Live at the Library to Feature Rare Book Collection, New Exhibition in January
Author to Share History of Alexis de Tocqueville, as Featured in ‘Join In: Voluntary Associations in America’ Exhibition
Visitors will have the chance to dive deep into the Library of Congress’ newest exhibition “Join In: Voluntary Associations in America” during Live at the Library in January. Plus, a special display and roundtable will take visitors behind the scenes of a rare modernist book and art collection.
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.
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 January
Jan. 19: Join the Rare Book and Special Collections Division for Artists Approach the Book, a special look at the Aramont Library. View a display of the modernist collection, including first editions and livres d’artistes (books by artists) from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Great Hall, followed by a roundtable discussion from 7 to 8 p.m. in Room 119. Reserve a timed-entry pass.
Karen Bryan, former director of the School of Music at the University of South Carolina, will deliver a lecture on Mary Caldwell Dawson and the National Negro Opera Company at 7 p.m. in the Montpelier Room of the James Madison Building. The lecture previews the premier of the latest work from the Washington National Opera, “The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson.” Register in advance here.
**CANCELED** Jan. 26: Dive into the Library’s newest exhibition with Joining Together in Tocqueville’s America at 6:30 p.m. in Room 119 of the Thomas Jefferson Building. Kevin Butterfield, director of the Library’s John W. Kluge Center, discusses his new book “The Making of Tocqueville’s America: Law and Association in the Early United States.” Reserve a timed-entry pass.
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 acknowledges these groups have sometimes reflected society’s exclusions, discriminations and division. The exhibit is on display in the South Gallery of the Thomas Jefferson Building.
Exhibitions On View
Explore more Library exhibitions during Live at the Library. “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.
Visitors will have a last chance to view a display celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Thomas Jefferson Building before it closes on Jan. 23. Explore the Library’s current exhibitions.
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 | Elaina Finkelstein, efinkelstein@loc.gov
PR 23-001
01-06-2023
ISSN 0731-3527