Live at the Library to Feature Actor Frances McDormand, Poet Laureate Ada Limón, and NPR's Kitchen Sisters in September
Evening Series Also Will Preview Local Play About Legacy of Emmett Till
The new Thursday evening series Live at the Library will feature special events with actor Frances McDormand in conversation with radio and podcast producers the Kitchen Sisters, the inaugural reading of U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón and more in September.
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 building’s beautiful architecture while immersing themselves in the Library’s exhibits, collections and programs.
Programming Highlights for September
Sept. 1: Walk onto the floor of the Library’s magnificent Main Reading Room. Normally reserved for credentialed researchers, this special opportunity offers a rare glimpse inside one of Washington’s most beautiful spaces. Reserve a timed-entry pass here.
Sept. 8: Spend an evening celebrating comics with a visit to the Geppi Gems exhibition before it closes to the public in October. Enjoy a curated selection of music from movies based on comic books in the Great Hall while enjoying happy hour drinks and snacks available for purchase. Reserve a timed-entry pass here.
Sept. 15: Join the Kitchen Sisters (radio and podcast producers Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva) in conversation with Academy Award winning-actor Frances McDormand for a special evening with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. The Library has acquired the Kitchen Sisters’ audio archive. The conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A. Register in advance here.
Sept. 22: Attend Reflections from the Past, Present and Future with Mosaic Theatre from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Playwright Ifa Bayeza will discuss her upcoming series of plays titled “The Till Trilogy,” which reflect on the life, death and legacy of Emmett Till. The evening will also include performances by the Washington National Opera and a group of student actors from Howard University. Register in advance here. Spend an evening with Ian McEwan, bestselling author of "Atonement" and "Amsterdam" in the James Madison Building's Montpelier Room (LM619) from 7 - 8 p.m. Register in advance here.
Please note: Library exhibits in the Great Hall mezzanine will be closed to the public on Sept. 22. Happy hour drinks and snacks will be available for purchase in the Whittall courtyard.
Sept. 29: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the inaugural reading of U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón in the Coolidge Auditorium from 7 to 8 p.m., with an introduction from Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. Register in advance here.
For guests who wish to enjoy only the Library’s exhibitions, spaces and happy hour drinks and snacks – but not a specific event – please reserve a free timed-entry pass at loc.gov/visit.
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: Leah Knobel, lknobel@loc.gov | Brett Zongker, bzongker@loc.gov
PR 22-071
08-25-2022
ISSN 0731-3527