The Terrific Twos!

Ellen and I holding up our cake. Just kidding this is a photo of a WOMAN SUFFRAGE BIRTHDAY CAKE, 1919.

INSIDE ADAMS IS TURNING TWO!

When we launched Inside Adams on October 30, 2009 we became the second official Library of Congress blog- the first was the LC Blog (launched April 2007).  In the two years since we published our first post “…Never be afraid of a book,” the Library has added 5 more official blogs to its roster:

  1. In the Muse: Performing Arts
  2. In Custodia Legis: Law Librarians of Congress
  3. The Signal: Digital Preservation
  4. Teaching with the Library of Congress
  5. Picture This: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

My co-blogger, Ellen, thought it would be fitting to share with our readers our favorite post over the past two years.

Here’s my selection:

Sweet potato or yam? Our record isn't sure, but the flowering above resembles that of a sweet potato

I have a number of favorite posts, so picking just one isn’t easy. I am especially partial to the features we do about the art and architecture of the Adams Building. I love to learn about the history of our building and the architectural details, from the terrazzo floors to the marble walls, that make our building a work of art. But my favorite post, so far, would be A Sweet Potato History.

The sweet potato is one of my favorite vegetables and it has become my mission to bring to the attention of the U.S. public the difference between a sweet potato and a yam. When I give presentations about blogging at LC, I often use the Sweet Potato post as an example of the benefits of writing a blog. Not only does a blog increase the visibility of the Library’s collections and expertise, but it also provides an example of how the Library can engage in a conversation with the public. In fact, the Sweet Potato post was inspired by a reader who wanted to know more about the origin of candied yams.

I also like this post because it shows how the Library can learn from the public.  One of our readers commented that he could not find a reference to a recipe I cited. Wouldn’t you know I cited the wrong cookbook? Thanks to this reader I was able to correct the citation.

Here’s Ellen’s selection:

Pneumatic tubes in the Adams Building

I too had a hard time choosing a favorite post.  I like the posts that are historical in nature like the 1865 post about New Orleans (my home town) because I can always find something interesting to include from the Library’s collection.  But I think my favorite post was one from almost a year ago – A Short Visit from a Noted Gentleman.  I liked this post for two reasons. One, because I really enjoyed doing the Flat Stanley project and could feature the pictures I took , and two, I thought it was a fun way to show the Library off. I hoped that seeing Flat Stanley on the Library’s web page would be a great way for the students to connect to the Library.

Now that you know our favorite Inside Adams blog posts, what are your favorites?

When Washington Bailed Out Mom and Pop

Our guest author today is  Gulnar Nagashybayeva a Business Reference Specialist. Gulnar has been with Business Reference Services of the Science, Technology & Business Division for almost three years. Previously she worked as Government Documents librarian/contractor at the Central Library of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She holds a Master’s in Library Science degree …

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Pic of the Week: Itzamna

As we near the end of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are featuring Lee Lawrie’s bas-relief of the Mayan deity Itzamna from the Adams building bronze doors (back in September we featured the Mesoamerican deity Quetzalcoatl). The Maya occupied what are now the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador; and like the other …

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Five Questions: Constance Carter, Head of Science Reference Section

What is your background? Born in Whitefield, NH, I spent my school days in Lancaster, Keene, Nashua and Manchester and at Northfield School for Girls in Massachusetts. In my freshman year at Smith College, I announced that I didn’t think it was necessary to leave America’s shores. Thus the college was pleased when my first …

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