Library of Congress Partners With Eastern Oklahoma Library System To Create Digital Experience with Community Members
The Library of Congress in partnership with the Eastern Oklahoma Library System opened an immersive experience called “Memories in the Current” in Muskogee, Oklahoma on May 16. Library of Congress staff created this new experience in the Muskogee Public Library where visitors can encounter rivers of text projected across the walls and floors, carrying the memories of local Oklahoma residents alongside historical accounts from…
Date:2026-05-28
May 20, 2026
(26-038)
Library to Add Cutting-Edge Molecular Data Storage Device Carrying Digitized Collections to America’s Time Capsule
The nation’s oldest federal cultural institution is using some of the newest technology to preserve digital copies of historical collection items for the next 250 years. As part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, the Library of Congress will make a trailblazing contribution to the America250 Time Capsule in Philadelphia in July: a tiny metal vial holding synthetic DNA encoded with digital copies from the…
Date:2026-05-20
May 19, 2026
(26-039)
BUILDING ACCESS: Memorial Day
The Thomas Jefferson building of the Library of Congress will be open to visitors with timed-entry tickets from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Other buildings and ALL reading rooms are closed in observance of the federal holiday, and there will be no research availability or reader registration on this date.Regularly scheduled access resumes on Tuesday, May 26.
Date:2026-05-19
May 14, 2026
(26-037)
National Recording Registry Inducts Sounds of Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, The Go-Go’s, Vince Gill, Weezer, Reba McEntire and More
Taylor Swift’s transformative pop album “1989,” Beyoncé’s standout “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” The Go-Go’s debut album “Beauty and the Beat,” Vince Gill’s signature “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” Weezer’s self-titled debut “Weezer (The Blue Album),” Chaka Khan’s crossover hit “I Feel for You,” and Broadway’s original cast album of “Chicago” have been selected as some of the defining sounds of…
Date:2026-05-14
May 7, 2026
(26-030)
Library of Congress Announces Awards for Federal Library Excellence
The Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK) has announced the winners of its national awards for federal librarianship. These awards celebrate the innovative ways federal libraries, librarians, and library technicians serve with distinction and meet the information demands of the government, business and scholarly communities, and the American public.FEDLINK's members represent the five national libraries — the Library of Congress, National Library of Medicine,…
Date:2026-05-07
May 5, 2026
(26-035)
Library Unveils The Source, a New Experiential Gallery for Young Researchers
The Library of Congress will launch The Source: Where Curiosity Sparks Discovery, a first-of-its-kind experiential research gallery designed for children and teens ages 8 to 15 on May 9. The new gallery reimagines how young people connect with history, inviting them to explore the Library’s vast collections and to create their own meaning through hands-on discovery.At its core, The Source introduces young people to…
Date:2026-05-05
April 2026
April 30, 2026
(26-034)
Library Opens Applications for Archie Green Cultural Documentation Program
The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress is seeking applications for the new Archie Green Cultural Documentation Program, a grant program created to support community-led efforts to document their cultural traditions, practices and experiences.The American Folklife Center seeks proposals from individuals or organizations that will support community-led contemporary cultural documentation and research. Funded projects will result in archival collections preserved at the…
Date:2026-04-30
April 29, 2026
(26-032)
Annual Summer Movies on the Lawn to Present National Film Registry Selections
The Library of Congress will host its annual Summer Movies on the Lawn series starting on July 9. The series featuring films from the Library’s National Film Registry will be presented Thursday evenings at sundown on the southeast lawn of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building.This year’s summer film series is part of the Library’s celebration of the nation’s semiquincentennial, America 250: It’s Your Story.The…
Date:2026-04-29
April 23, 2026
(26-028)
Live! At the Library Features Mac Barnett, Geraldine Brooks, American Landscapes, Fashion Dolls and More in May
To celebrate the opening of the Library of Congress’ new experiential research gallery, The Source: Where Curiosity Sparks Discovery, bestselling author and 2025–2026 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett will champion the power and joy of imagination, discovery and storytelling. During Live! At the Library on May 7, Barnett will discuss his new book for adults, "Make Believe: On Telling Stories to…
Date:2026-04-23
