborty's New Epics
    Perilous adventures through dystopias and distant lands can be connected through, if nothing else, their bloodiness, boisterousness and...comedy? Amina al-Sirafi and Brother Diaz follow their ambitions through journeys of epic proportions, encountering (and sometimes working with) the supernatural. Join Joe Abercrombie, "The Devils" and Shannon Chakraborty, "The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi" as they discuss their new darkly funny fantasy adventures.
    • Contributor: Barber, Regina G Abercrombie, Joe Chakraborty, Shannon
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video R.L. Stine's Latest Chilling Stories
    R.L. Stine, the king of scary stories, returns to the National Book Festival for the first time in 13 years to discuss his latest chilling stories, "The Last Sleepover" and "Stinetinglers 4." Are you brave enough to attend this event? Moderated by Clay Smith.
    • Contributor: Smith, Clay Stine, R.L.
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Readings from the 2025 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellows
    Join the 2025 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellows as they share their poems. These individuals are poets of literary merit and serve as poets laureate of states, counties and cities across the nation. Selected as fellows by the Academy, they will be leading public poetry programs in their respective communities through 2026.
    • Contributor: Gabbert, Mag Belin, Esther Moro-Gronlier, Caridad X, Poetic Polson Peterson, Jennifer Sarwar, Sehba Channer, Colin Stone, Bianca Wartanian, Raffi Joe Archuleta, Tommy Lennon, Lester Graves Quesenberry Smith, Mattie Quispe, Mateo Abimbola, Kweku Militello, Jennifer Cheng, Jen Stokes, Ruelaine Dawson, Steven Espada Care Moore, Jessica Miller Gomez, Nancy Casper, Robert Rogers, Jewel Green, Salaam
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Relative Strangers, Strange Relatives: Novels by Susan Choi and Katie Kitamura
    Who are we to our loved ones? What can we truly know about them? In their new novels, Susan Choi and Katie Kitamura grapple with the shared and unspoken histories of families. Choi's "Flashlight" follows the ripples of a father's disappearance across space and time, and Kitamura's "Audition" traces the interconnecting lives of an actress and a mysterious stranger. Moderated by Angie Kim.
    • Contributor: Kitamura, Katie Kim, Angie Choi, Susan
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Rick Atkinson on the Latest in His American Revolution Trilogy
    The United States won the war and gained independence at the close of the American Revolution, but how exactly did we achieve such a feat? In his newest book, "The Fate of the Day," Rick Atkinson details the middle years of the revolution, when American victory wasn't always guaranteed. This fresh perspective on the fight for freedom will be moderated by David M. Rubenstein.
    • Contributor: Butterfield, Kevin Atkinson, Rick
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Sam Tanenhaus on His New Biography of William F. Buckley Jr.
    William F. Buckley, the intellectual who fostered the modern conservative revolution, chose biographer Sam Tanenhaus to tell the story of his life, granting him extensive interviews and access to his most private papers. "Buckley" captures the complexity of its subject, including his secret exploits, such as CIA missions in Latin America and collusion with Watergate felon Howard Hunt. Moderator: Robert Costa. Sponsor: Madison Council.
    • Contributor: Costa, Robert Tanenhaus, Sam
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Seeing Is Believing? American Hoaxes and Scams
    How do some people convince large populations to believe something that is essentially a large-scale lie? Why are we so gullible? David Baron's "The Martians" dives into the early 20th century hoax that convinced people there was life on Mars. Leah Sottile's "Blazing Eye Sees All" investigates the nefarious underbelly of the New Age movement. Moderated by Frederick F. Wherry.
    • Contributor: Wherry, Frederick F. Baron, David Sottile, Leah
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Something's a Little Funny Here: Contemporary Fiction with Kashana Cauley and Maggie Su
    It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a...sentient blob? Kashana Cauley and Maggie Su grapple with the absurdity of contemporary life in their humorous new novels, in which their main characters stage a heist in order to escape the Debt Police, Cauley, "The Payback" and mold the perfect boyfriend from an amorphous blob Su, "Blob: A Love Story."
    • Contributor: Marloff, Sarah Cauley, Kashana Su, Maggie
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Spiders! Volcanoes! Our Scary and Amazing World
    The world around us can be terrifying at times-- but it's also really cool. Eleanor Spicer Rice's graphic novel "The Deadliest: Spider" pits the six most venomous spiders against each other to see which is the deadliest, and Jorge Cham's illustrated novel "Oliver's Great Big Universe: Volcanoes Are Hot!" explores terrifying yet awesome facts about volcanoes. Moderator: Jennifer "JJ" Harbster. Sponsor: General Motors.
    • Contributor: Rice, Eleanor Spicer Harbster, Jennifer "Jj" Cham, Jorge
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Stake It or Leave It: Speculative Fiction with Nnedi Okorafor and V.E. Schwab
    When the world has no place for you, what do you do? Fight, surrender or begin anew? Nnedi Okorafor's experimental book-within-a-book, "Death of the Author," creates a new reality for Zelu, a disabled Nigerian woman, to become her truest self. V.E. Schwab's "Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil" interweaves the stories of women throughout time, with a vampiric twist.
    • Contributor: Schwab, V.E. Okorafor, Nnedi Labrise, Megan
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Super by Chance, Hero by Choice with Leah Johnson and Chris Raschka
    Who hasn't dreamt of wielding superpowers? Bree and Peachaloo don't have to: they've got telekinesis and human lie detector skills! What good can you do with these powers, and what trouble can you get into? Join Leah Johnson, "Bree Boyd Is a Legend" and Chris Raschka, "Peachaloo in Bloom" to hear about the shenanigans of superpowered preteens. Moderated by Dianne Choie.
