|
Our Common Ground: 250 Years of Americans Engaging with Nature
Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 1:30 p.m. - 08:00 p.m. EDT
The Library of Congress’s Rare Book and Special Collections Division presents Our Common Ground, a public symposium exploring how American landscapes have inspired creativity, adventure and play for 250 years. Featuring talks and presentations by curator Ashley Rose Young, print artist Jessica C. White, editor Mike Rogge and game designer Elizabeth Hargrave, the event also includes special collection displays and a reception inspired by historic American cookbooks. Learn more.
Letters in Light: An American Illuminates the Bible
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 | 06:00 p.m. - 07:00 p.m. EDT
Manuscript artist and author Debra Band will discuss five of her biblical illuminated manuscripts recently acquired by the Library of Congress. In this illustrated lecture, she will explore the American themes, layered symbolism and creative process behind her interpretations of the Song of Songs, Psalms, the Hebrew Bible’s early women’s narratives, the Friday evening Sabbath liturgy and Qohelet (Ecclesiastes). Learn more.
|
|
 |
 |
|
An Evening of Jewish Music with Lily Henley
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 | 07:00 p.m. - 08:00 p.m. EDT
In celebration of Jewish American History Month, the American Folklife Center will present an evening of Sephardic Jewish music with Lily Henley. Lily Henley is a talented singer, songwriter, and violinist who performs traditional and original songs in the Ladino language. Learn more.
|
Fashion at the Library—"Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel" Documentary & Conversation
Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 03:00 p.m. - 05:00 p.m. EDT
Join us for a screening of "Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel" (2011) followed by a conversation with members of the Vreeland family about her influence on fashion, publishing and visual culture in American life. Learn more.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Live! At The Library
Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 05:00 p.m. - 08:00 p.m. EDT
The Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building is open for extended hours every Thursday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. Visitors are invited to enjoy happy hour snacks and drinks available for purchase in the Great Hall while immersing themselves in the Library’s exhibits, collections and programs. Learn more.
|
Live! At the Library: "A Writing Marriage" by Lori Carlson-Hijuelos
Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 06:00 p.m. - 07:00 p.m. EDT
Join Author Lori Carlson-Hijuelos as she discusses her new memoir about the life she shared with her husband, the Pulitzer-Prize winning author Oscar Hijuelos (1951-2013), whose personal papers are preserved at the Library of Congress. She includes excerpts from his unfinished novel, "Blue Antiquity." A book signing will follow the program. Learn more.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Film Screening: The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)
Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 07:00 p.m. - 09:00 p.m. EDT
Join us for a screening of “The Quatermass Xperiment” (1955), the influential sci-fi horror film based on the groundbreaking 1953 BBC television series of the same name. After an experimental spaceship crash-lands on Earth, rescuers discover something is terribly wrong with its three-man crew. The film went on to influence generations of filmmakers and authors, including John Carpenter, Stephen King and James Cameron. Learn more.
|
Film Screening: “Let’s get Lost” (1988)
Friday, May 15, 2026 | 05:00 p.m. - 07:00 p.m. EDT
Whether in his golden youth or premature old age, legendary jazz trumpeter Chet Baker's musical virtuosity always shone through. In this frank and revealing documentary made a year before his death, director Bruce Weber uses interviews, recording sessions, archive footage and home movies to show a man ravaged by his long involvement with drugs. Learn more.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Japanese Culture Day
Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. - 03:00 p.m. EDT
In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Library of Congress will host its annual “Japanese Culture Day.” The event offers activities for all ages, especially K-12 students, including origami, calligraphy and more. Attendees also can enjoy “Pokemon Corner,” this year’s featured program. Learn more.
|
Live! At The Library
Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 05:00 p.m. - 08:00 p.m. EDT
The Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building is open for extended hours every Thursday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. Visitors are invited to enjoy happy hour snacks and drinks available for purchase in the Great Hall while immersing themselves in the Library’s exhibits, collections and programs. Learn more.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Fashion at the Library—Small Clothes, Big Stories: Fashion Dolls and the American Story
Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 06:30 p.m. - 08:00 p.m. EDT
Take a nostalgic look at how fashion dolls have helped shape generations’ understanding of American history and culture. Actor and writer Mara Wilson will moderate a conversation with doll experts and scholars—including Dr. Emilie Zaslow, Valerie Tripp and Dr. Katherine Cartwright—exploring everything from paper dolls to American Girl as storytelling tools that reflect style, identity and history. Learn more.
|
|
|
Webinars
Click to edit this placeholder text.
|
|
Fashion at the Library—Threads of Aloha: Hawaiian Fashion in American Life
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 03:00 p.m. - 04:00 p.m. EDT
Join Dr. Andrew Reilly, Professor at the University of Hawai`i, Mānoa, in an online program examining aloha shirts and their national and global influence. Register for this event.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Orientation to Law Library Collections Webinar (featuring staff from the Law Library of Louisiana)
Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 01:00 p.m. - 02:00 p.m. EDT
The Orientation to Law Library Collections webinar introduces experienced legal researchers to the collections, services and resources available through the Law Library of Congress. Led by legal reference librarians, the online version of the library’s onsite orientation highlights digital resources available through the Law Library’s website, as well as materials available onsite. Register for this event.
|
|
|
Exhibitions at the Library of Congress
Click to edit this placeholder text.
|
|
| |
