Keep up with our literary programming—no matter where you live. Dive in to discover writers and performances featured at the Library of Congress.
Featured Videos
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Film, VideoThomas Mallon on the Early Days of the HIV/AIDS Crisis Novelist Thomas Mallon talked about his recently-published book,"The Very Heart of It: New York Diaries, 1983-1994" with Clay Smith. In 2022, The New Yorker published a selection of Mallon's diaries from the early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The response was immense. The Library holds Mallon's personal archives, including his diaries, book and article drafts, research files, and correspondence.- Contributor: Smith, Clay - Encina, Roswell - Mallon, Thomas
- Date: 2025-06-05
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Film, VideoJonathan Capehart in Conversation with Michele Norris Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jonathan Capehart came to the Library to talk about his memoir, "Yet Here I Am: Lessons from a Black Man's Search for Home." Capehart was in conversation with journalist Michele Norris.- Contributor: Norris, Michele - Capehart, Jonathan - Encina, Roswell
- Date: 2025-06-05
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Film, VideoMary Oliver Memorial Reading The second annual reading Mary Oliver Memorial Reading at the Library of Congress highlighted emerging poets writing on the natural world. Bestselling poet and writer Aimee Nezhukumatathil read with emerging poets Ariana Benson and Robin Walter. A moderated discussion and book signing followed the reading. Ariana Benson's debut poetry collection, "Black Pastoral," won the Cave Canem Poetry Prize, the Kate Tufts Discovery Award and…- Contributor: Werb, Shari - Casper, Rob - Benson, Ariana - Nezhukumatathil, Aimee - Walter, Robin
- Date: 2025-05-29
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Film, VideoPoet Laureate Closing Event with Ada Limón To conclude her historic two-term, three-year appointment as U.S. Poet Laureate, Ada Limón talked about the art of poetry. Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress from 2022-2025, Ada Limón is the author of six books of poetry-including "The Carrying," which won the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her book "Bright Dead Things" was nominated for the National Book Award, the…- Contributor: Hayden, Carla - Limón, Ada
- Date: 2025-04-17
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Film, Video"The Great Gatsby" at 100: A Public Reading On the exact 100th anniversary of the publication date of "The Great Gatsby," the Library of Congress is producing a full reading of the novel, livestreamed from our Thomas Jefferson building on Capitol Hill. Be an old sport and join us in-person or online to experience this classic American novel which entered the public domain in 2021.- Contributor: Yang, Eun - Baiorunos, Karen - Ramsey, Ryan - Montelongo, Ofelia - Charles, Ron - Choie, Diane - Riddell, Julia - Werb, Shari - Chenevey, Steve - Smith, Monica M. ... Yang, Eun - Baiorunos, Karen - Ramsey, Ryan - Montelongo, Ofelia - Charles, Ron - Choie, Diane - Riddell, Julia - Werb, Shari - Chenevey, Steve - Smith, Monica M. - Broughton, Jason - Newlen, Robert - Klitzman, Zach - Sommers, Hannah - Werb, Bret - Thuronyi, George - Dickerson, Ashley - Lofton, Jeffrey - Smith, Clay - Fox, Susan - Schraf, Kim - Neary, Denise - Harbster, Jennifer "Jj" - Harcourt, Xander - Long, Marissa - Encina, Roswell - Amar, Chilli - Montgomery, Mimi - Martin, Michael - Philion, Norm
- Date: 2025-04-10
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Film, VideoDiscovery Night: Mindy Weisberger and Rebecca Lemov At a special discovery night at the Library, nonfiction writers Mindy Weisberger and Rebecca Lemov discussed their new books. In "Rise of the Zombie Bugs," Weisberger reveals the history of zombifying parasitic insects. Lemov's "The Instability of Truth: Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyper-Persuasion" details the hidden history of brainwashing.- Contributor: Weisberger, Mindy - Lemov, Rebecca - Smith, Clay - Encina, Roswell
- Date: 2025-04-03
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Film, VideoDouglas Kearney with Ron Charles Douglas Kearney speaks with Washington Post Book Critic Ron Charles about his groundbreaking new collection of visual poems, "I Imagine I Been Science Fiction Always." Douglas Kearney has published eight books ranging from poetry to essays. In 2023, "Optic Subwoof," a collection of his Bagley Wright lectures, won the Poetry Foundation's Pegasus Prize for Poetry Criticism and the CLMP Firecracker Award for Creative Nonfiction.…- Contributor: Kearney, Douglas - Charles, Ron - Smith, Clay
- Date: 2025-02-27
