Ada Limón to Reveal Poem for NASA Europa Clipper Mission During Live at the Library in June
Juneteenth Celebrations to Highlight African American Photography Collections, Folk Music
During Live at the Library in June, U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón — recently reappointed for a historic two-year term — will unveil her original poem written for the NASA Europa Clipper mission. Plus, celebrations for the Juneteenth holiday will honor African American folk music and photography. Celebrate Pride with a concert saluting Billy Strayhorn on June 8, and view a display of LGBTQ+ collection items in the Great Hall.
On Thursday evenings, the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building and all exhibitions are open for extended hours from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Visitors are invited to enjoy happy hour drinks and snacks available for purchase in the Great Hall overlooking the Capitol and the Library’s beautiful architecture while visiting the Library’s exhibits, collections and programs.
Visitors also are now invited to Experience the Main Reading Room during Live at the Library. Usually reserved for researchers, visitors can now walk inside and see one of Washington’s most beautiful spaces. Please note that due to strong interest and limited capacity, those with timed-entry passes are not guaranteed access.
Free timed-entry passes or an event registration are required to enter the Thomas Jefferson Building. Visit loc.gov/visit to reserve your pass for Live at the Library.
Programming Highlights for June
June 1: NASA and U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón Unveil Her Poem for Europa at 7 p.m. in the Library’s Coolidge Auditorium. Poet Laureate Ada Limón reads her poem for NASA’s Europa Clipper mission and talks with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden; Nicola Fox, associate administrator of the NASA Science Mission Directorate; and Sheri Wells-Jensen, the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology, Exploration and Scientific Innovation. Limón’s poem will be engraved on the Europa Clipper spacecraft, which will travel 1.8 billion miles to explore Europa, an icy moon of Jupiter. The Library will also host a collections display from 5 to 7 p.m., including Galileo’s Starry Messenger and the Voyager Golden Record that carried sounds of humanity into space. Register for tickets.
June 1: Made at the Library: “The Making of The Best Years of Our Lives” in the Mary Pickford Theatre in the James Madison Building at 6 p.m. Author Alison Macor introduces a screening of the 1946 Academy Award-winning film, which was among the first 25 titles named to the Library’s National Film Registry. Timed-entry passes are not required to enter the Madison Building.
June 8: Salute to Strayhorn: Bill Charlap Trio with Jon Faddis, Trumpet at 8 p.m. in the Library’s Coolidge Auditorium. The Library’s salute to Billy Strayhorn celebrates the jazz music and legacy of an original American voice. Bill Charlap Trio appears with Jon Faddis for a close encounter with Strayhorn’s unforgettable songs. Join for a preconcert conversation with A. Alyce Claerbaut, president of Strayhorn Songs, at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Register for tickets.
June 15: Black Archives: A Photographic Celebration of Black Life at 6 p.m. in the Southwest Gallery of the Jefferson Building. In celebration of Juneteenth, the Library and the Daniel A.P. Murray Association welcome Renata Cherlise to discuss her book “Black Archives: A Photographic Celebration of Black Life,” with curators from the Library’s Prints & Photographs Division who will share images from Rosa Parks’ family photos and other Library treasures. Reserve a timed-entry pass.
*CANCELED* June 15: Reverend Robert B. Jones, Blues and Old-Time Musician and Storyteller at 7 p.m. in the Library’s Coolidge Auditorium. Jones celebrates the history, humor and power of roots music in this live performance of traditional African American and American music.
June 15: Christylez Bacon at 7 p.m. in the Library's Coolidge Auditorium. The Grammy Award nominee is a hip-hop artist and multistumentalist from Washington, DC. Reserve a timed-entry pass.
June 19: Juneteenth Holiday: Main Reading Room Opening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For the federal Juneteenth holiday, visitors are invited to walk onto the floor of the Library’s magnificent Main Reading Room. This special opportunity offers a rare glimpse inside one of Washington’s most beautiful spaces. Reserve a timed-entry pass.
Exhibitions On View
“Pride and Publishing: LGBTQ+ History in Print” from June 7 to Aug. 10. Witness the power of activism and creativity in this display featuring the Library’s LGBTQ+ collections of self-published zines, newspapers and magazines, which illuminate historic movements and moments from the 1950s to the present day.
Explore Library exhibitions during Live at the Library. The Library’s newest exhibition, “Join In: Voluntary Associations in America,” explores the history of voluntary associations that reveal the aspirations of Americans as “a nation of joiners,” while also acknowledging these groups have sometimes reflected society’s exclusions, discriminations and divisions. The exhibit is on display in the South Gallery of the Thomas Jefferson Building.
“Not an Ostrich: And Other Images from America’s Library” represents a sampling of the more than 15 million photographs held by the Library, ranging from the early days of photography to today. Take a look at the “first selfie,” which is thought to be the world’s oldest known photographic self-portrait, and see important pictures of Harriet Tubman, the Wright brothers and more.
Find the latest event details at loc.gov/live, and subscribe to the Library’s Upcoming Events email list. Future events will be announced on a monthly basis.
Live at the Library is part of a broader effort to reimagine the visitor experience at the Library of Congress that invites visitors to enjoy the Library and its collections in new formats during extended evening hours on Thursday night. The series regularly features special conversations, music, performances, films and workshops that showcase the broad range of holdings at the national library.
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.
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Media Contacts: Brett Zongker, bzongker@loc.gov | Leah Knobel, lknobel@loc.gov
Press Photos: newsroom.loc.gov
PR 23-047
05-18-2023
ISSN 0731-3527