April 15, 2026
(26-029)
Library of Congress and National Park Service Announce 2025 Holland Prize Winners
The Library of Congress and the National Park Service announced today the winners of the 2025 Leicester B. Holland Prize, an annual competition that recognizes the best single-sheet measured drawing of a historic building, site or structure prepared to the standards of the Historic American Buildings Survey.The first-place award was presented to Dewey Ervin Jr., principal of Saluda Architecture, for his documentation of Roseneath…
Date:2026-04-15
April 14, 2026
(26-031)
U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze Appointed for a Second Term
This National Poetry Month, the Library of Congress has appointed Arthur Sze to serve a second term as the nation’s 25th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2026-2027, the Library announced today.Sze, who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was named poet laureate in September 2025 and began working to expand appreciation of poetry through his focus on translating poetry originally written in languages…
Date:2026-04-14
April 9, 2026
(26-026)
Library Unveils Spring, Summer Lineup for Family Days in May, June and July
The Library of Congress is hosting monthly Family Days on select Saturdays throughout 2026, featuring programs tied to America’s 250th anniversary. Upcoming themes include the grand opening of The Source, the Library’s new experiential research gallery for young people, as well as 250 years of American fashion, and the Declaration of Independence.Families and visitors of all ages are invited to explore exhibitions in the…
Date:2026-04-09
March 2026
March 31, 2026
(26-025)
Library to Launch New Experiential Research Gallery for Young People
The Library of Congress will host a media preview of its new experiential research gallery, The Source: Where Curiosity Sparks Discovery, on May 5. This is a new learning space where children and teens, their families, and school groups can explore items from the Library’s primary source collections and build meaning through research and discovery. The Source opens to the public May 9.Created with…
Music and Poetry Take the Stage during Live! At the Library This April
The Library of Congress and the Washington National Opera will bring one of Broadway's most beloved masterpieces to life on April 23, with a special preview performance and discussion of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's landmark musical "West Side Story" during Live! At the Library in April. The papers of both Bernstein and Sondheim are held in the Library's Music Division.U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur…
Date:2026-03-19
March 5, 2026
(26-021)
Library Acquires Early Yosemite Drawing and Rare 1855 Lithograph
The Library of Congress has acquired one of the earliest known drawings of Yosemite Valley and a rare companion lithograph, both created in 1855 by artist Thomas Almond Ayres, significantly expanding the Library’s representation of one of America’s most iconic landscapes. These foundational images will be made widely available online, for researchers and the public worldwide.The drawing, titled “The High Falls, Valley of the…
Date:2026-03-05
March 3, 2026
(26-017)
Library of Congress Opens Search for Next Innovator in Residence
Library of Congress Opens Search for Next Innovator in ResidenceThe Library of Congress is looking for its next Innovator in Residence. Through April 10, 2026, the Library invites technologists, artists and other creative visionaries to propose imaginative proof of concepts designed to help the public connect with digital Library materials.The 2026-2027 Library of Congress Innovator in Residence will work with the Library’s Digital Innovation…
Date:2026-03-03
March 2, 2026
(26-020)
2026 Supreme Court Fellows Program Annual Lecture to Feature U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett
The Law Library of Congress and the Supreme Court Fellows Program will present a conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett for the 2026 Supreme Court Fellows Program Annual Lecture on Thursday, March 12, at 3 p.m. EDT.Barrett was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Jan. 28, 1972. She married Jesse M. Barrett in 1999, and they have seven children. She received…
Date:2026-03-02
February 2026
February 25, 2026
(26-019)
Explore the History of Children’s Literature in New Collection Close-Up Book
From Puritan primers to Percy Jackson, “Tell Me a Story: Fantastic Children’s Books from the Library of Congress” explores the Library’s extensive children’s literature collections, turning up gems from the colonial era to the present. This newest book in the Library’s Collection Close-Up series publishes Feb. 25.“Tell Me a Story” reimagines the canon of American children’s literature while tracing the evolution of literary, artistic…
Date:2026-02-25
February 24, 2026
(26-018)
American Folklife Center Opens 50th Anniversary with Symposium on COVID-19 and Cultural Heritage
