Press Releases

May 8, 2023 (23-046)

Library of Congress Completes Digitization of Yongle Encyclopedia, Largest Reference Work of Pre-Modern Era The Library of Congress has completed a yearslong effort to digitize the Yongle Encyclopedia (Yongle dadian 永樂大典), the largest reference work created in pre-modern China, and possibly the world. Digital publication of the 41 volumes held in the Library’s collections provides open access to one of the most extensive attempts in world history to capture the entirety of human knowledge in book form.The massive…

Date: 2023-05-09

March 2, 2023 (23-023)

Library of Congress to Celebrate National Cherry Blossom Festival The Library of Congress will host its annual Japanese Culture Day in celebration of the 2023 National Cherry Blossom Festival, an annual commemoration of Japan’s 1912 gift to the U.S. of 3,020 cherry trees.Japanese Culture Day will take place at the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building on Saturday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring family activities, including Japanese harp performances, storytelling, and…

Date: 2023-03-03

March 22, 2021 (21-011)

Library Debuts New Video Series for 2021 National Cherry Blossom Festival The Library of Congress celebrates the 2021 National Cherry Blossom Festival by debuting a new video series that highlights both historic and contemporary traditions of springtime flower viewing. “Cherry Blossom Viewing over the Centuries” features three short films that showcase a stunning variety of artifacts from Library collections, including watercolor drawings, colorful woodblock prints, vintage photos and beautifully designed posters from Japanese and American…

Date: 2021-03-23

January 24, 2021 (21-003)

William Farquhar Correspondence and Other 19th Century Malay Letters Now Online at the Library of Congress The Library of Congress today announced the digitization of 46 Malay letters from the 19th century, mainly from Malay kings and Southeast Asian notables to William Farquhar, a pioneering British colonial administrator in Singapore (1819-1823), providing online access to an important resource on the founding of that country.The digitization comes ahead of the 202nd anniversary of the signing of the Singapore Treaty, which greenlighted…

Date: 2021-01-25

February 5, 2020 (20-001)

Library Announces Annual Cherry Blossom Festival Events The Library of Congress announces two cultural events during the 2020 National Cherry Blossom Festival, an annual commemoration of Japan’s 1912 gift to the U.S. of 3,020 cherry trees. An artwork display and book launch for “Cherry Blossoms: Sakura Collections from the Library of Congress” will kick off the Library’s celebration on Thursday, April 9. The gift book visualizes the fascinating history of cherry…

Date: 2020-02-06

September 23, 2019 (19-095)

Library to Mark 150th Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's Birth with Display of Special Collections A special display at the Library of Congress will mark the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth on Oct. 2, featuring a letter written in Gandhi’s hand, a rare copy of the Indian Constitution and other items exploring Gandhi’s influence on Martin Luther King Jr. and the U.S. civil rights movement.The one-day display from the Library’s collections will be presented Oct. 2 from 11…

Date: 2019-09-24

July 16, 2019 (19-071)

Library of Congress "Anime for All" Returns The exclusive screening of the newly released GKIDS animated film “Okko’s Inn” will highlight the Library of Congress’ “Anime for All” series, which is being presented in conjunction with Otakon, Washington, D.C.’s annual convention celebrating Asian pop culture (anime, manga, music, movies, video games, etc.) and its fandom. “Anime for All,” a celebration of East Asian culture, mythology, pop culture and inspiration, will be…

Date: 2019-07-17

May 5, 2019 (19-046)

Centuries of Rare Chinese Books Now Online at the Library of Congress In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage month, the Library of Congress has digitized and made available online 1,000 Chinese rare books produced before 1796. The Chinese Rare Book Digital Collection includes the most valuable titles and editions housed in the Library’s Asian Division, some of which date as far back as the 10th century and are the only extant copies in the world.This…

Date: 2019-05-06

April 25, 2019 (19-043)

Summer Is Coming: "Travel Around the World" Exploring Culture And Science through Library Events This summer, the Library of Congress will bring you a host of events on a variety of topics. Concerts, lectures, film screenings, symposiums and special events all fill the public events calendar. Events will take place in the Thomas Jefferson Building (10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C. 20540) or the James Madison Memorial Building (101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. 20540). Please note that…

