Library of Congress Project: Chronicling America

I am fortunate enough to involve the Library of Congress Chronicling America. As soon as I started searching the databases, I noticed that the headlines of newspapers in different regions can be the same!! I work on the "Panic of 1907" topic and I found that some newspapers' headlines in New York Tribute can be found in mid-western newspapers! - exaactly the same. I am wondering whether those news were "flying" via telegraphs.

Another discovery is that even the Qing Dynasty Chinese Emperor's news can be found in American newspapers between 1860 to 1922!!

Library of Congress International Offices

I learned something "news" this morning.

(1) Library of Congress has six overseas offices - Egypt (Cairo), Indonesia Jarkata), Brazil (Rio), India (New Dehli), Pakistan (Islamabad), and Kenya (Nairobi).

(2) Library of Congress has the largest newspaper digitalization projects.

Interesting Question at the Library of Congress Information Desk

A couple days ago I received a very intersting question when I was at the Information Desk. A gentleman asked me, "Are the tiles at the Library of Congress are as same as the ones at US Capital?"

The US Capital building is next to the Library of Congress. I guess that's why I received that question. I,, of course, do not know the answer. But I do know that the Capital building is about 100 years older than the Library of Congress Jefferson Building. So I replied the gentleman that I do not know the answer; but I told him that our building is at least 100 years younger than the Capital Building. Thus the tiles are probably NOT the same.

Later I asked my colleagues, none of them knows the answer.

Martin Luther King Jr. Public Library in Washington DC

The Martin Luther King Jr. Public Library is a very popular library. Thus I visited the library yesterday. First I found a very long line of people waiting in front of the main entranace. Then I found out that it is very common that the line is formed 15 minutes before the library open. Like many public libraries in the big cities, there are many (apparently) homeless people outside the library. As soon as the door opened, everyone marched in. I utilized one of the 15 minutes terminals to check my email message. I heard constantly that patrons were cussing and using "bad langauges" such the "F.." word just because the terminals are not fast enough for them. They literally yelled to the Information Desk staff. I felt so sorry for the library staff.

As a librarian, those behavior surely is NOT acceptable. I was so surprised that the Martin Luther Public Library staff allow its patrons to have those disturbance behavior at the library. I certainly cannot bear any longer and I left.

Thomas Jefferson's Collection at Library of Congress

Currently the exhibition of  Thomas Jefferson Library collection is now located at the second floor of the Jefferson Building at the LOC. It is part of the collection that Jefferson sold his books to LOC in 1815.

The most intersting part of this particularly collection is the "classification" of the book. The classification scheme is BEFORE Dewey Classifiction Scheme. The books have been arranged in an order that Jefferson described as "sometimes analytical, sometimes chronological, and sometimes a combination of both." Jefferson followed a modified version of the organization of knowledge created by British philosopher Francis Bacon (1581-1626). The books were divided into categories of "Memory," "Reason," and "Imagination." Jefferson intepreted as "History," "Philosophy," and "Fine Arts." He then further divided the categories into forty-four "chapters."

I believe that is the earliest library classification scheme we can find.

U.S. News & World Report is going away!

Last week I heard that the U.S. News & World Report is going "away". ("sigh") Is it the trernd of our printed journals in the near future? It is very disturbing...

I don't know what to say...

National Archives in Washington DC area

I visit the National Archive in Washington, DC two days ago. I am very impressed! There are so many valuable documents at the National Archive, including the Jewish people's Swiss Bank stattements during the WWII, Civil War documents, Executive Order of the Wesr Coast Japanese-American Concentration Camps. The original Declaration of Independence and other valuable documents are now displayed in the exhibition hall.

I found myself spending so many hours and still not enough time to read them all!!! - However the best way to read those documents is to obtain a research card.

The largest library in the world, Library of Congress, YET...

It is said that over 745 miles of book shelves a t the Library of Congress. However readers are not able to check out any items from LC. All materials have to be used at the library. - that's understandable. The Library of Congress cannot afford to lose any its collection. But for the electronic databases, users should be able to access at home/off sites. It is VERY inconvenience for some users, especially for the special subject researchers.