The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress will launch its 50th anniversary celebrations with a two-day symposium titled “From Lived Experience to Public Memory: Commemorating, Documenting, and Archiving Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The symposium will take place Thursday, March 12, and Friday, March 13, in the Mumford Room of the Library’s Madison Building.The symposium is presented as part of the American…
Library to Host 26th National Book Festival in August 2026
Library to Host 26th National Book Festival in August 2026Festival Set for Aug. 22, 2026, at the Washington Convention CenterThe Library of Congress will host the 2026 National Book Festival on Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Washington Convention Center, festival organizers announced today.The 2026 Library of Congress National Book Festival is part of the Library’s celebration of the nation’s semiquincentennial, America 250: It’s Your…
Date:2026-02-17
February 13, 2026
(26-013)
Library to Open New Experiential Gallery for Children and Teens This Spring
The Library of Congress is developing a new experiential gallery designed to invite children and teens with their families and school groups, investigate primary source collections and build meaning through research and discovery. Developed with kids and for kids, the new learning space, The Source: Where Curiosity Sparks Discovery, will open in May.As educational institutions across the country seek creative ways to engage young…
Date:2026-02-13
February 11, 2026
(26-011)
2026 Tour Dates Announced for National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett
National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett is set to embark on a 2026 tour for his initiative, “Behold, the Picture Book! Let’s Celebrate Stories We Can Feel, Hear, and See.” Barnett will travel to Chattanooga, Tennessee; Duluth, Minnesota; and Bar Harbor/Milbridge, Maine in the spring, and Cody, Wyoming, and Ogden, Utah in the fall. With this initiative, Barnett explores the power of…
Date:2026-02-11
February 10, 2026
(26-010)
Library of Congress and National Tour of ‘The Sound of Music’ Announce First-of-Its-Kind Collaboration
In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, the Library of Congress and the national tour of “The Sound of Music” are presenting “Inside the Vault,” a new traveling and virtual display that offers a rare look at the creation of one of the most beloved musicals of all time.Launching in conjunction with the North American tour of “The Sound of Music,” “Inside the Vault” invites audiences to…
Date:2026-02-10
February 6, 2026
(26-014)
Library Announces Copyright Public Modernization Committee Meeting Feb. 25
The Library of Congress will host the next meeting of the Copyright Public Modernization Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. ET. This virtual meeting will be free and open to the public.This meeting will feature remarks from Library of Congress and Copyright Office leadership about recent progress on the development of the Enterprise Copyright System. Copyright Public Modernization Committee members and public…
Date:2026-02-06
February 4, 2026
(26-007)
Library to Host Monthly Saturday Family Days in 2026
The Library of Congress will host monthly Family Days on select Saturdays throughout 2026, including programming focused on America’s 250th anniversary. The year begins with events exploring President George Washington’s birthday, maps, and birds found in the Library’s architecture and collections. In 2026, the Library is commemorating America’s 250th anniversary under the theme It’s Your Story, offering an opportunity for everyone to discover part…
Date:2026-02-04
January 2026
January 30, 2026
(26-008)
Library Names 25 Films to the National Film Registry for Preservation
The Library of Congress has selected 25 films for the National Film Registry due to their cultural, historic or aesthetic importance to preserve the nation’s film heritage, the Library announced today.The selections for 2025 date back to the silent film era with six silent films dating from 1896 to 1926 – a significant number of films in this class. The newest film added to…
Date:2026-01-30
January 27, 2026
(20-009)
Library of Congress Celebrates Composer Frederick Loewe Collection with Concert of Legendary Broadway Songs and Rare Selections
Tony Award-winning music director Ted Sperling conducts a stellar cast that includes Broadway’s Scarlett Strallen, Bryonha Marie Parham and John Riddle in celebration of the Frederick Loewe Collection at the Library of Congress. Loewe’s legendary Broadway shows include “Brigadoon,” “Camelot” and “My Fair Lady,” and his memorable songs like “I Could Have Danced All Night,” and “If Ever I Would Leave You” have become…
Date:2026-01-27
January 22, 2026
(26-003)
Celebrate Black History Month and Valentine's Day during Live! At the Library in February
Visitors are invited to celebrate Valentine's season with romantic Café Concerts during Live! At the Library throughout the month of February. Guests are encouraged to grab a drink and enjoy these intimate performances in the Great Hall, creating the perfect backdrop for a memorable date night at the Library of Congress. Café Concerts include Danny Villanueva, QuinTango and Baltimore's Big Cricket String Band. On…