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Film, VideoNational Ambassador for Young People's Literature Inauguration: Mac Barnett Award-winning author Mac Barnett will be inaugurated as the 2025-2026 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, the ninth writer to hold this position. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden will lead a conversation with Barnett during the ceremony. The National Ambassador for Young People's Literature is an initiative of the Library of Congress, in partnership with Every Child a Reader, with generous support from The…- Contributor: Creightney, Anya - Barnett, Mac - Birkhead, Shaina - Klassen, Jon - Hayden, Carla
- Date: 2025-02-06
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Film, VideoStory Time for Grownups with National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Award-winning author-illustrators Cece Bell and Raúl the Third, and 2008-2009 National Ambassador for Young People Literature Jon Scieszka, believe that picture books are important and give us an opportunity to be playful and mischievous, no matter our age. Learn about the surprising mechanics and artistry of picture books, enjoy stimulating read-alouds and indulge in storytime-themed beverages. We provide the blankets and hot chocolate, you…- Contributor: Creightney, Anya - Barnett, Mac - Scieszka, Jon - Bell, Cece - The Third, Raúl
- Date: 2025-02-06
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Film, VideoA Conversation with Brooke Shields Brooke Shields has been in the public eye since she was a child, really. As an actor and model, she was everywhere. Now, at 59, she's a "woman of a certain age." Judging from her new memoir, "Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old," she feels more comfortable than ever. Shields talks with Nora O'Donnell of CBS about aging with power and grace.- Contributor: Hayden, Carla - Shields, Brooke - O'Donnell, Norah
- Date: 2025-01-28
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Film, VideoMeg Medina: Closing Celebration for the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Meg Medina closed her tenure as the 2023-2024 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature by celebrating her video program, "Cuéntame! Let's Talk Books." Medina, the first Latina in the role, served a two-year term and inspired children across the nation to talk about their favorite books, connected families to established childrens' authors via her video series and invited families to special visits at the…- Contributor: Muie, James - Creightney, Anya - Casineros Dance Company - Birkhead, Shaina - Davis, Reginaed - Medina, Meg - Hayden, Carla - Greenfield, Max
- Date: 2024-12-12
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Film, VideoCuéntame! Let's Talk Books with Gene Luen Yang What happens when you put two National Ambassadors for Young People's Literature together? Pure joy and overflowing love for books, of course! Gene Luen Yang (the fifth Ambassador) joined Meg Medina (the eighth Ambassador) at the 2024 National Book Festival to talk books, comic books, art, drawing and the magic of words and stories, particularly those that help us keep going when life gets…- Contributor: Medina, Meg - Yang, Gene Luen
- Date: 2024-12-10
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Film, VideoCuéntame! Let's Talk Books with Cece Bell Meg's guest in this next installment is also an artist and musician--not to mention delightfully silly! You'll have a great time hearing from cartoonist and children's book author Cece Bell, who tells Meg how she learned to draw as a kid, how she came to write a book about growing up deaf, and how she put together the amazing book-album-music video combo, "Animal Albums…- Contributor: Medina, Meg - Bell, Cece
- Date: 2024-12-10
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Film, Video2024 Bobbitt Prize Winner Arthur Sze Arthur Sze, winner of the 2024 Rebekah Bobbitt Johnson National Prize for Poetry for Lifetime Achievement, reads some of his poems with details about his evolution as a poet, insights about his creative process and ideas of exploration and freedom in context of the American experience. Following the talk, Sze participated in a conversation with Rob Casper, head of Poetry and Literature at the…- Contributor: Bobbitt, Philip - Casper, Robert - Sze, Arthur
- Date: 2024-12-05
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Film, VideoCuéntame! Let's Talk Books with Sabaa Tahir Bestselling fantasy author Sabaa Tahir joins Meg to talk about why fantasy appealed to her as a teen and why it keeps her wanting to read forever. She explains how her books, such as the "Ember in the Ashes" series, cover difficult topics like colonialism, war and family problems, but also feature epic battle scenes and swoony romances, all the while letting characters who…- Contributor: Medina, Meg - Tahir, Sabaa
- Date: 2024-11-19
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Film, VideoCuéntame! Let's Talk Books with Lamar Giles From his fourth grade story "Giant Dinosaur Inside" to young-adult horror book "The Getaway," Lamar Giles has long been writing books for kids of all ages and continues to enjoy his craft. Join his conversation with Meg Medina as he describes the thrill of writing thrillers, his delight in superheroes (spoiler alert: Static is awesome!) and the joys of storytelling in comics.- Contributor: Medina, Meg - Giles, Lamar