Date: 2019-04-26

February 10, 2019 (19-012)

Library to Host Cherry Blossom Festival Events In honor of the annual celebration of Japan’s 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees, the Library of Congress announced that it will host two cultural events during the 2019 National Cherry Blossom Festival, the nation’s most celebrated springtime festivity. Japanese Culture Day will kick off the Library’s daylong celebration on Saturday, March 23, with a trove of family activities, including music, dancing, lectures and…

Date: 2019-02-11

January 21, 2019 (19-006)

Spring Is Coming: Symposiums and Celebrations Highlight the Library's Event Calendar This spring, the Library of Congress will bring you a host of events on a variety of topics. Concerts, lectures, film screenings, symposiums and special events all fill the public events calendar. Events will take place in the Thomas Jefferson Building (10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C. 20540) or the James Madison Memorial Building (101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. 20540). Please note that…

Date: 2019-01-22

July 5, 2018 (18-088)

Library of Congress Offers Unprecedented Access to North Korean Serial Collection Home to one of the most prominent North Korean collections in the Western Hemisphere, the Asian Division at the Library of Congress has rolled out the North Korean Serials Database, an online indexing tool that offers researchers enhanced access to periodicals and articles published as far back as the 1940s.The database contains 34,000 indexed records for articles in 18 journals from North Korea that…

Date: 2018-07-06

April 15, 2018 (18-042)

Library of Congress Digitizes Unique Japanese Censorship Collection The Library of Congress’ Asian Division has digitized its Japanese Censorship Collection, a unique online archive comprising more than 1,000 marked-up copies of government-censored monographs and galley proofs from the 1920s and 1930s in Japan. The collection, originally from the Home Ministry’s library, reveals traces of the otherwise-hidden censorship process of the Japanese government through marginal notes, stamps, penciled lines and commentary inscribed by…

Date: 2018-04-16

March 22, 2018 (18-031)

The Library's Spring Fling Pop-Up Exhibition Blooms on Capitol Hill The Library of Congress is bringing the feeling of spring to Capitol Hill with a display that explores the history of the beloved Japanese cherry blossoms and the living history of the National Cherry Blossom Festival through archival objects, photographs and art.The Library is hosting “LOC Spring Fling,” a pop-up exhibition exploring the sights, sounds and smells of the spring season through treasures from…

Date: 2018-03-23

March 7, 2018 (18-017)

Library of Congress Offers Free Spring Activities Spring season brings warm temperatures, fresh flowers and free Library of Congress programming celebrating women in history, poetry, literature, art and science while introducing patrons to international culture and history with lectures, symposiums, book talks and a pop-up display.The Library recently announced the official events that will be held in conjunction with the National Cherry Blossom Festival , as well as a host of…

Date: 2018-03-08

December 7, 2017 (17-176)

Spend the Chilly Months Inside the Library of Congress This winter season, the Library will host a multitude of free programming that highlight musical genius, showcase film, open the doors of the Main Reading Room and introduces patrons to a world of knowledge and recent findings with lectures, symposiums and book talks. Winter is the perfect time for music enthusiasts to reserve their tickets for the spring “Concerts from the Library of Congress”…

Date: 2017-12-08

September 10, 2017 (17-118)

Autumn Events at the Library of Congress The Library of Congress will host an array of programming this fall season that celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, welcomes a new poet laureate and introduces new ways to experience the nation’s library through author talks, tours and online offerings. After opening with a spectacular 2017 National Book Festival, the Library is following up with a commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month, beginning Sept. 15 with…

Date: 2017-09-11

July 26, 2017 (17-104)

Library of Congress Junior Fellows Display Collection Treasures The Library of Congress Junior Fellows Summer Interns yesterday presented more than150 rare and unique items from 15 Library divisions. “Display Day” was open to the public for the first time since the program’s inauguration in 1991.The display provides the opportunity for fellows to discuss the historic significance of the collection items they have researched and processed during their 10-week internships. Examples included:An early…

Date: 2017-07-27

January 26, 2017 (17-011)

Library to Host Events in Celebration of National Cherry Blossom Festival The Library of Congress will host Japanese Culture Day on March 25 and a panel discussion on bonsai trees on April 11, in conjunction with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the annual celebration in Washington, D.C., of its gift of cherry trees from Japan.Japanese Culture Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 25 in the Young Readers Center…

Date: 2017-01-27

September 1, 2016 (16-149)

Ko Un, Acclaimed Korean Poet, to Read at Library Sept. 19 The Library of Congress will present Ko Un, a distinguished Korean poet, in a reading on Sept. 19. Ko will read his poetry in Korean and Brother Anthony of Taizé will read the English translations.

