The Library of Congress recently launched a new exhibition about Books That Shaped America. It features influential books that were written by Americans, such as:
- Catch-22
- The Catcher in the Rye
- The Great Gatsby
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- Little Women
- Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Currently, there are 88 books on the list and the Library of Congress hopes you will select the ones that you think shaped America and touched your life the most. They also want you to nominate books that you think are important, but aren’t on the list.
View the list of books that shaped America and then take the survey to share your thoughts.
Image description: An animated gif that creates a three dimensional illusion by alternating between two photographs of the White House from the late 19th century.
Did you know that many libraries have 3D images that are over 100 years old? These images are called stereographs. The Library of Congress explains that “stereographs consist of two nearly identical photographs or photomechanical prints, paired to produce the illusion of a single three-dimensional image, usually when viewed through a stereoscope.”
Browse over 8,000 stereographs from the Library of Congress.
Or use the New York Public Library’s Stereogranimator to make your own animated gifs from stereographs.
Image courtesy of the New York Public Library.
Did you know that many public libraries have DVDs, CDs, and even e-books that you can borrow?
Image description: It’s National Library Week. This photo is of the Great Hall in the Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress.
Your local public library may not be as grand as the Library of Congress, but you can still find great books and other resources for your family. Find a public library near you.
Photo from the Library of Congress
Asked by Anonymous
Does the library of congress top librarian have a list of recomended reading list?
The current Librarian of Congress is Dr. James Billington. He was sworn in as Librarian of Congress on September 14, 1987 and is the 13th person to hold the position since the Library was established in 1800. Dr. Billington does not have a public reading list available on the Library of Congress website.
However, the Library of Congress’ Read.gov site does have booklists available for kids, teens, and adults. Find books to spark the imagination and transport you to new and exciting places at Read.gov.
