Library of Congress
Today in History - September 8

Today in History - September 8

First Lady Laura Bush and Librarian of Congress James Billington opened the first National Book Festival in a brief public ceremony on the Neptune Plaza of the Library of Congress at 9:30am on Saturday, September 8, 2001.  Continue reading.

On September 8, 1900, hurricane winds estimated at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour ripped across the Texas coastline on the Gulf of Mexico, killing more than 6,000 people and decimating the city of Galveston.  Continue reading.

The American Federation of Labor granted a charter to the Quarry Workers' International Union of North America, headquartered in Barre, Vermont, on September 8, 1903.  Continue reading.

Click here to search Today in History for other historic moments.

 

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Poetry 180: Poem 001 - "Introduction to Poetry"

Poem 001 - "Introduction to Poetry"

A poem by Billy Collins from the Library's Poetry 180 Project.

This is the first Poetry 180 poem of the school year.

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Upcoming Virtual Orientations: Hispanic & European Reading Rooms

09/08/2026 08:38 AM EDT

Join us for two upcoming virtual research orientations from the Hispanic and European Reading Rooms at the Library of Congress. Both events are presented by the Latin American, Caribbean and European Division as part of the Library’s Research Orientations and Afternoons with the Library series. Get an introduction to the Hispanic Reading Room collections and services and learn more about how to research Women in France and French Caribbean History.

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What Can a Computer See?: Testing the Limits of Automated QA for Web Archives

09/08/2026 09:30 AM EDT

A 2026 Junior Fellowship project explored whether automated screenshot comparison could make quality assurance more manageable for the Library of Congress web archives. By comparing computer-generated visual similiarity metrics with staff assessments, we found that automation cannot replace human judgement but may help prioritize captures most likely to have serious issues.

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A Fleeting Impression: Multispectral Imaging of a Fifteenth-Century Paste Print

09/08/2026 09:00 AM EDT

What happens when a print no longer looks the way it once did? Multispectral imaging takes us beyond what the eye can see, revealing hidden details in a historic paste print and offering new clues to how it was made and how its appearance has changed over time. The results show how modern imaging can help reconstruct the story and visual impact of an object altered by centuries of aging.

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The Flowers of Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, Preserved from Another Century

09/08/2026 10:39 AM EDT

Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge is perhaps best remembered as the philanthropist behind the Library's primary concert venue, Coolidge Auditorium, built in 1925. But as a teenager in 1880s, she toured Europe with her family and assembled an impressive "botanical collection" of pressed flowers and other greenery, later enhancing it with more specimens. The Library's conservation staff spent much of the past year in a meticulous process to treat, stabilize and house that collection ensuring that it will last for future generations.

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How to Conquer the Austro-Hungarian Map Set

09/08/2026 10:48 AM EDT

In this guest blog post, 2026 Junior Fellow Priscilla Anderson announces the debut of the Geography & Map Division's latest web mapping application, "Austro-Hungarian Map Set Navigator, 1875-1957."

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Law Library: News & Events: Join us on Friday, September 18 for Constitution Day 2026 - The Life and Work of President and Chief Justice William Howard Taft at 2PM EDT

We hope you can join the Law Library of Congress in person or online for our annual Constitution Day event on Friday, September 18, at 2:00 PM EDT, in the Library's Jefferson Building room LJ-119. This event will focus on the life and work of President and Chief Justice William Howard Taft.

Please register for the in-person event here.

You can also register to attend this event online here.

Dr. Kevin Burns will be interviewed by Jeanne Dennis, Senior Counsel of Legal Programs and Initiatives for the Library of Congress. The interview will focus on how William Howard Taft interpreted the United States Constitution as outlined in Dr. Burns' book, "William Howard Taft's Constitutional Progressivism" 

The Library of Congress Manuscripts Division's Michelle Krowl and Eli Arnold will provide a discussion and display of Taft-related items. 

Dr. Colleen Shogan, CEO of in Pursuit and Senior Advisor at More Perfect and 11th Archivist of the United States, will interview John Bridgeland, the Founder & CEO of More Perfect and the Former Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, about the life and work of Mrs. Taft while also discussing the origins of the In Pursuit project, Chief Justice Roberts' essay on William Howard Taft, and the work of More Perfect related to strengthening democracy.

This event will feature introductory remarks by the Librarian of Congress, Aslihan Bulut, and closing remarks by Jeanne Dennis.

Welcome Back to the Classroom and to Teaching with the Library

09/08/2026 11:00 AM EDT

The start of the school year is a great time to consider how the Library can support you and your students with teaching and learning using primary sources. Read about recent resources from the Library and suggestions for using the items with your students.

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Caribbean Court of Justice, Suriname: Court Finds Denial of Access to a Lawyer Violated Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas

09/08/2026 12:34 PM EDT

On May 25, 2026, the Caribbean Court of Justice held that Surinamese authorities violated a claimant’s freedom of movement rights under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) when they denied him direct access to legal counsel during pre-trial detention under the terms of a restriction order. The claimant is a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) national from Trinidad and Tobago.Background on CARICOM and the CCJCARICOM is a group of 23 countries comprising 15 member states and eight associate members. It was established in 1973 by the RTC, which was revised in 2002. The RTC sets up a single market and a single economy for CARICOM member states. It grants certain rights to CARICOM nationals, such as nondiscrimination (art. 7), freedom of establishment (arts. 32-34), freedom of movement (art....

 

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Jobs and Internship Opportunities Audience Engagement/Southeast Asian Reference Librarian (VAR003409)

Audience Engagement/Southeast Asian Reference Librarian (VAR003409)

  • Opening Date: September 4, 2026
  • Closing Date: October 2, 2026
  • OPM Control Number: 883645700
  • Vacancy Number: VAR003409
  • LC Organization Unit: Researcher and Collection Services
  • Grade: GS-09
  • Series: 1410
  • Minimum Salary: $70,623.00 per year
  • Maximum Salary: $91,815 per year
  • Work Schedule: Full-time - Flexitime
  • Promotion Potential: GS-12
  • Duty Location: Washington, DC
  • Security Clearance: Not Required
  • Availability: Open to All
  • Telework Eligibility: Hybrid

The position is for an Audience Engagement/Southeast Asian Reference Librarian who serves in the Asian Division within the General and International Collections Directorate (GICD), Researcher and Collections Services (RCS) within the Library Collections and Services Group (LCSG)at the Library of Congress (Library). The divisions in the GICD are the primary gateway to the collections and services under its purview, setting strategies for acquiring, developing, digitizing, and making discoverable the Library's collections; ensuring diversity in collections development, community engagement, and user services; implementing innovative onsite and online services that support traditional and evolving forms of research; and pursuing creative and practical channels for increasing public engagement with the Library, its staff, and collections.

Click here for more information.

To see more current job and internship opportunities at the Library of Congress, visit our careers site and our internship and fellowships site.

 

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