Date:2026-01-22
January 15, 2026
(26-006)
Library of Congress Video Series ‘American Stories: A Reading Road Trip’ on PBS Books Explores Literary Heritage of United States
The Library of Congress, in partnership with its Affiliate Centers for the Book and PBS Books, has launched the new video series “American Stories: A Reading Road Trip.” The cross-country streaming series uncovers the literary treasures of individual states and territories within the United States and the expansive storied heritage of the country.Timed with America's 250th birthday, each installment of “American Stories: A Reading…
Library of Congress Celebrates America’s 250 Years
Throughout 2026, the Library of Congress invites all Americans to further appreciate the nation’s history by exploring the Library’s collections and expertise through exhibitions and dynamic programming. The Library will commemorate America’s 250th anniversary under the theme It’s Your Story, offering an opportunity for everyone to discover part of America’s story within the world’s largest research collections.The 225-year-old Library of Congress serves Congress and…
Date:2026-01-12
January 7, 2026
(26-002)
Library of Congress Announces Winter-Spring 2026 Concert Season
Concerts from the Library of Congress launches an exciting, yearlong America 250 celebration this January, presenting a broad panorama of the nation’s music in concerts and conversations, lectures, film screenings, educational programs and more. Special projects delve into the Library’s collections to explore American creativity in classical music and jazz, opera and musical theater, popular music and dance.April features the world premieres of two…
Date:2026-01-07
December 2025
December 18, 2025
(25-074)
Explore the Creation of “Oz” and Experience Poetry and Music During Live! At the Library in January
Visitors can mark the 125th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz” and explore the book’s legacy on stage and screen while viewing a special display at the Library of Congress during Live! At the Library in January. “The Music of Oz” includes reproductions of music and lyric manuscripts, costume designs and photographs from films and musicals inspired by the book, including the 1939 film,…
Date:2025-12-18
December 15, 2025
(25-075)
U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze Announces the Publication of ‘Transient Worlds,’ His Personal Guide to Poetry in Translation
Arthur Sze, the nation’s 25th U.S. Poet Laureate, will publish a new book as a focus of his laureateship: “Transient Worlds,” his personal guide to global poetry in translation. Published by Copper Canyon Press in association with the Library of Congress on April 14, 2026, “Transient Worlds” will take readers through 1,500 years of poetry from around the world and will feature translations into…
Date:2025-12-15
December 11, 2025
(25-073)
Library Innovator in Residence Launches Mobile Self-Guided Community Adventures
Artist, developer and 2025 Library of Congress Innovator in Residence Vivian Li is inviting the public to explore three American communities with Anywhere Adventures, a new interactive mobile website that showcases local history through items from the Library's digital collections. The web application launches on December 11, 2025, offering users their first opportunity to engage with these curated historical experiences.In addition to Li’s hometown…
Date:2025-12-11
December 9, 2025
(25-A06)
Special Operating Hours, Dec. 2025-Jan. 2026
The following is the holiday and special events operation schedule, including building closures for inclement weather, for the Library of Congress for December 2025 through January 2026:Wednesday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve)All Library buildings will be CLOSED.Thursday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)All Library buildings will be CLOSED.Friday, Dec. 26All Library buildings will be CLOSED.The Library’s public spaces and reading rooms will operate as usual during its…
Date:2025-12-09
December 2, 2025
(25-068)
Library Celebrates a New School Year, Hosting Two Albert Einstein Fellows
The Library of Congress has announced it is hosting two Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows for the 2025-2026 school year. Fellows work closely with the Library’s Professional Learning and Outreach Initiatives Office and Informal Learning Office to make primary sources from the Library’s collections more accessible and useful for educators in science, technology, engineering and math across the country.Lora Taylor and Michael Lowry, both…
Date:2025-12-02
November 2025
November 24, 2025
(25-072)
Seventh Annual Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film Awarded to “American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez”
