News from the Library of Congress

March 1996

  • February 29, 1996  (96-027)
    Symposium Aims To Rejuvenate History Education in America WHAT: "Advancing History in America's Schools," a multidisciplinary symposiumWHEN: March 1, 1:15 p.m., through March 2, 5:00 p.m.WHERE: Mumford Room, 6th Floor, Madison Building, Library of CongressTeachers of history from every state will meet with distinguished historians at the Library of Congress on March 1-2, 1996, to launch a national campaign to restore history education to its central role in the American classroom. Sponsored…
    • Date: 1996-03-01
  • February 29, 1996  (96-029)
    Library of Congress Publishes Updates to the USMARC Formats for Classification and Authority Data Update No. 1 (July 1995) to the USMARC Format for Classification Data and Update No. 1 (July 1995) to the USMARC Format for Authority Data are now available from the Cataloging Distribution Service of the Library of Congress. Update No. 1 to the USMARC Format for Classification Data is the first since 1990; Update No. 1 to the USMARC Format for Authority Data is…
    • Date: 1996-03-01

February 1996

  • February 26, 1996  (96-031)
    Library of Congress To Hold Public Hearings on Preservation of American Television and Video Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced today the beginning of a major study by the Library of Congress on the state of television and video preservation in the United States. To ensure that a wide range of views and perspectives is incorporated into the study, Dr. Billington intends to consult with many interested organizations and individuals, solicit written submissions, and conduct three hearings.The…
    • Date: 1996-02-27
  • February 25, 1996  (96-030)
    Copyright Office To Hold Conference on Managing and Protecting Digital Information on Networks The United States Copyright Office, together with the Interactive Multimedia Association, will hold a conference on technology-based solutions for managing rights to digital information on Thursday, March 7, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Crystal City, 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Va. Previous registration is required. More than 100 representatives from clearinghouses, licensing agents, rights societies and collectives, on-line providers, developers,…
    • Date: 1996-02-26
  • February 22, 1996  (96-019)
    Library of Congress to Welcome 1996 Soros Fellows The Library of Congress and the Regional Library Program of the Open Society Institute (a Budapest-based Soros Foundation) are launching a three-month internship program to benefit librarians and information specialists from Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.The Soros Foundations-Library of Congress Librarian Intern Program supersedes the Visiting Fellows Program, which ended in 1995 after three years. The new program shares its…
    • Date: 1996-02-23
  • February 19, 1996  (96-028)
    Noted Scholars To Assess Plato's "Republic" and "The Federalist" in Lecture Series That Examines Books That Influenced Western Thought Martha Craven Nussbaum, a classical scholar who teaches law and ethics at the University of Chicago, will lecture on the impact of Plato's Republic on March 6 at the Library of Congress. Two weeks later, on March 21, Bernard Bailyn, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and professor emeritus at Harvard University, will examine The Federalist.The lectures are part of a series on works that "have…
    • Date: 1996-02-20
  • February 19, 1996  (96-014)
    Library of Congress Acquires Ralph Ellison Collection Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced today the acquisition of the papers of author Ralph Ellison. Ellison's collection of manuscripts, drafts and notes for both published and unpublished works; his speeches, correspondence, notebooks, lectures, subject files, photographs, and recordings; and his entire personal working library are being acquired from his widow, Fanny McConnell Ellison, over a four-year period."By giving voice to the inarticulate,…
    • Date: 1996-02-20
  • February 14, 1996  (96-024)
    Rare Treasures from the Saxon State Library, Dresden in Major Exhibition at the Library of Congress WHAT: "Dresden: Treasures of the Saxon State Library"WHEN: April 11 through July 13, 1996, Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.WHERE: The Southwest Gallery and Pavilion of the Thomas Jefferson Building, The Library of Congress, 10 First St. S.E.An exhibition of rare treasures from the Saxon State Library will open at the Library of Congress on April 11, 1996. "Dresden: Treasures from the…
    • Date: 1996-02-15
  • February 12, 1996  (96-025)
    Crosscurrents: Poets C.K. Williams and Adam Zagajewski To Read at the Library of Congress On Thursday evening, February 29, American Poet C. K. Williams and Polish Poet Adam Zagajewski will read from their work in the Mumford Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Memorial Building. The reading, presented under the auspices of the Gertrude Clarke Whittall Poetry and Literature Fund, will begin at 6:45 p.m.; Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry Robert Hass will introduce the…
    • Date: 1996-02-13
  • February 7, 1996  (96-023)
    President Clinton Signs Telecommunications Act at Library of Congress President Bill Clinton, in a ceremony in the Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress, today signed into law the Telecommunications Act of 1996. During the ceremony, James H. Billington, the Librarian of Congress, was acknowledged for the pioneering role the Library is playing as a major content provider on the Internet."It is fitting that we mark this moment here in the Library…
    • Date: 1996-02-08
  • February 6, 1996  (96-022)
    Cultural Historian Kevin Starr To Lecture at the Library of Congress on March 27 Kevin Starr -- historian, journalist, and State Librarian of California -- will speak on "California Libraries, Culture, and Dreams" at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27 in the Mumford Room, sixth floor, James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E. Sponsored by the Center for the Book, Dr. Starr's talk is free and open to the public."We are fortunate to have Kevin Starr as…
    • Date: 1996-02-07
  • February 1, 1996  (96-021)
    Arizona Center for Book To Host Poet Laureate Robert Hass Robert Hass, the Library of Congress's eighth Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, will read from his poetry on Sunday, March 24, in Phoenix at a program sponsored by the Arizona Center for the Book. The event, which is open to the public, will take place at 3 p.m. at the Wrigley Conference Center, 6001 24th Street, in Phoenix. For information and reservations, call (602)…
    • Date: 1996-02-02