Date: 2016-09-02

May 30, 2016 (16-094)

Library of Congress Appoints Junior Fellows to 2016 Summer Intern Program A panel of Library curators and specialists has selected 38 undergraduate and graduate students from among nearly 800 applicants to participate in the Library’s 2016 Junior Fellows Summer Intern Program.

Date: 2016-05-31

January 25, 2015 (15-014)

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.

Date: 2015-01-26

October 19, 2014 (14-185)

Library of Congress to Host International Writing Program Showcase Nov. 6 Sixteen writers from the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program (IWP) will be featured at the Library of Congress inaugural “International Writers Program Showcase” on Nov. 6.

Date: 2014-10-20

September 18, 2014 (14-169)

New Book on Gandhi to be Discussed on his Birthday, Oct. 2 The Library of Congress will mark Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday (Oct. 2, 1869) by presenting a book talk by Nalini Natarajan, author of “Atlantic Gandhi: The Mahatma Overseas.”

Date: 2014-09-19

February 9, 2014 (14-016)

Library of Congress 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 2014 National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Date: 2014-02-10

May 28, 2013 (13-111)

Library of Congress Appoints Junior Fellows to 2013 Summer Intern Program A panel of Library curators and specialists has selected 41 college students from among more than 1,100 applicants to participate in the Library’s 2013 Junior Fellows Summer Intern Program.

Date: 2013-05-29

May 9, 2013 (13-094)

Adoption from China Subject of May 29 Lecture The Library of Congress Asian Division will sponsor a lecture and book signing by British-Chinese broadcast journalist and writer Xinran on May 29.

Date: 2013-05-10

May 7, 2013 (13-088)

Ertai Gao to Discuss Chinese Literature and the Popularization Of Ancient Buddhist Works Found in Dunhuang t noon on Friday, May 24, Chinese aestheticist, artist, poet and philosopher Ertai Gao will come to the Library of Congress to discuss the Dunhuang works and the effort to popularize the Buddhist themes in these documents among today’s audiences.

Date: 2013-05-08

February 24, 2013 (13-032)

Library of Congress 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 National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Date: 2013-02-25

January 17, 2013 (13-010)

John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress Announces Winter/Spring 2013 Lecture Season The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress has announced its lecture series for winter/spring 2013.

Date: 2013-01-18

August 23, 2012 (12-161)

Lecture on Benazir Bhutto and Pakistan Democracy, Sept. 12 The Library will present a 90-minute lecture titled “Benazir Bhutto: Struggle for Democracy in Pakistan” at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 12.

Date: 2012-08-24

March 13, 2012 (12-055)

Garrett Hongo to Discuss Asian-American Poetry, April 13 Contemporary Asian-American poetry will be the focus of a reading and discussion by Japanese-American poet Garrett Hongo at the Library of Congress on April 13.

Date: 2012-03-14

March 11, 2012 (12-051)

Library of Congress Announces New Asian Division Chief Dongfang Shao, director of the East Asia Library at Stanford University since 2003, has been appointed chief of the Asian Division of the Library of Congress.

Date: 2012-03-12

February 29, 2012 (12-044)

Library of Congress Will Offer Lectures and Tours Related to Cherry Blossoms Exhibition The Library of Congress, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Tokyo’s gift of 3,000 flowering cherry trees to Washington, D.C., will open an exhibition on March 20 and hold events related to the exhibition throughout the spring and summer.

Date: 2012-03-01

February 15, 2012 (12-039)

Library Display on Sun Yat-sen's Life and Legacy Marks Centennial of the Republic of China “Sun Yat-sen: His Life and Legacy” will be on display in the Library's Asian Reading Room March 10-17.

Date: 2012-02-16

February 7, 2012 (12-028)

"Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship" Exhibition at Library of Congress The Library of Congress will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the gift with an exhibition titled “Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship,” opening on March 20.

