Featured Videos

Keep up with our literary programming—no matter where you live. Dive in to discover writers and performances featured at the Library of Congress.

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    Film, Video
    Native American Heritage Month Feature: Gordon Henry Jr. This 2022 Native American Heritage Month feature highlights Native poets who participated in Joy Harjo's closing events as U.S. Poet Laureate--namely, poets affiliated with the In-Na-Po: Indigenous Nations Poets retreat.
    • Contributor: Jr., Gordon Henry
    • Date: 2022-11-22
  • Film, Video
    Native American Heritage Month Feature: Edgar Gabriel Silex This 2022 Native American Heritage Month feature highlights Native poets who participated in Joy Harjo's closing events as U.S. Poet Laureate--namely, poets affiliated with the In-Na-Po: Indigenous Nations Poets retreat.
    • Contributor: Silex, Edgar Gabriel
    • Date: 2022-11-22
  • Film, Video
    Native American Heritage Month Feature: Deborah A. Miranda This 2022 Native American Heritage Month feature highlights Native poets who participated in Joy Harjo's closing events as U.S. Poet Laureate--namely, poets affiliated with the In-Na-Po: Indigenous Nations Poets retreat.
    • Contributor: Miranda, Deborah A.
    • Date: 2022-11-22
  • Film, Video
    Native American Heritage Month Feature: Elise Paschen This 2022 Native American Heritage Month feature highlights Native poets who participated in Joy Harjo's closing events as U.S. Poet Laureate--namely, poets affiliated with the In-Na-Po: Indigenous Nations Poets retreat.
    • Contributor: Paschen, Elise
    • Date: 2022-11-22
  • Film, Video
    Native American Heritage Month Feature: Esther Belin This 2022 Native American Heritage Month feature highlights Native poets who participated in Joy Harjo's closing events as U.S. Poet Laureate--namely, poets affiliated with the In-Na-Po: Indigenous Nations Poets retreat.
    • Contributor: Belin, Esther
    • Date: 2022-11-22
  • Film, Video
    Native American Heritage Month Feature: Denise Low This 2022 Native American Heritage Month feature highlights Native poets who participated in Joy Harjo's closing events as U.S. Poet Laureate--namely, poets affiliated with the In-Na-Po: Indigenous Nations Poets retreat.
    • Contributor: Low, Denise
    • Date: 2022-11-22
  • Film, Video
    Native American Heritage Month Feature: Heid Erdrich This 2022 Native American Heritage Month feature highlights Native poets who participated in Joy Harjo's closing events as U.S. Poet Laureate - namely, poets affiliated with the In-Na-Po: Indigenous Nations Poets retreat.
    • Contributor: Erdrich, Heid
    • Date: 2022-11-14
  • Film, Video
    A Conversation with Nikki Giovanni Nikki Giovanni debuts her new picture book "A Library," in which she and Illustrator Erin K. Robinson "craft an ode to the magic of a library as a place not only for knowledge but also for imagination, exploration, and escape."
    • Contributor: Robinson, Erin - Giovanni, Nikki - Hayden, Carla
    • Date: 2022-09-27
  • Film, Video
    Victory. Stand! A Legendary Act of Protest with Tommie Smith Tommie Smith is known for one of the most famous acts of protest in American history during the 1968 Summer Olympics. Together with Dr. Smith, award-winning author Derrick Barnes and illustrator Dawud Anyabwile present their book "Victory. Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice" for readers ages 10+. Moderated by community activist and MahoganyBooks store co-owner Ramunda Young.
    • Contributor: Anyabwile, Dawud - Barnes, Derrick - Smith, Tommie - Valentine, Monica - Young, Ramunda
    • Date: 2022-09-20
  • Film, Video
    Washington: 1,2,3, Salish Sea Listen to members of Congress read from their favorite books for young people in "Read Around the States." Each video includes an interview with the author, in association with an affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book. Rep. Derek Kilmer of Washington reads "1,2,3, Salish Sea: A Pacific Northwest Counting Book." This is followed by an interview with Nikki McClure, the...
    • Contributor: Kilmer, Derek - Peté, Sara - McClure, Nikki
    • Date: 2022-02-11
  • Film, Video
    U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland To kick off Native American Heritage Month, Joy Harjo, the first Native American U.S. Poet Laureate, joins Deb Haaland, the first Native American cabinet secretary, in a conversation with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.
    • Contributor: Harjo, Joy - Haaland, Sec. Deb - Hayden, Carla
    • Date: 2021-11-01
  • Film, Video
    Wine and Diplomacy: A Conversation with Frederick Ryan Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden talks with Frederick Ryan Jr., author of "Wine and the White House: A History," about how U.S. presidents have used wine as a tool of diplomacy.
    • Contributor: Ryan Jr, Frederick J. - Krowl, Michelle - Hayden, Carla
    • Date: 2021-10-01
  • Film, Video
    The State of Minnesota: Boo Boo Bear Mission: The True Story of a Teddy Bear's Adventures in Iraq Listen to members of Congress read from their favorite books for young people in "Read Around the States." Each video includes an interview with the author, in association with an affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book. Rep. Pete Stauber of Minnesota reads from "Boo Boo Bear Mission: The True Story of a Teddy Bear's Adventures in Iraq" by Mary Linda...
