Library+of+Congress

=Monday, January 10, 2011 = = Welcome to Week 2 of J-Term = =Today we are going to talk about the Library of Congress.What is the Library of Congress (LOC)? = = = =﻿ From []: The Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world, with [|millions of books, recordings, photographs, maps and manuscripts] in its collections. = 
 * ==The Library's mission is to support the Congress in fulfilling its constitutional duties and to further the progress of knowledge and creativity for the benefit of the American people. ==
 * ==If you are interested in learning more about the history of the LOC, go to [] ==
 * ==Go to the home page of the LOC at [|www.loc.gov]. All of this information is available to the public and it is FREE! ==
 * ==The LOC has one of the world's largest library catalogs. ==
 * ===The Library of Congress Online Catalog contains approximately 14 million records representing books, serials, computer files, manuscripts, cartographic materials, music, sound recordings, and visual materials. The Catalog also displays searching aids for users, such as cross-references and scope notes. The catalog records reside in a single integrated database; they are not separated according to type of material, language of material, date of cataloging, or processing/circulation status. (From []) ===

>> [|Proceed to World Digital Library site]media type="youtube" key="LBwVsFZWcNY?fs=1" height="385" width="640"
 * ==Here are some of the special features: ==
 * ===American Memory: American Memory provides free and open access through the Internet to written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience. It is a digital record of American history and creativity. These materials, from the collections of the Library of Congress and other institutions, chronicle historical events, people, places, and ideas that continue to shape America, serving the public as a resource for education and lifelong learning. ===
 * ===<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Browse the collection to see what kinds of information is available ===
 * ===<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Exhibitions: Discover our new exhibitions that bring the world’s largest collection of knowledge, culture, and creativity to life through dynamic displays of artifacts enhanced by interactivity. Examine rare and unique items, including the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, the Gutenberg Bible, the 1507 Waldseemüller map that first named America, Thomas Jefferson’s recreated library, and the architectural wonders of the Thomas Jefferson Building. ([]) ===
 * ===<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Check out the Bible Collection ===
 * ===<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Exploringn the early Americas ===
 * ===<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Creating the United States ===
 * ===<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Thomas Jefferson Libary ===
 * ===<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">World Digital Library: ([]The World Digital Library is a cooperative project of the Library of Congress, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and partner libraries, archives, and educational and cultural institutions from the United States and around the world. The project brings together on a single website rare and unique documents – books, journals, manuscripts, maps, prints and photographs, films, and sound recordings – that tell the story of the world’s cultures. The site is intended for general users, students, teachers, and scholars.The WDL interface operates in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. The actual documents on the site are presented in their original languages. ===

(Images from [|http://www.bing.com] )