January 1996

  • January 29, 1996  (96-020)
    Publishing Archives Symposium To Be Held at Columbia University on October 3-5, 1996 The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and Columbia University's Rare Book and Manuscript Library will sponsor a symposium on Oct. 3-5, 1996, at Columbia University on the topic of publishing archives. Subjects to be discussed include the effect of the changing marketplace and new technologies on the collection, retention, and use of publishing archives; intellectual property issues; understanding and documenting…
    • Date: 1996-01-30
  • January 29, 1996  (96-012)
    Shira Perlmutter Named to New Copyright Position Shira Perlmutter has been appointed Associate Register of Copyrights for Policy and International Affairs. Ms. Perlmutter has been an associate professor of law at the Columbus Law School of the Catholic University of America, where she taught courses on both national and international copyright and trademark law. She also served as the copyright consultant to the Clinton administration's Advisory Committee on the National Information…
    • Date: 1996-01-30
  • January 29, 1996  (96-013)
    New Voices: Poets Greg Glazner and Dean Young To Read at the Library of Congress On Thursday evening, February 15, poets Greg Glazner and Dean Young will read from their work in the Mumford Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Memorial Building. The reading, presented under the auspices of the Gertrude Clarke Whittall Poetry and Literature Fund, will begin at 6:45 p.m.; Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry Robert Hass will introduce the poets. Tickets are not…
    • Date: 1996-01-30
  • January 29, 1996  (96-015)
    Knowledge Cards Highlight 'Great African Americans', 'Women Who Dare' and 'Writers' in New Series You've heard of playing cards, baseball cards, even Beatle cards. Now there are Knowledge Cards, celebrating eminent people, available in four subject categories: Great African Americans, Women Who Dare, American Writers, and Women Writers.The Library of Congress and Pomegranate Publications are introducing these cards as part of a cooperative agreement to make the Library's collections more widely available in a variety of educational formats.Knowledge…
    • Date: 1996-01-30
  • January 25, 1996  (96-016)
    Revised Dates for Bradley Foundation Lecture Series About Books That Influenced Western Thought A lecture by James McGill Buchanan, an author of 20 books and a 1986 Nobel Prize winner in economics, will be presented on Wednesday, June 18, at the Library of Congress. (The lecture was previously scheduled for February 8.) Dr. Buchanan will speak on the impact of Adam Smith's 18th century work, The Wealth of Nations.The lectures make up a new great book series…
    • Date: 1996-01-26
  • January 25, 1996  (96-018)
    Library of Congress Names Thomas P. Carney Acting Deputy Librarian James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress, today announced the temporary appointment of Thomas P. Carney as Deputy Librarian of Congress, effective February 4.Mr. Carney will serve as the Library's chief operating officer and will be a member of the Library's executive committee, the institution's top policy-making body.Dr. Billington said Mr. Carney would be "responsible for the overall administration and management of internal Library operations,…
    • Date: 1996-01-26
  • January 24, 1996  (96-017)
    New Guide to Indian Pictorial Works Contains 525 Groupings of More Than 13,500 Images at Library of Congress: Now Available A new annotated guide, which provides a comprehensive listing of 525 American Indian-related groupings of more than 13,500 photographs and other graphic images, is now available in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress.Indians of North America: A Guide to LOTS, which took two years to produce, will be particularly helpful to researchers and other persons who seek detailed access to…
    • Date: 1996-01-25
  • January 21, 1996  (96-005)
    Great Hall of the Library of Congress Open to Public on Limited Basis; Additional Tours Scheduled; Tickets Required The Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress is now open to the public on a limited basis.To view the Great Hall, the general public should use the west front door of the Jefferson Building, which is open from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday. All Library buildings are closed on Sunday.Guided tours of the building will be offered…
    • Date: 1996-01-22
  • January 18, 1996  (96-010)