The Library of Congress, The Better Angels Society, Ken Burns and the Crimson Lion/Lavine Family Foundation have announced the winner of the seventh annual Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film (Prize for Film): “American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez.” The film, which examines the extraordinary life of renowned playwright and screenwriter Luis Valdez and was directed by David Alvarado, was awarded…
Date:2025-11-24
November 20, 2025
(25-070)
Celebrate the Holidays During Live! At The Library in December
Visitors are invited to ring in the holidays at Live! At the Library’s holiday celebration on Dec. 4. Enjoy festive happy hour food and drinks, winter crafts and live music while enjoying the most beautiful Christmas tree in Washington, D.C.On Dec. 11, Live! At the Library presents poet Arthur Sze in his inaugural reading as the 25th U.S. Poet Laureate at the Library of…
Date:2025-11-20
November 20, 2025
(25-071)
U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze to Launch Laureateship with Inaugural Reading, Translation Programs
U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze will open his tenure in December with a workshop and reading focused on poetry translation at Queens College of the City University of New York, in the borough where he grew up, followed by his inaugural reading at the Library of Congress on Dec. 11 (rescheduled from October) and two poetry translation workshops in Sze’s hometown of Santa Fe,…
Date:2025-11-20
October 2025
October 1, 2025
(25-A05)
Advisory: Federal Government Shutdown
Due to the temporary shutdown of the federal government, all Library buildings are closed, all public events are canceled, and all inquiries and requests to the Library of Congress web-based services will not be received or responded to until the shutdown ends.Also, any inquiries or requests to the Library of Congress web-based services will not be received or responded to until the shutdown ends.…
Date:2025-10-01
September 2025
September 29, 2025
(25-66)
Library of Congress Acquires Historic Photography Collection from Pittsburgh
The Library of Congress has acquired a historical collection of amateur photographic prints from the Photographic Section of the Academy of Science and Art of Pittsburgh, one of the nation’s oldest continuously operating photography clubs.The collection includes approximately 700 prints that were exhibited in the organization’s salons held annually from 1914 through 1980, along with a full run of salon catalogs. While many works…
Date:2025-09-29
September 29, 2025
(25-A04)
Advisory: Possible Federal Government Shutdown
In the event of a temporary shutdown of the federal government effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, all Library of Congress buildings will be CLOSED to the public and researchers.All public events will be cancelled. Also, all inquiries and requests to the Library of Congress web-based services will not be received or responded to until the shutdown ends. Information on loc.gov will not be…
Date:2025-09-29
September 25, 2025
(25-064)
Library To Host Monthly Fall and Winter Family Days
The Library of Congress will host monthly Family Days on select Saturdays throughout the fall and winter season, including programming focused on comics, Thanksgiving and harvest festivals, winter holidays, and George Washington’s Birthday.Families and visitors of all ages are invited to participate in collections-based activities for budding researchers and explore exhibitions on display in the Thomas Jefferson Building. Each program includes a creative activity,…
Date:2025-09-25
September 25, 2025
(25-069)
Library of Congress to Host 2025 Congress.gov Public Forum Sept. 30
The Library of Congress invites members of the public to join the 2025 Congress.gov Public Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET.The authoritative source for U.S. federal legislative information, Congress.gov is developed and maintained by the Library of Congress in close partnership with the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Government Publishing Office. Since 2020, the…
Date:2025-09-25
September 23, 2025
(25-058)
Collection Close-Up Book Celebrates the History of the Library’s Groundbreaking Concert Series
The Library of Congress is publishing a new book celebrating the rich history of its world-renowned Concerts from the Library of Congress series, founded in 1925 by philanthropist Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge. Co-authored by Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres and David H. Plylar of the Library’s Music Division, “Let the People Hear It: Concerts from the Library of Congress at 100” shares the story of this remarkable…
Date:2025-09-23
September 18, 2025
(25-065)
Live! At the Library Presents Kate McKinnon and Poet Laureate Arthur Sze in October
Bestselling author Kate McKinnon, the award-winning actress, comedian and “Saturday Night Live” alum, will appear at Live! At the Library on Oct. 2 for an exciting discussion about her children’s book series "The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science" and its latest entry, "Secrets of the Purple Pearl." On Oct. 9, Live! At the Library presents poet Arthur Sze…
