News from the Library of Congress
December 2018
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December 17, 2018 (18-A10)Holiday Schedule Dec. 2018 – Jan. 2019 The Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill for FY19 was passed and signed into law earlier this year. With the following holiday-related exceptions, the Library of Congress is operating under standard hours:Monday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) All Library buildings and services, including reading rooms and exhibitions, will be CLOSED to the public.Tuesday, December 25 (Christmas Day) All Library buildings and services, including reading rooms and exhibitions,…- Date: 2018-12-18
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December 6, 2018 (18-145)Library Announces Grant for Research Using World's Largest Map Collection The John W. Kluge Center and the Philip Lee Phillips Map Society at the Library of Congress invite qualified scholars to apply for a grant to conduct research for two months at the Kluge Center using the Geography and Map Division’s collections and resources.The Philip Lee Phillips Society Fellowship will award $11,500 to selected scholars with the possibility of an additional $2,000 as an…- Date: 2018-12-07
November 2018
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November 28, 2018 (18-141)Library Acquires Archive of Jazz Great Billy Strayhorn The Library of Congress announced today that it has acquired the original manuscripts documenting the work of composer, arranger and pianist Billy Strayhorn. An important star in the jazz firmament, Strayhorn was the source of much of the sound of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He worked with Ellington for nearly 30 years, writing or collaborating on more than 200 tunes and arrangements for the…- Date: 2018-11-29
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November 27, 2018 (18-140)University of Puerto Rico to Establish First Puerto Rico Center for the Book as 53rd Affiliate of Library of Congress The University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Information Sciences and the Library Sciences and Informatics Library will establish the first Puerto Rico Center for the Book in 2019 as the 53rd affiliate center of the Library of Congress, the two institutions announced today. The Library’s Center for the Book is a network of U.S. sites promoting an interest in reading and literacy.The newest…- Date: 2018-11-28
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November 27, 2018 (18-140S)La Universidad de Puerto Rico abrirá el primer Centro para el Libro en la Isla afiliado a la Biblioteca del Congreso de EE.UU. La Escuela Graduada de Ciencias y Tecnologías de la Información y la Biblioteca de Ciencias Bibliotecarias e Informática de la Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR), en colaboración con la Biblioteca del Congreso de Estados Unidos, establecerán el primer Centro para el Libro en la Isla a principios del año 2019. Este constituirá el centro número 53 afiliado a la Biblioteca del Congreso y se…- Date: 2018-11-28
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November 20, 2018 (18-142)Statement from Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on the Passing of 13th Librarian of Congress James H. Billington “Our hearts are heavy as we learn of the passing of Dr. James Billington, the 13th Librarian of Congress,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said. “Dr. Billington has left an indelible legacy on the institution he led passionately for 28 years. With his vigor for philanthropy and tireless efforts to expand the reach and impact of the Library, he achieved so much to advance…- Date: 2018-11-21
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November 15, 2018 (18-139)Library of Congress Writing Contest for Young Readers Across the Country Announced Letters About Literature, the Library of Congress reading-and-writing contest now in its 26th year, is accepting applications beginning Nov. 1 for the 2018-19 cycle. For the first time, letters will be submitted electronically. For more information about the contest, including instructions for entering and deadlines for each state, visit read.gov/letters.Letters About Literature asks students in grades 4-12 to read a book, poem, speech or…- Date: 2018-11-16
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November 12, 2018 (18-138)155th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address at the Library of Congress On Nov. 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Library of Congress will recognize the 155th anniversary of this historic speech with a one-day celebration, including work stations for a hands-on experience transcribing Lincoln documents using the Library’s new crowdsourcing tool.Visitors will have the opportunity to view the earliest known draft of the Gettysburg Address and participate in a…- Date: 2018-11-13
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October 31, 2018 (18-127)Poet Jorie Graham to Receive 2018 Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry The Library of Congress will award the 2018 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry to Jorie Graham for her 2017 book “Fast.”Graham, who is the Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard University, will receive the award and read selections from her work at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6, in the Library’s James Madison Memorial Building, Mumford Room, 101 Independence Ave.…- Date: 2018-11-01
October 2018
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October 21, 2018 (18-130)New Book Showcases Early Baseball Cards in Story of National Pastime A new book, “Game Faces: Early Baseball Cards from the Library of Congress,” offers baseball fans and historians a visual delight that showcases early baseball cards from the 19th and early 20th centuries alongside photos from the early days of the nation’s beloved pastime. Author Peter Devereaux takes readers behind the scenes of the Library of Congress’ Benjamin K. Edwards Collection to see the…- Date: 2018-10-22
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October 16, 2018 (18-132)Papers of President Theodore Roosevelt Now Online The largest collection of the papers of President Theodore Roosevelt, documenting his extraordinary career in the White House and as vice president, governor of New York, and as a naturalist, writer and reformer, has been digitized and is now available online from the Library of Congress.The digitization of the massive collection comes just before the 160th anniversary of Roosevelt’s birthday. The nation’s 26th president…- Date: 2018-10-17