    Library of Congress Resumes International Lending The Library of Congress announced today that it will resume international lending on a limited basis beginning Feb. 1. On that date the Library's Loan Division will begin accepting on- line interlibrary loan requests from foreign libraries participating in lending systems administered by the two principal U.S. bibliographic networks: OCLC Inc. and the Research Libraries Group.The Library of Congress suspended lending to non-U.S. libraries…
    • Date: 1996-01-19
  • January 17, 1996  (96-011)
    Exhibit on Booker T Washington's "Atlanta Compromise" Opens An exhibit focusing on Booker T. Washington's most controversial speech -- and the one that brought him to national fame -- opens Friday, January 19, at the Library of Congress.The exhibit will remain on display through February 29 in the Current Events Gallery on the first floor, green core, of the Madison Building.Funded by Tuskegee University, "Booker T. Washington's Atlanta Exposition Address Revisited" draws…
    • Date: 1996-01-18
  • January 16, 1996  (96-003)
    "Books & Beyond" Lecture Series To Feature Authors of Library of Congress-Related Books On January 30, the Center for the Book will begin sponsoring "Books & Beyond," a series of talks by authors of books that have a particular relevance to the Library of Congress. "We are inviting authors of recent books that either are based on the Library's collections or that speak directly to issues of concern to the Library and its programs," said John Y.…
    • Date: 1996-01-17
  • January 15, 1996  (96-009)
    A Western View: Poets Garrett Hongo and Ishmael Reed To Read at the Library of Congress On Thursday evening, February 1, poets Garrett Hongo and Ishmael Reed will read from their work in the Mumford Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Memorial Building. The reading, presented under the auspices of the Gertrude Clarke Whittall Poetry and Literature Fund, will begin at 6:45 p.m.; Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry Robert Hass will introduce the poets. Tickets are not…
    • Date: 1996-01-16
  • January 11, 1996  (96-004)
    Center for the Book and Everybody Wins Foundation Form Reading Promotion Partnership On January 3, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced that the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress has joined with the Everybody Wins Foundation Inc. in a new national reading promotion partnership."The Everybody Wins project focuses on one-to-one reading aloud relationships between adults and young children," said Dr. Billington. "A proven success in New York City and in Washington D.C.,…
    • Date: 1996-01-12
  • January 10, 1996  (96-007)
    Noted Economist and Scholar James Buchanan To Assess Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations James McGill Buchanan, an author of 20 books and a 1986 Nobel Prize winner in economics, will lecture on the impact of Adam Smith's 18th century work, The Wealth of Nations, on Thursday, February 8, at the Library of Congress.The lecture is the first of a new great books series at the Library, funded by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation to examine works…
    • Date: 1996-01-11
  • January 10, 1996  (96-002)
    Performing Arts Book Series Publishes New Volume on Music Musical visionaries George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Charles Mingus rub shoulders with groundbreaking opera composer Roger Sessions, opera star Mary Garden and Pulitzer Prize-winning film producer Joshua Logan in _Performing Arts--Music,_ the Library of Congress's new volume highlighting the treasures of its rare music collections.The book's eight essays--lavishly illustrated with photographs, sheet music, film stills and correspondence from the Library's vast music collections--are written…
    • Date: 1996-01-11
  • January 3, 1996  (96-006)
    Library of Congress Traveling Exhibit on Plantation Life Opens at Martin Luther King Library January 10 The Library of Congress traveling exhibit on plantation life will open Jan. 10 at the Martin Luther King Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW. The exhibit, "Cultural Landscape of the Plantation," will remain on display there through Feb. 11.Its next venue is the Historical Society of Talbot County, 25 S. Washington Street, Easton, Md., where it will open Feb. 17.A list of the future…
    • Date: 1996-01-04
  • January 2, 1996  (96-008)
    Hiram Davis To Head New Staff Development Initiative at the Library of Congress Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced today that Hiram L. Davis will head a long-term effort to train and develop the Library's current work force for the next century.Davis will relinquish his duties as Deputy Librarian this month to focus full-time on the work force program, informally referred to as the "internal university." He will assume the title of Senior Advisor for Staff…
    • Date: 1996-01-03