Explore Exhibitions at the Library of Congress During Live! at the Library in January
Explore exhibitions about the nation’s long tradition of volunteering for a variety of groups and causes, see some of the vast photography holdings of the Library of Congress and celebrate the creativity of songwriters George and Ira Gershwin at Live! at the Library in January.
On Thursday evenings in January, 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 building’s beautiful architecture while immersing themselves in the Library’s exhibits, collections and programs.
Free timed-entry passes are required to enter the Thomas Jefferson Building. Visit loc.gov/visit to reserve your pass for Live! at the Library.
Exhibitions On View
• “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 exhibit is on display in the South Gallery of the Thomas Jefferson Building.Artifacts on view include rare books, historical manuscripts, photographs, and other materials from across the Library’s collections that document the work of associations. “Join In” was recently 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 world’s oldest known photographic self-portrait, and view important pictures of Harriet Tubman, the Wright brothers and more.
• Celebrate the 100th anniversary of composer George Gershwin’s iconic “Rhapsody in Blue” with a special display of sheet music and other items from the Library’s Music Division. View the display on the second floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building beginning Jan. 12.
• 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.
• Herblock Gallery: “Herblock Looks at 1973” celebrates the work of editorial cartoonist Herbert L. Block — better known as “Herblock” — with an ongoing display of 10 original drawings that change every six months, drawn from the Library’s extensive Herbert L. Block Collection. Each new installation looks back at the world 50 years before through Block’s incisive cartoons. This display will be ongoing through March 2024, and is located in the Graphic Arts Gallery on the ground floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building.
• Fifty years ago, the District of Columbia Home Rule Act granted Washington, D.C.,residents limited self-government for the first time in nearly a century. “D.C.Home Rule at Fifty” features items from the Manuscript Division. View the display in the Great Hall through Jan. 31.
Experience the Main Reading Room
In addition to current exhibitions, visitors have the opportunity to Experience the Main Reading Room during Live! at the Library. Usually reserved for researchers, this access will offer visitors a chance to walk inside and see one of Washington’s most beautiful spaces.
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: Elaina Finkelstein, efinkelstein@loc.gov | Brett Zongker, bzongker@loc.gov
PR 23-103
12-21-2023
ISSN 0731-3527