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October 3, 2018 (18-119)Library of Congress Announces Winner of 2018 Holland Prize Coinciding with World Architecture Day on Oct. 1, the Library of Congress and the National Park Service (NPS) announced today the 2018 recipients of Leicester B. Holland Prize, honoring outstanding historic building, structure or landscape drawing. A survey drawing of Daniel Chester French’s studio, by the team of Tenzin Nyandak and Grace Meloy, and led by Ashley Wilson of the National Trust for Historic…- Date: 2018-10-04
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October 1, 2018 (18-126)U.S. Poet Laureate Brings Poetry to Podcast and Radio Audiences with 'The Slowdown' U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith will soon bring the power of poetry to listeners across the globe as host of a weekday podcast and radio feature titled “The Slowdown.”The five-minute program encourages listeners to make a daily space for poetry in an increasingly busy and chaotic world. “Poetry isn’t an escape or even a luxury,” Smith said. “I’d argue it’s a necessity, a…- Date: 2018-10-02
September 2018
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September 23, 2018 (18-124)International Superstars Emilio and Gloria Estefan Named Recipients of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden today announced that husband-and-wife team Emilio and Gloria Estefan are the next recipients of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The honorees represent two historic firsts for the prize – the first time it has been awarded to a married couple or to musicians-songwriters of Hispanic descent.The Estefans symbolize the rich cultural diversity of the American…- Date: 2018-09-24
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September 23, 2018 (18-124S)Superestrellas internacionales Emilio y Gloria Estefan galardonados con el Premio Gershwin La Bibliotecaria del Congreso, Carla Hayden, anunció hoy que la pareja de artistas, Emilio y Gloria Estefan, será la próxima en recibir el Premio Gershwin a la canción popular de la Biblioteca del Congreso.La cadena de televisión pública, PBS (sigla en inglés), transmitirá por sus estaciones la serie de conciertos del Premio Gershwin, ganadora de un premio Emmy.El dúo Estefan simboliza la diversidad cultural…- Date: 2018-09-24
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September 16, 2018 (18-118)Library Celebrates the Centennial of Architect Paul M. Rudolph Considered one of America’s most innovative modernist architects, Paul Marvin Rudolph donated his archive to the Library of Congress and, in October, the nation’s library will celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth with a symposium and display of select items from his collection. The day-long forum will take place on Friday, Oct. 26, beginning at 8:30 a.m., in the Mumford Room on the…- Date: 2018-09-17
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September 12, 2018 (18-122)Fall Baseball Programs Feature Latinos in the Game, New Books, Sportswriters Public programs this fall accompanying the exhibition “Baseball Americana” at the Library of Congress will feature Latinos in baseball, new books on the game’s history leading up to the World Series and a panel of baseball writers covering the game today. The exhibition “Baseball Americana” explores baseball’s past and present and how the game has forged a sense of community for players and fans.…- Date: 2018-09-13
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September 6, 2018 (18-112)Library of Congress Launches New Set of Educational Apps for Back to School The Library of Congress, in collaboration with educational organizations, today announced the launch of two new web- and mobile-based applications related to Congress and civics for use in K-12 classrooms.These new applications transport students through primary sources to some of the most dramatic turning points in U.S. history and immerse them in the related debates.Students can investigate complex questions through both applications, as well…- Date: 2018-09-07
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September 5, 2018 (18-113)"Star Wars Under the Stars" at the Library of Congress The Library of Congress will screen the original trilogy episodes of the blockbuster series, and host related events in late September. All of the following events will take place at the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E. Washington, DC and are free and open to the public.Tickets are available for this free event, but not required. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served…- Date: 2018-09-06
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August 31, 2018 (18-111)18th Annual National Book Festival Draws Tens of Thousands of Book Lovers Book lovers of all ages came together by the tens of thousands to celebrate reading and meet their favorite authors Saturday at the 18th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Thousands more watched the festival’s Main Stage streamed live on the Library’s Facebook page.Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden interviewed U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor,…- Date: 2018-09-01
August 2018
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August 22, 2018 (18-106)2018 National Book Festival Offers Adventures for Families, Readers of All Ages A diverse lineup of authors – including 40 who write for children and teens – as well as readings, trivia, costumed characters and interactive exhibits will provide a wide variety of family-friendly activities at the 2018 Library of Congress National Book Festival. The 18th festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 1 from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.) at the…
- Date: 2018-08-23
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August 19, 2018 (18-098)Library Appoints Literature and Science Scholar Bruce Clarke as the Baruch S. Blumberg Chair in Astrobiology The Library of Congress today announced the appointment of Bruce Clarke as the sixth Baruch S. Blumberg chair in astrobiology. Clarke will be in residence at the Kluge Center for a period of ten months beginning in December, 2018.The Astrobiology chair at the Kluge Center is a collaboration between the NASA Astrobiology Program and the Library of Congress. It is named for Baruch “Barry”…- Date: 2018-08-20
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August 15, 2018 (18-103)Library to Host 2018 National Student Poets Appointment Ceremony Five outstanding youth poets chosen from among thousands of award-winning student writers will be appointed National Student Poets in a ceremony Aug. 30 at the Library of Congress. The young poets, who represent five different regions of the country, will read original works as part of a ceremony that will be led by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and Institute of Museum and Library…- Date: 2018-08-16