The Library of Congress, which turns 225 next April, is nothing if not big. Inside its three massive buildings next to the Capitol and off-site storage in Virginia and Maryland lies something like 173 million items. The work is done by a staff of over 3,000. Research service is given to the 535 members of Congress and through the years countless patrons have used the library.
But as we learned and came to appreciate by reading a book about it, this beloved institution is more than just a library. With items and culture on display, it serves as a museum. By holding events, it is a public gathering place. The Copyright Office administers the national copyright system. Authors speak there about their books.
We gained our appreciation by reading a great (2017) book, “America’s Greatest Library, An Illustrated History of the Library of Congress.”
Author John Y. Cole (1940-) brought his 50 plus years of experience to the table. He served as Director of the Library’s Center for the Book from its founding in 1977 and until 2016. Cole helped establish the National Book Festival, served as First Chair of the LOC’s Literacy Awards, and became the LOC’s first Official Historian in 2016. An author of five other books covering the LOC, Cole retired in 2021.
A cherry on top is a Foreword by Carla Hayden (1952-), who has wonderfully led the LOC since 2016. She is the first woman and first African American Librarian of Congress.
We went through the timeline in the book and culled some noteworthy moments.
1801
Initial collection consists of 152 titles. Stored in office of the Secretary of Senate.
1815
LOC acquires personal library of Thomas Jefferson.
LOC temporary located on third floor of Blodgett’s Hotel at Seventh and E Streets NW.
1824
LOC moves to spacious new room in the center of the west front of the Capitol.
1851
A fire destroys LOC’s approximately 55,000 volumes, including nearly two-thirds of Jefferson’s library.
1853
New fireproof room built. Praised as “the largest room made of iron in the world.”
1865
Permission given to general public for use.
1897
LOC opens in new building. Named the Main Building until 1980 when renamed Thomas Jefferson building. 23-carat gold plated dome caps the “largest, costliest, and safest” library building in the world. Includes Court of Neptune Fountain, portrait busts of famous authors, and six lunettes in the Great Hall. Main Reading Room features semi-circular stained-glass windows.
1900
African American Daniel Murray compiles List of Books and Pamphlets by Negro Authors
1922
Harriet DeKraft Woods becomes LOC’s first woman superintendent of buildings and grounds.
1929
LOC begins supplying Dewey Decimal Classification numbers on its printed catalog cards.
1939
New six-floor Annex Building opens east of Jefferson Building. In 1980, named John Adams Building. Adams was also a book collector and signed the LOC’s founding legislation in 1800.
1941
Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, and Gutenberg Bible moved from Great Hall to more secure location outside of the city. Later revealed to be Fort Knox.
1942
Motion pictures collection started.
1945
LOC completes microfilming of slave narratives.
Book volume reaches 7M mark, staff of 1,200.
Work week shortened from six days a week, 13 hours a day, to five days a week, eight hours a day.
1983
LOC opens Mary Pickford Theater in Madison Building.
1951
Declaration of Independence and US Constitution transferred to National Archives.
1953
Publishers supply the LOC with advanced copies of their books and then print the card number preassigned by the LOC in the book.
Book collection reaches 10M and staff 1,600.
1964
First computer, a rented IBM1401 is installed.
1980
The James Madison Building, the LOC’s third building and one of the largest in Washington, opens south of the Jefferson Building.
1981
Online cataloging replaces the filing of cards system. There are 22 million catalog cards.
1993
LOC launches National Digital Library program.
2000
John W. Kluge donates $60M to the LOC, the largest private monetary donation ever given to the Library.
Veterans History Project established.
2001
With the help of Laura Bush, the National Book Festival is held at the LOC and on the east plaza and lawn of the Capitol.
2002
National Book Festival moves to the National Mall.
The Ask a Librarian service debuts on-line.
2005
StoryCorps launches its first cross-country tour in a converted Airstream trailer.
2007
Chronicling America, the National Digital Newspaper Program website of historical newspapers debuts online.
The new Campus for Audio-Visual opens in Culpeper, Virginia.
2009
LOC launches its World Digital Library, Twitter feed and YouTube Channel.
2010
Collector Thomas Liljenquist donates more than 500 ambrotype and tintype photographs of both Union and Confederate soldiers during the Civil War.
2012
LOC opens Books That Shaped America exhibit.
Natasha Trethewey, US Poet Laureate, meets with the public in the Library’s Poetry Room.
2015
The American Archive of Public Broadcasting is launched to save and make available significant at-risk historical public television and radio programs.
National Book Festival moves to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Librarian of Congress James Billington retires after 28 years at the helm and 42 years of public service in Washington.
2016
Collection reaches more than 162 million physical items.
Carla D. Hayden becomes the 14th Librarian of Congress. She is the first woman and the first African American to hold the esteemed position.
2017
“America’s Greatest Library, An Illustrated History of the Library of Congress” is published.
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