January 25, 2015 (REVISED February 27, 2015) Library to Host Events in Celebration of National Cherry Blossom Festival

The Library of Congress will again participate in Washington’s annual celebration of its gift of cherry trees from Japan with two events during the 2015 National Cherry Blossom Festival.

A lecture by Bob Vogel, National Capital Regional Director for the National Park Service, will be presented by the Library’s Asian Division. Japanese Culture Day will be presented by the Asian Division and the Center for the Book. The events will take place in the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street, S.E. in Washington, D.C. Both events are free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are needed.

The Library will also display selected items from its collections pertaining to the cherry blossoms from March 30 through May 4 in the Thomas Jefferson Building.

Japanese Culture Day
Saturday, April 4, 2015, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This program introduces children and adults to Japanese culture through hands-on origami artwork creation, trying on kimonos and other activities. The 2015 Cherry Blossom princesses will instruct children in the art of tiara-making. At 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C., will present “Japan-In-A-Suitcase,” a program about Japanese life and culture. The Library’s Young Readers Center will provide an opportunity for children to explore the center’s library of current and classic books.
Location: Young Readers Center (LJ G29), Ground Floor, Thomas Jefferson Building.

Lecture by Bob Vogel
Tuesday, April 7, 2015, noon to 1 p.m.
Bob Vogel, National Capital Regional Director for the National Park Service, will speak about the 1912 gift of cherry trees, a symbol of friendship between the city of Tokyo, Japan and Washington, D.C. He will also discuss the long-term maintenance and preservation of this gift and how the National Park Service protects this national treasure for the enjoyment of future generations.
Location: Whittall Pavilion, Ground Floor, Thomas Jefferson Building.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival will be held March 20 through April 12, 2015. For more information, visit nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.

The Asian Division of the Library of Congress holds more than 3 million books, periodicals, newspapers, electronic media and a large number of manuscripts from Asia. The collection is the most comprehensive source of Asian-language materials outside of Asia, and covers the area ranging from Japan, China, Korea, Mongolia and the South Asian subcontinent to Southeast Asia. For more information, visit www.loc.gov/rr/asian/.

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. It seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs, publications and exhibitions. Many of the Library’s rich resources can be accessed through its website at www.loc.gov.