- Date: 2024-11-19
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Film, VideoCuéntame! Let's Talk Books with Traci Sorell Traci Sorell, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, is an author of many books celebrating Native American culture. These include picture books like "Powwow Day" and "We Are Still Here: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know," as well as middle grade novels such as "Mascot." She celebrates her native heritage and discusses "Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua" by…- Contributor: Medina, Meg - Sorell, Traci
- Date: 2024-10-30
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Film, VideoCuéntame! Let's Talk Books with Ellen Oh Ellen Oh wears many hats: as a writer of middle grade books ("Spirit Hunters," "You Are Here"), an editor of anthologies ("Flying Lessons"), a CEO and president of the nonprofit We Need Diverse Books and an appreciator of graphic novels. She talks about "March: Book Three," a graphic novel memoir by the late Congressman John Lewis, written with Andrew Aydin and with art by…- Contributor: Oh, Ellen - Medina, Meg
- Date: 2024-10-30
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Film, VideoCuéntame! Let's Talk Books with Raúl the Third Raúl the Third ("Lowriders in Space," "¡Vamos! Let's Go Read") talks about the graphic novel "Mexikid" by Pedro Martín, a Mexican American author who grew up loving comic books -- just like Raúl! He also shares his longtime love of libraries and his respect for hard working librarians, then gives tips about pursuing a career in illustration.- Contributor: Medina, Meg - Raúl the Third
- Date: 2024-10-08
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Film, VideoCuéntame! Let's Talk Books with Chelsea Clinton Would you believe that, Chelsea Clinton, author, public health aficionado, professor and former White House inhabitant also loves the Berenstain Bears? In this episode of Let's Talk Books, Chelsea lets us in on her reading life as a child, her ongoing love of kid detectives like Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown and discusses her favorite "persisters"--the female heroes in her picture book and middle…- Contributor: Medina, Meg - Clinton, Chelsea
- Date: 2024-10-08
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Film, VideoNordic Lit: How Well Do We Know Our Loved Ones? The characters of these novels set in Nordic lands are keeping secrets, sometimes from themselves. Authors Hanne Ørstavik ("Ti Amo"), Moa Herngren ("The Divorce") and Hildur Knútsdóttir ("The Night Guest") discuss when and how they revealed these secrets in their work.- Contributor: Knútsdóttir, Hildur - Herngren, Moa - Ørstavik, Hanne
- Date: 2024-09-26
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Film, VideoThe Untamed Landscape in Nordic Lit with Josefine Klougart and Hanna Pylväinen Nordic authors Hanna Pylväinen ("The End of Drum-Time") and Josefine Klougart ("On Darkness") move beyond stereotypical assumptions about how the Nordic landscape is forbidding and cold in this discussion moderated by the Library's Anya Creightney.- Contributor: Creightney, Anya - Klougart, Josefine - Pylväinen, Hanna
- Date: 2024-09-26
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Film, VideoLatino Poets Spotlight Poets Juan Felipe Herrera (former U.S. Poet Laureate), Ruth Behar and Maria Kelson read from their work and discuss their creative processes. The award-winning poets are featured in the Library's "Collecting Memories" exhibit and its Palabra audio archives. The event was co-sponsored by with Letras Latinas, the literary initiative at the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame.- Contributor: Herrera, Juan Felipe - Kelson, Maria - Behar, Ruth
- Date: 2024-09-19
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Film, VideoCuéntame! Let's Talk Books with Christina Soontornvat Meg Medina is joined by the multi-talented Christina Soontornvat: a journalist, a fantasy author and... an engineer? The two talk about how Chrstina's background in STEM and upbringing as a Thai American raised in Texas inform her writing and imagination. Christina Soontornvat is the award-winning author of more than 20 books for children of all ages, including the graphic novel "The Tryout" and the…- Contributor: Soontornvat, Christina - Medina, Meg
- Date: 2024-09-17
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Film, VideoCuéntame! Let's Talk Books with Hena Khan National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Meg Medina is joined by author Hena Khan ("Amina's Voice," "We Are Big Time"), who discusses the power of her childhood library and her newest picture book, "Behind My Doors," which celebrates the Al-Qarawiyyin Library -- the oldest Library in the world.- Contributor: Medina, Meg - Khan, Hena
- Date: 2024-08-13