Encyclopedia of the Library of Congress

The Encyclopedia of the Library of Congress, ed. by John Y. Cole and Jane Aikin. To be published in November 2004 by Bernan Press in cooperation with the Library of Congress. More than 40 Library of Congress staff members have contributed to the volume, which will contain approximately 200 illustrations, be approximately 400 pages in length, and sell in a hardcover edition for $95. ISBN: 0890599718. Order by phone (800) 865-3457 or by fax (800) 865-3450) from Bernan Press. The Bernan Press order number is BP9718.

This one-volume reference book will emphasize the historical development of the Library's collections, services, and administrative units from 1800 through until 2004. Theme articles on such topics as relations with the American library community and the emergence of the Library's international role will be followed by briefer entries. Keyed to important events and collections, these entries will feature, for example, topics such as Lincolniana, folklore and folklife, children's literature, and the Poet Laureate of the United States.

This wide-ranging description of the Library and its activities is presented through 13 overview essays, more than 80 articles, and five appendices. The appendices are especially valuable since they bring together information about the Library never before compiled. They are: the Library’s senior officials and top-level administrative structure; the Library’s legislative appropriations by major categories since 1800; the growth of its collections by format since 1801; major gifts to the collections since 1869; and the chairmen of the Congressional committees on the Library since 1802.

For more information visit the Library’s Publications site.