    • Contributor: Sather, Mary Linda - Hopkins, Alayne - Stauber, Pete
    • Date: 2021-07-30
  • Film, Video
    Minnesota: It's Milking Time Listen to members of Congress read from their favorite books for young people in "Read Around the States." Each video includes an interview with the author, in association with an affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book. Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota's 6th Congressional District reads from "It's Milking Time" by Phyllis Alsdurf. Alayne Hopkins, director of programs and services at...
    • Contributor: Emmer, Rep. Tom - Alsdurf, Phyllis - Hopkins, Alayne
    • Date: 2021-06-29
  • Film, Video
    Rhode Island: Layla's Happiness Listen to members of Congress read from their favorite books for young people in "Read Around the States." Each video includes an interview with the author, in association with an affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book. Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island reads from "Layla's Happiness" by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie. Kate Lentz, director of the Rhode Island Center for the...
    • Contributor: Lentz, Kate - Reed, Sen. Jack - Ekere Tallie, Mariahadessa
    • Date: 2021-06-29
  • Film, Video
    Louisiana: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore Listen to members of Congress read from their favorite books for young people in "Read Around the States." Each video includes an interview with the author, in association with an affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana reads from "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore" by William Joyce. Jim Davis, director of the Louisiana...
    • Contributor: Joyce, William - Davis, Jim - Cassidy, Sen. Bill
    • Date: 2021-06-29
  • Film, Video
    Great American Translators Edith Grossman and Mario Vargas Llosa Nobel Prize in Literature recipient Mario Vargas Llosa and his longtime Spanish-to-English translator, Edith Grossman, discuss their work together. Throughout her celebrated career, Grossman has also translated works of other writers such as Gabriel Garcia Márquez, Mayra Montero and Miguel de Cervantes. This event is a Great American Translators segment of the Behind the Book series. These interviews focus on figures in publishing who...
    • Contributor: Vargas Llosa, Mario - Grossman, Edith
    • Date: 2021-06-24
  • Film, Video
    Paul Hendrickson on Frank Lloyd Wright Paul Hendrickson, author of "Plagued by Fire: The Dreams and Furies of Frank Lloyd Wright," discusses how his book was made through his use of the unparalleled collections of the Library of Congress. According to Hendrickson, Wright was plagued by fire both literally and metaphorically throughout his life.
    • Contributor: Encina, Roswell - Hendrickson, Paul - Johnson, Gary
    • Date: 2021-06-10
  • Film, Video
    Cathy Park Hong & Wayétu Moore: The Art of Memoir Poet Cathy Park Hong and novelist Wayétu Moore discuss how their memoirs give voice to history and speak to the present moment.
    • Contributor: Hong, Cathy Park - Casper, Robert - Moore, Wayétu
    • Date: 2021-05-27
  • Film, Video
    Pennsylvania: The Other Side Listen to members of Congress read from their favorite books for young people in "Read Around the States." Each video includes an interview with the author, in association with an affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania's 5th Congressional District reads from Jacqueline Woodson's "The Other Side," illustrated by E.B. Lewis. Karla Schmit, head of...
    • Contributor: Woodson, Jacqueline - Scanlon, Mary Gay - Schmit, Karla
    • Date: 2021-05-26
  • Film, Video
    Walter Isaacson on the Biomedical Future Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of "Leonardo da Vinci," "Einstein" and "Steve Jobs," discusses his new book, "The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing and the Future of the Human Race," with award-winning journalist Katherine Eban.
    • Contributor: Eban, Katherine - Isaacson, Walter
    • Date: 2021-05-20
  • Film, Video
    Jim Lee and Asian American Superheroes DC Chief Creative Officer and Publisher Jim Lee discusses his work in celebration of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. He will appear in conversation with illustrator Bernard Chang ("Generations Forged") and writers Sarah Kuhn ("Shadow of the Batgirl") and Minh Lê ("Green Lantern: Legacy"). This event is moderated by former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Gene Luen Yang ("Superman Smashes the Klan").
    • Contributor: Encina, Roswell - Lee, Jim - Kuhn, Sarah - Lê, Minh - Chang, Bernard - Yang, Gene Luen
    • Date: 2021-05-06
  • Film, Video
    Poetry Spotlight: Victoria Chang and Brenda Shaughnessy In honor of National Poetry Month, poets Victoria Chang and Brenda Shaughnessy discuss their poetry collections, which address issues of loss, fear and the future of the planet.
    • Contributor: Shaughnessy, Brenda - Holmes, Anne - Casper, Robert - Chang, Victoria
    • Date: 2021-04-29
  • Film, Video
    Lupita Nyong'o and Carla Hayden A fascinating conversation for young people with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and Lupita Nyong'o, Oscar-winning actor and author of the number one best-selling children's book "Sulwe."
    • Contributor: Nyong'o, Lupita - Hayden, Carla
    • Date: 2021-04-08
  • Film, Video
    Pop Life: Literature and Culture The Prize for American Fiction spring event features longtime friends Colson Whitehead and Kevin Young, a poet and the new director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, in a lively conversation on how pop culture influences art. Moderated by best-selling author and pop culture expert Isaac Fitzgerald.
    • Contributor: Fitzgerald, Isaac - Young, Kevin - Whitehead, Colson
    • Date: 2021-04-01