A versatile new means of getting the "champagne out of thebottle"--making the riches of the Library of Congress as widelyaccessible as possible--was officially launched at the Library onApril 19 during American Library Week.
The Library of Congress Corner, a joint project of the SocialIssues Resource Series (SIRS) and the Library's PublishingOffice, presents themed displays based on treasures of theLibrary of Congress -- historic documents, photographs, maps,music manuscripts, posters, prints, rare books -- selected andannotated by Library staff.
Aimed at libraries, schools and other public and culturalinstitutions, the LC Corner was conceived as an innovatively"low-tech" yet effective means by which items from the Library'scollections could inform, inspire and stimulate fresh thought.SIRS is a 20-year publisher of educational reference materialsbased in Boca Raton, Fla.
Prominent at the April 19 reception was the premier LC Cornerdisplay, "Thomas Jefferson's Legacy," which reveals in text andimages the multifaceted Jefferson: author of the Declaration ofIndependence, governor, diplomat, scientist, musician, architect,farmer, U.S. president, mapmaker, linguist -- and inspirationalfounder of the Library of Congress.
Subscribers to the Library of Congress Corner series receive fourdifferent displays each year, on a quarterly basis, for a yearlysubscription rate of $600. (The compact, portable display standis a separate, one-time purchase.) Each display is comprised of16 panel units, with eight showing per side. Subjects forupcoming displays include:-- "American Folklife: A Commonwealth of Cultures," a photographic celebration of the peoples and heritages that are woven together in the cultural tapestry that is the United States.-- "An Ongoing Voyage," an examination of the continuing impact of Columbus's 1492 landfall in the West Indies, featuring maps, manuscripts, engravings, books, posters, musical artifacts and other materials from the Library's collections.-- "The American Cowboy," an exploration of the myth and reality of one of America's most enduring legends.-- "The Open Road," an eclectic look at another of our most potent American symbols and provocative myths, using the Library's literary and visual riches.
For further information, contact SIRS at P.O. Box 2348, BocaRaton, FL 33427, (800) 232-SIRS.