Celebrate National Poetry Month and National Library Month during Live! at the Library in April
Ada Limón, George Saunders, Poet Robyn Schiff and Chef Carla Hall to Visit the Library for Author Talks and Book Signing
Celebrate National Poetry Month during Live! at the Library on Thursday evenings throughout April. Ada Limón will visit Live! at the Library to talk about her new anthology "You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World” and kick-off of the Library’s annual Mary Oliver Memorial Event.
The event will feature an introduction by Limón, readings by poets Molly McCully Brown, Jake Skeets, Analicia Sotelo and Paul Tran, and a conversation with all. The poets are supported by the Library’s new Mary Oliver Memorial Fund, a gift from Bill and Amalie Reichblum, members of the Library’s James Madison Council. The Fund is established, in part, to recognize talented emerging poets.
On April 11, poet Robyn Schiff, author of “Information Desk: An Epic” will talk with Washington Post Book Critic Ron Charles about her passion for writing poetry. Also on April 11, join chef and best-selling author Carla Hall for a screening of her new Max series, “Chasing Flavor” followed by a Q&A and book signing. Visitors are invited to celebrate National Library Month on April 25 when bestselling author George Saunders comes to the Library to discuss his love of literature and his journey as the 2023 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction winner.
Dance the night away on April 4 in the iconic Great Hall for our Elton John and Bernie Taupin Disco Dance Party. Come dressed in your favorite Elton-inspired costume, glasses or hat to honor them as the 2024 recipients of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
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 exhibitions, collections and programs.
Visitors are 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.
Ticketing
For special events during Live! at the Library, please use the event registration ticketing link found next to the event or at loc.gov/live. This ticket grants access to the special event as well as the Library’s exhibitions and the happy hour portion of the evening.
For entry into the Library only for happy hour, an extended view of our exhibitions or to experience the Main Reading Room during Live! at the Library, a regular timed-entry pass can be obtained at loc.gov/visit.
Visitors only need one of these two tickets to enter during Live! at the Library.
Programming Highlights for April
April 4: Attend the kickoff event for the U.S. Poet Laureate's signature project, including the publication of the new anthology "You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World." Featuring Poet Laureate Ada Limón in conversation with poets Molly McCully Brown, Jake Skeets, Analicia Sotelo and Paul Tran. A small set of items reflecting the theme of nature from the Library’s newly received Mary Oliver Papers will be on display in the Whittall Pavilion for visitors to view. Visitors are invited to attend a book signing in Whittall Pavilion following the event. Register for tickets.
April 4: Join an evening of fun and dancing as the Library celebrates the lives and musical achievements of Elton John and his longtime songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin. A pop-up display will be featured in Mahogany Row that includes special collection items related to John and Taupin’s historic careers. Register for tickets.
April 11: Robyn Schiff, the author of “Information Desk: An Epic” comes to the Library for National Poetry Month to discuss her writings with Washington Post Book Critic Ron Charles. Register for tickets.
April 11: Chef and best-selling author Carla Hall, of “Top Chef” and “The Chew,” comes to Live! at the Library for a special screening of her new Max series “Chasing Flavor.” The screening will be followed by a Q&A and book signing. Register for tickets.
April 18: Visitors are invited to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Art Deco and Beaux-Arts-inspired John Adams Building. Explore the historic building by attending our reading room tours from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Register for tickets.
April 18: Celebrating 50 years of extraordinary performances, the Kronos Quartet will offer an eclectic array of pieces originally written for them. Join us for a pre-concert talk with the artists at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. The post-concert nightcap conversation with the artists will be held onstage following the concert. Register for tickets.
April 25: Celebrated artists Helen C. Frederick and Phil Sanders and cultural leaders Juanita and Mel Hardy will discuss the powerful benefits of collaborative art and ways to leverage artists’ stories that expand fresh American narratives. There will be a display of related artworks from the Library's collections before the panel discussion begins. Register for tickets.
April 25: Come for an evening of music during Live! at the Library, as Windborne takes the stage to perform a harmonious blend of traditional folk songs and original compositions. Register for tickets.
April 25: Celebrate Preservation Week by learning about projects happening at the Library of Congress. Visitors are invited to take part in games and activities with Preservation Specialists in Great Hall. Register for tickets.
April 25: George Saunders, 2023 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction winner, comes to the Library to talk about all things writing, storytelling and his love of literature. Visitors are invited to attend a book signing in the Members Room following the event. Register for tickets.
Exhibitions On View
- For more than 100 years, cherry blossoms have signaled the arrival of spring in Washington, D.C. They have become symbols of peace and friendship between the United States and Japan. This display, “Sakura: Icon of Spring,” features the Library of Congress’ extensive “Sakura” collections and a book from the Library on the subject. View the display on the second floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building beginning March 1 through April 24.
- The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song is the nation’s highest award for influence, impact and achievement in popular music. This display includes material from the Library’s collections that highlights the work of each of the past Gershwin Prize recipients as well as the 2024 recipients, songwriting duo Elton John and Bernie Taupin. View the display on the second floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building beginning March 15 through May 15.
- “Join In: Voluntary Associations in America,” explores America’s history as a “nation of joiners” through voluntary organizations and our longstanding impulse to join together for common purposes, while also acknowledging these groups have sometimes reflected society’s exclusions, discriminations and divisions. The exhibition is on display in the South Gallery of the Thomas Jefferson Building. “Join In” was extended through July 6, 2024.
- “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. Located in the Southwest Gallery of the Thomas Jefferson Building, visitors will see the “first selfie,” which is thought to be the earliest known American photographic self-portrait, and view important pictures of Harriet Tubman, the Wright brothers and more.
- Learn more about the lives and work of the Gershwin brothers in “Here to Stay: The Legacy of George and Ira Gershwin” on the Ground Floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building. This permanent exhibition pays tribute to the much-loved musical duo with handwritten and printed music, lyric sheets, letters, photographs, paintings, and drawings from the Library’s Gershwin Collection.
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 nights. 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 Contact: Elaina Finkelstein, efinkelstein@loc.gov
PR 24-028
3-21-2024
ISSN 0731-3527