    • Contributor: Raschka, Chris Johnson, Leah Choie, Dianne
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video That Boy Is Cute (but Let Me Save the World First) with Susan Dennard and Tahereh Mafi
    If given half a chance, we would all stand up to save our world! But what do you do when, during all that, you fall for a very fine human specimen? Protagonists in Susan Dennard's "Executioners Three" and Tahereh Mafi's "Watch Me" navigate this challenge: saving their world while trying not to fumble a soul mate. Moderated by Ashley Dickerson.
    • Contributor: Dickerson, Ashley Dennard, Susan Mafi, Tahereh
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Transcendent Takes on Black Cultural History with Imani Perry
    Imani Perry's books abound with insightful reflections touching on the intersection of past and present, culture and personal identity. Perry chronicles the associations between Black identity and the color blue in "Black in Blues." Moderator: B.A. Parker. Sponsor: Madison Council.
    • Contributor: Perry, Imani Parker, B.A.
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Transcribe History: Become a Virtual Volunteer
    Since 2018, volunteers with the Library of Congress' By the People program have transcribed more than 950,000 historical documents ??? from the papers of Theodore Roosevelt and Rosa Parks to Walt Whitman and more. Learn how these efforts improve access and discovery, and find out how you can join this virtual volunteer community at crowd.loc.gov.
    • Contributor: Shelton, Abigail
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Unleashing the Bomb: An Oral History, with Garrett M. Graff
    In this anniversary year of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, Pulitzer finalist Garrett M. Graff has constructed an elegant oral history of how the decision to drop the atomic bomb was made. Graff's book "The Devil Reached Toward the Sky" provides a comprehensive perspective on the history and making of the world's deadliest bomb. Moderated by David M. Rubenstein. Sponsor: General Motors.
    • Contributor: Rubenstein, David M. Graff, Garrett M.
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video We're All A New Kid Sometime: Books About Fitting In
    Sometimes being a kid is hard, but being the new kid is even harder. In Gale Galligan's "Fresh Start," Ollie learns that her family is settling down, so she has to learn how to make friends at her new school, and in J.E. Thomas's "The AI Incident," things get weird when an AI-powered robot comes to Malcolm's new school. Moderated by Kit Ballenger.
    • Contributor: Thomas, J.E. Ballenger, Kit Galligan, Gale
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video Weird Times in Otherworldly Novels: YA with Caroline O'Donoghue and Ransom Riggs
    Time waits for no one, including at this event. In Caroline O'Donoghue's "Skipshock," Margo and Moon's fates become linked as a time-traveling train transports them to other worlds, and in Ransom Riggs' "Sunderworld," both reality and time start to unravel for Leopold Berry after his mother dies, leading him to discover mysterious tapes. Time is precious on this panel moderated by Chilli Amar.
    • Contributor: Riggs, Ransom Amar, Chilli O'Donoghue, Caroline
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video What Does It All Mean? A Plain English Explanation of the Constitution
    How to read and interpret the Constitution is one of today's most actively debated legal issues. Serving as Congress' official record of the Constitution for over 100 years, the Library of Congress' "Constitution Annotated" is available online at constitution.congress.gov. Join the Law Library of Congress to explore this plain English resource and learn how you can use it to better understand the U.S. Constitution.
    • Contributor: Bavis, Barbara Dennis, Jeanne
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video What Doesn't Kill You Makes You More Awkward: Erin Entrada Kelly and Kwame Mbalia
    Is it butterflies or excruciating abdominal pain you feel in your stomach when you catch the glance of your crush for the hundredth time? Erin Entrada Kelly and Kwame Mbalia will gladly let you know as they discuss the embarrassing love lives of their two protagonists in "On Again, Awkward Again." Moderated not at all awkwardly by Ashleigh Rose.
    • Contributor: Rose, Ashleigh Mbalia, Kwame Kelly, Erin Entrada Zhao, Anthony
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video What Writers Need to Know About Copyright
    Are you a writer or do you know one? Copyright protects most types of written works, also known as literary works. This program covers what's protected, what it means to be a copyright owner and how to register your literary works with the U.S. Copyright Office. Gain essential tools to understand and safeguard your rights as a creator.
    • Contributor: Kaiser, Laura Chinnadurai, Jessica
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video What You Need in the Game of Life with Channelle Desamours
    You got what you wanted: a special power, a dream internship??? Now what? In Channelle Desamours' "Needy Little Things," Sariyah can sense people's needs, but she's not sure if having powers will help or hinder her search for her friend. Moderated by Sasha Dowdy.
    • Contributor: Desamours, Channelle Dowdy, Sasha
    • Date: 2025-09-06
  • Film, Video When Dark Academia Gets Real, with Elle Gonzalez Rose and Mariko Tamaki
    Best part of every dark academia novel? When we first come across the evidence of dark deeds. Buckle up for graphic novel mystery "This Place Kills Me" by Mariko Tamaki and boarding school thriller "The Girl You Know" by Elle Gonzalez Rose, where suspense ratchets up to the max as you wonder what secrets are worth killing (and dying) for. Moderated by Ofelia Montelongo.
    • Contributor: Rose, Elle Gonzalez Montelongo, Ofelia Tamaki, Mariko
    • Date: 2025-09-06