The Library of Congress subscripts many databases that other libraries simply cannot afford to subscribe. As the leader of the library world, in my opinion, LC should open its electronic resources to researchers.

"Debatable" issues at the Library of Congress

The original Declaration of Independence is now located at the National Archives. Personally I think it is a debatable issue. It should  not be moved from the Library of Congress to the National Archives. - I found many people came to the Information Desk and asked for this particularly item.

The National Arhives building is NOT next to the Library of Congress. It is NOT a walking distance. So I found myself keep giving an unpopular ansers to the people who approached to the Desk.

People come to the Library of Congress and expect to see "miles of books." - Where are the books? Oh well they all are housed "behind the scene." In order to  browrse and "touch" the collection, readers will have to get a researcher card. Again, I have been giving another "unpopular answer" to the people who came to the Desk.

American History Research at the Library of Congress

There are  over 22 Reading/research Room at the Library Congress. The American history collection is a "hidden" treasure. For American history researchers, they have to start from the Main Reading Room and FInd out what information is in the Room. Then,... most likely they will have to  "narrow" down their research - local history and genealogy research. Or they simply go to the Natoinal Archives to do their research.

Surprise? Yes. I would think that the Library of Congress will has a division of American History. But... it doesn't. ("sigh")

Asia Collection at the Library of Congress

The Asia Reading Room is considered the biggest reader room at the LC. Inside the reading room, there is a seminar room where all the cultural activites are taken place. It is also the busiest Reading Room at LC. It has Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Southeast Asia, Tibetan collections. Thus, there are so many Asian visitors everyday.

The Reading Room is still using card catalog system - it means that if you cannot find via the online system, it doesn't mean they do not carry the item you need.

ASK THE LIBRARIAN!

Library of Congress Buildings

Library of Congress has three buildings, Jefferson, Adams, and Madison buildings. The visitor is allowed to tour at the Jefferson Building. The other two buildings mainly are for research. Thus you cannot access without a Reader/Researcher Card.

It has been a week since I am in DC area. I found myself "falling in love" with the city, especially the Library of Congress....

Library of Congress Information Desk and Loan Policy

I have been working at the LC Information Desk for a few days now. I cannot deny that I LOVE working at the desk. I encounter different people and they are come from all the places around the world. It is the most interesting place to be at the Library of Congress.

The main question I received is, "Can we walk around the Main Reading Room and browse the collection?" Unfortunately the answer is NO. In order to browse or use the reading room, visitors need a Reader Card/Researcher Card (FREE). Once you get the card, you are able to access to all 23 Reading Room. It is a privilege to study and do research at the largest library in the world.

Some library users came to the Desk and showed me the books they found on the LC web site. It is very hard to explain to them that the operation is different from their home libraries. They will need a Reader Card and then they can order the book via online catalog. They cannot check out LC books but they can order and read at the Main Reading Room. That is how the library operates.

The CD/AV collection of the Library of Congress is NOT located in DC. They are housed in Virginia! SO when a patron came to the Desk and wanted to take a look of the non-print materials, they have to order via online system and then come back when the material is arrived. Again, no library materials can be checked out.

For the ILL services, the material has to be the "one and only one" in this country, then LC will consider to loan out. Again, it will be "library use only" item.

Unexpected excitement at the Library of Congress.

It is only my second day to staff at the Information Desk at the Library of Congress. As soon as I arrived, I was informed that we are going to have a "shelter in place" drill. Oh boy! - I survived without any incidents.

I really enjoy working at the Desk at the LC. I have so much fun and lots of "unexpected" questions. Boy! I "fall in love" working at the Library of Congress! Too bad, I cannot stay here permanently.

First day at the Library of Congress!

Yesterday was my first day staffed at the Information Desk at the Library of Congress. I had lots of fun and "challenge."

I impressed my colleagues that it was my first day at the DESK - I knew where to go to US Capitol, Admas Building and Madison Building through the tunnel. 

The Main Reading Room is AMAZING - I saw it so many times on book covers. But now I was actually in the room!

Only disappointed I had is the Asia Collection Reading Room - the Reading Room is still using card catalog! I asked the librarian whether the card catalog shelves are only for display. He "almost" shouted to me, "NO! Wew are still using them!" - Oh Boy!