Date:2025-09-18
September 15, 2025
(25-062)
Library of Congress Names Arthur Sze the Nation's 25th U.S. Poet Laureate
The Library of Congress today announced the appointment of Arthur Sze as the nation’s 25th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2025-2026.The winner of the Library’s 2024 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry, Sze will begin his laureateship with a reading of his work on Thursday, Oct. 9, in the Library’s historic Coolidge Auditorium, and free tickets will be available on loc.gov starting…
May 14, 2026 (26-037)National Recording Registry Inducts Sounds of Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, The Go-Go’s, Vince Gill, Weezer, Reba McEntire and More Taylor Swift’s transformative pop album “1989,” Beyoncé’s standout “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” The Go-Go’s debut album “Beauty and the Beat,” Vince Gill’s signature “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” Weezer’s self-titled debut “Weezer (The Blue Album),” Chaka Khan’s crossover hit “I Feel for You,” and Broadway’s original cast album of “Chicago” have been selected as some of the defining sounds of…
May 7, 2026 (26-030)Library of Congress Announces Awards for Federal Library Excellence The Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK) has announced the winners of its national awards for federal librarianship. These awards celebrate the innovative ways federal libraries, librarians, and library technicians serve with distinction and meet the information demands of the government, business and scholarly communities, and the American public.FEDLINK's members represent the five national libraries — the Library of Congress, National Library of Medicine,…
May 5, 2026 (26-035)Library Unveils The Source, a New Experiential Gallery for Young Researchers The Library of Congress will launch The Source: Where Curiosity Sparks Discovery, a first-of-its-kind experiential research gallery designed for children and teens ages 8 to 15 on May 9. The new gallery reimagines how young people connect with history, inviting them to explore the Library’s vast collections and to create their own meaning through hands-on discovery.At its core, The Source introduces young people to…
April 30, 2026 (26-034)Library Opens Applications for Archie Green Cultural Documentation Program The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress is seeking applications for the new Archie Green Cultural Documentation Program, a grant program created to support community-led efforts to document their cultural traditions, practices and experiences.The American Folklife Center seeks proposals from individuals or organizations that will support community-led contemporary cultural documentation and research. Funded projects will result in archival collections preserved at the…
April 15, 2026 (26-029)Library of Congress and National Park Service Announce 2025 Holland Prize Winners The Library of Congress and the National Park Service announced today the winners of the 2025 Leicester B. Holland Prize, an annual competition that recognizes the best single-sheet measured drawing of a historic building, site or structure prepared to the standards of the Historic American Buildings Survey.The first-place award was presented to Dewey Ervin Jr., principal of Saluda Architecture, for his documentation of Roseneath…
April 9, 2026 (26-026)Library Unveils Spring, Summer Lineup for Family Days in May, June and July The Library of Congress is hosting monthly Family Days on select Saturdays throughout 2026, featuring programs tied to America’s 250th anniversary. Upcoming themes include the grand opening of The Source, the Library’s new experiential research gallery for young people, as well as 250 years of American fashion, and the Declaration of Independence.Families and visitors of all ages are invited to explore exhibitions in the…
March 31, 2026 (26-025)Library to Launch New Experiential Research Gallery for Young People The Library of Congress will host a media preview of its new experiential research gallery, The Source: Where Curiosity Sparks Discovery, on May 5. This is a new learning space where children and teens, their families, and school groups can explore items from the Library’s primary source collections and build meaning through research and discovery. The Source opens to the public May 9.Created with…
March 5, 2026 (26-021)Library Acquires Early Yosemite Drawing and Rare 1855 Lithograph The Library of Congress has acquired one of the earliest known drawings of Yosemite Valley and a rare companion lithograph, both created in 1855 by artist Thomas Almond Ayres, significantly expanding the Library’s representation of one of America’s most iconic landscapes. These foundational images will be made widely available online, for researchers and the public worldwide.The drawing, titled “The High Falls, Valley of the…
