On the Bicentennial date, April 24, a ceremony was held in the majestic Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building for the issuance of a 33-cent Library of Congress commemorative stamp by the U.S. Postal Service. The stamp features a photograph by Michael Freeman of the interior dome of the Library's Main Reading Room. The stamp's designer, Ethel Kessler, also designed the breast cancer stamp.

The selvage on the 20-stamp sheet notes that "the Library of Congress, America's library, is celebrating its 200th birthday in 2000. This Bicentennial recognizes all libraries and the vital role they play in advancing American creativity and liberty." Many U.S. stamps and other philatelic items are available online at stampsonline.com or by phone at the toll free number 800-STAMP-24.

For more information about the stamp ceremony, view the news release.

From April 25 through May 31, 2000, more than 200 state and local libraries across the country held ceremonies as second-day issue sites for the Library's commemorative stamp. Many used this event to celebrate the Bicentennial of the Library of Congress and the importance of libraries to their communities.