The Library of Congress is so large that there are now three buildings on Capitol Hill in Washington DC: the Thomas Jefferson Building (you can tour this building for free) the James Madison Building, and the John Adams Building. Each building was named after a president who was instrumental in establishing and expanding the Library.

Did you know that there is a Librarian of Congress? Since 2016, Carla Hayden has served the United States as our Librarian of Congress. She is the 14th Librarian of Congress, and is the first woman and first African American to serve in this role. Hayden has worked at libraries since 1973.

The Library of Congress is home to more than just books. It collects and preserves maps, films, sounds, stories, and many other items that represent the American experience. One of my favorite collections is The American Folklife Center, which focuses on preserving what life was like for Americans in different parts of the country, at different times in history. It is here that all of the StoryCorps conversations are stored. You may have heard these short person to person interviews on NPR on Friday mornings. Did you know that YOU can record an interview? This means that your conversation could be part of the Library of Congress collection, preserved for all Americans to hear!

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