February 24, 2026 (26-018)American Folklife Center Opens 50th Anniversary with Symposium on COVID-19 and Cultural Heritage The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress will launch its 50th anniversary celebrations with a two-day symposium titled “From Lived Experience to Public Memory: Commemorating, Documenting, and Archiving Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The symposium will take place Thursday, March 12, and Friday, March 13, in the Mumford Room of the Library’s Madison Building.The symposium is presented as part of the American…
February 13, 2026 (26-013)Library to Open New Experiential Gallery for Children and Teens This Spring The Library of Congress is developing a new experiential gallery designed to invite children and teens with their families and school groups, investigate primary source collections and build meaning through research and discovery. Developed with kids and for kids, the new learning space, The Source: Where Curiosity Sparks Discovery, will open in May.As educational institutions across the country seek creative ways to engage young…
February 4, 2026 (26-007)Library to Host Monthly Saturday Family Days in 2026 The Library of Congress will host monthly Family Days on select Saturdays throughout 2026, including programming focused on America’s 250th anniversary. The year begins with events exploring President George Washington’s birthday, maps, and birds found in the Library’s architecture and collections. In 2026, the Library is commemorating America’s 250th anniversary under the theme It’s Your Story, offering an opportunity for everyone to discover part…
January 7, 2026 (26-002)Library of Congress Announces Winter-Spring 2026 Concert Season Concerts from the Library of Congress launches an exciting, yearlong America 250 celebration this January, presenting a broad panorama of the nation’s music in concerts and conversations, lectures, film screenings, educational programs and more. Special projects delve into the Library’s collections to explore American creativity in classical music and jazz, opera and musical theater, popular music and dance.April features the world premieres of two…
December 18, 2025 (25-074)Explore the Creation of “Oz” and Experience Poetry and Music During Live! At the Library in January Visitors can mark the 125th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz” and explore the book’s legacy on stage and screen while viewing a special display at the Library of Congress during Live! At the Library in January. “The Music of Oz” includes reproductions of music and lyric manuscripts, costume designs and photographs from films and musicals inspired by the book, including the 1939 film,…
December 15, 2025 (25-075)U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze Announces the Publication of ‘Transient Worlds,’ His Personal Guide to Poetry in Translation Arthur Sze, the nation’s 25th U.S. Poet Laureate, will publish a new book as a focus of his laureateship: “Transient Worlds,” his personal guide to global poetry in translation. Published by Copper Canyon Press in association with the Library of Congress on April 14, 2026, “Transient Worlds” will take readers through 1,500 years of poetry from around the world and will feature translations into…
December 11, 2025 (25-073)Library Innovator in Residence Launches Mobile Self-Guided Community Adventures Artist, developer and 2025 Library of Congress Innovator in Residence Vivian Li is inviting the public to explore three American communities with Anywhere Adventures, a new interactive mobile website that showcases local history through items from the Library's digital collections. The web application launches on December 11, 2025, offering users their first opportunity to engage with these curated historical experiences.In addition to Li’s hometown…
December 9, 2025 (25-A06)Special Operating Hours, Dec. 2025-Jan. 2026 The following is the holiday and special events operation schedule, including building closures for inclement weather, for the Library of Congress for December 2025 through January 2026:Wednesday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve)All Library buildings will be CLOSED.Thursday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)All Library buildings will be CLOSED.Friday, Dec. 26All Library buildings will be CLOSED.The Library’s public spaces and reading rooms will operate as usual during its…
December 2, 2025 (25-068)Library Celebrates a New School Year, Hosting Two Albert Einstein Fellows The Library of Congress has announced it is hosting two Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows for the 2025-2026 school year. Fellows work closely with the Library’s Professional Learning and Outreach Initiatives Office and Informal Learning Office to make primary sources from the Library’s collections more accessible and useful for educators in science, technology, engineering and math across the country.Lora Taylor and Michael Lowry, both…
