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Education Center

A drawing shows the design planned for the Library’s new Education Center, which includes brightly colored stations where visitors can explore the various kinds of collection items held by the Library and learn how to use them to conduct research.

A rendering of The Source, an interactive Education Center designed for children ages 8-13 and their families.

A drawing shows the design planned for the Box Bar section of The Source’s collections room with a desk labeled “Ask a Librarian” and shelves behind it filled with boxes that visitors can use to explore curated stories about research using Library resources.

A rendering of the Box Bar in the Source's Collections Room. This area allows visitors to explore curated stories of research conducted by both adults and children using Library resources.

A drawing shows the design planned for the area of the Creative Research Studio in the Education Center with a desk where visitors can explore the hands-on research products available and a wall labeled “What Will You Create” where people have posted cards describing what they want to create after their visit. There is a window on the wall that offers a view of the U.S. Capitol across the street from the Library’s Jefferson Building.

A rendering of an area in the Creative Research Studio where visitors can share their discoveries.

The Source: Creative Research Studio for Kids

The Library’s new education center, called The Source, will provide children ages 8 years and older and their families with a space to discover how information and research can nourish curiosity, creativity and change. The space also will host teens with special programming and volunteer and internship opportunities. Through dynamic interactive experiences, kids will explore the Library’s resources and discover their own researcher identity by exploring collections, finding and analyzing information and considering perspectives represented in the Library.

Before and After: Current Space and New Installation

  • A photo shows the Library Store, with tables containing books for sale and showcases that held jewelry and other small items for sale, which has been moved to a new location.
    Before: The current Library of Congress gift shop - soon to be The Source: Creative Research Studio for Kids.
  • A drawing shows the entrance of the Library’s planned education center, with an oversized, multi-sided card catalogue at its center that has boxes visitors can open to find activities they experience in the center. The whimsical design includes floating books, film reels, posters, and images that appear to fly out of the card catalogue.
    After: A rendering of the fanciful card catalog structure found in the welcome room of the Source education center.