Date: 2012-02-08

October 5, 2011 (11-192)

Asian Adoptees Are Subject of Oct. 25 Lecture, Panel Discussion The Library of Congress and Asian American Association will sponsor a lecture and panel discussion on the phenomenon of Asian adoptees on Oct. 25

Date: 2011-10-06

September 18, 2011 (11-172)

Jewish Migration to China, 1845-1940, Is Subject of Oct. 4 Lecture Liliane Willens, author of the recently published memoir “Stateless in Shanghai,” will discuss “The Three Waves of Jewish Migration to China, 1845-1940,” at the Library on Oct. 4.

Date: 2011-09-19

September 15, 2011 (11-171)

Contemporary Poetry from China: A Reading and Discussion, Oct. 12 The Library of Congress will focus on contemporary poetry from China, with a reading and discussion by two Chinese poets on Oct. 12.

Date: 2011-09-16

August 10, 2011 (11-146)

Library's 2011 Florence Tan Moeson Fellows Announced The Library has selected seven individuals to receive the 2011 Florence Tan Moeson Fellowship. Under this program, scholars have the opportunity to conduct research using the Library’s Asian collections.

Date: 2011-08-11

July 14, 2011 (11-133)

New Anthology of Asian American Plays Is Subject of Book Talk July 27 Editor Rick Shiomi, on behalf of co-editors Josephine Lee and Don Eitel, will discuss their new anthology “Asian American Plays for a New Generation” on July 27.

Date: 2011-07-15

February 14, 2011 (11-033)

25th Anniversary of Philippine Revolution To be Marked With Program, Display in the Asian Reading Room The Library of Congress Asian Division will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled Marcos’ 20-year regime with a program.

Date: 2011-02-15

November 18, 2010 (10-262)

Mongolian Americans Are Subject of Dec. 3 Program “Cultural Stewardship in Mongolian American Communities” will be the subject of a lecture by Alicia Campi, at the Library of Congress at noon on Friday, Dec. 3.

Date: 2010-11-19

October 11, 2010 (10-230)

Asian Adoptees Are Subject of Oct. 19 Book Talk, Panel Discussion The Library of Congress Asian Division and Asian American Association will sponsor a book talk and panel discussion on Tuesday, Oct. 19.

Date: 2010-10-12

September 2, 2010 (10-191)

Confucian Genealogy To Be Presented to the Library of Congress at Sept. 11 Program Honoring the Chinese Philosopher On Oct. 28, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H. Res. 784, to honor the 2560th anniversary of the birth of Confucius and recognize his global contributions to philosophy and social and political thought.

Date: 2010-09-03

May 13, 2010 (10-118)

Library's 2010 Florence Tan Moeson Fellows Announced The Library has selected nine individuals to receive 2010 Florence Tan Moeson Fellowships. Under this program, scholars have the opportunity to conduct research using the Library’s Asian collections.

Date: 2010-05-14

May 2, 2010 (10-102)

Library's Japanese Collection Past, Present and Future Subject of Display, Symposium The Library’s Japanese collection, consisting of more than 1.17 million items, is the largest and most comprehensive collection of its kind outside of the country of origin. Selected treasures from the collection are the focus of a new Library display titled “Japanese Collection at the Library of Co

Date: 2010-05-03

April 15, 2010 (10-075)

First Japanese Diplomatic Mission to U.S. Is Subject of May 24 Lecture “Samurai 150! The First Japanese Diplomatic Mission to the U.S. in 1860,” will be held at the Library of Congress from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 24, in the Mumford Room, located on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.

Date: 2010-04-16

April 15, 2010 (10-083)

Library of Congress to Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Asian Pacific American Heritage Month will be celebrated by the Library of Congress during the month of May with several events and a web presentation.

Date: 2010-04-16

February 17, 2010 (10-031)

The Lost Kingdom of Sikkim is Subject of Illustrated Presentation At the Library of Congress on March 13 The Library’s Asian Division and Prints and Photographs Division will present “A Tour of the Lost Kingdom: Sikkim” at the Library of Congress at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 13, in Room LJ-119 of the Thomas Jefferson Building, located at 10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C.

Date: 2010-02-18

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