November 24, 2025 (25-072)Seventh Annual Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film Awarded to “American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez” The Library of Congress, The Better Angels Society, Ken Burns and the Crimson Lion/Lavine Family Foundation have announced the winner of the seventh annual Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film (Prize for Film): “American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez.” The film, which examines the extraordinary life of renowned playwright and screenwriter Luis Valdez and was directed by David Alvarado, was awarded…
November 20, 2025 (25-070)Celebrate the Holidays During Live! At The Library in December Visitors are invited to ring in the holidays at Live! At the Library’s holiday celebration on Dec. 4. Enjoy festive happy hour food and drinks, winter crafts and live music while enjoying the most beautiful Christmas tree in Washington, D.C.On Dec. 11, Live! At the Library presents poet Arthur Sze in his inaugural reading as the 25th U.S. Poet Laureate at the Library of…
November 20, 2025 (25-071)U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze to Launch Laureateship with Inaugural Reading, Translation Programs U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze will open his tenure in December with a workshop and reading focused on poetry translation at Queens College of the City University of New York, in the borough where he grew up, followed by his inaugural reading at the Library of Congress on Dec. 11 (rescheduled from October) and two poetry translation workshops in Sze’s hometown of Santa Fe,…
September 29, 2025 (25-66)Library of Congress Acquires Historic Photography Collection from Pittsburgh The Library of Congress has acquired a historical collection of amateur photographic prints from the Photographic Section of the Academy of Science and Art of Pittsburgh, one of the nation’s oldest continuously operating photography clubs.The collection includes approximately 700 prints that were exhibited in the organization’s salons held annually from 1914 through 1980, along with a full run of salon catalogs. While many works…
September 29, 2025 (25-A04)Advisory: Possible Federal Government Shutdown In the event of a temporary shutdown of the federal government effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, all Library of Congress buildings will be CLOSED to the public and researchers.All public events will be cancelled. Also, all inquiries and requests to the Library of Congress web-based services will not be received or responded to until the shutdown ends. Information on loc.gov will not be…
September 25, 2025 (25-064)Library To Host Monthly Fall and Winter Family Days The Library of Congress will host monthly Family Days on select Saturdays throughout the fall and winter season, including programming focused on comics, Thanksgiving and harvest festivals, winter holidays, and George Washington’s Birthday.Families and visitors of all ages are invited to participate in collections-based activities for budding researchers and explore exhibitions on display in the Thomas Jefferson Building. Each program includes a creative activity,…
September 25, 2025 (25-069)Library of Congress to Host 2025 Congress.gov Public Forum Sept. 30 The Library of Congress invites members of the public to join the 2025 Congress.gov Public Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET.The authoritative source for U.S. federal legislative information, Congress.gov is developed and maintained by the Library of Congress in close partnership with the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Government Publishing Office. Since 2020, the…
September 23, 2025 (25-058)Collection Close-Up Book Celebrates the History of the Library’s Groundbreaking Concert Series The Library of Congress is publishing a new book celebrating the rich history of its world-renowned Concerts from the Library of Congress series, founded in 1925 by philanthropist Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge. Co-authored by Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres and David H. Plylar of the Library’s Music Division, “Let the People Hear It: Concerts from the Library of Congress at 100” shares the story of this remarkable…
September 18, 2025 (25-065)Live! At the Library Presents Kate McKinnon and Poet Laureate Arthur Sze in October Bestselling author Kate McKinnon, the award-winning actress, comedian and “Saturday Night Live” alum, will appear at Live! At the Library on Oct. 2 for an exciting discussion about her children’s book series "The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science" and its latest entry, "Secrets of the Purple Pearl." On Oct. 9, Live! At the Library presents poet Arthur Sze…
September 15, 2025 (25-062)Library of Congress Names Arthur Sze the Nation's 25th U.S. Poet Laureate The Library of Congress today announced the appointment of Arthur Sze as the nation’s 25th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2025-2026.The winner of the Library’s 2024 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry, Sze will begin his laureateship with a reading of his work on Thursday, Oct. 9, in the Library’s historic Coolidge Auditorium, and free tickets will be available on loc.gov starting…