Press contact: Jennifer Gavin, Library of Congress, (202) 707-1940; Celeste Jackson, Denver Public Library, (720) 865-2044

October 14, 2008 (REVISED October 21, 2008)

"National Treasures, Local Treasures" Travels To Denver Public Library

Program Brings Colorado History Alive with Online Resources

"National Treasures, Local Treasures: The Library of Congress at Your Fingertips," an educational program that brings the riches of the Library to selected cities across the country, will make its second stop at the Denver Central Library on Monday, Oct. 27, from 6-8 p.m. The library is located at 10 W. 14th Ave. Parkway.

The event is sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, the Colorado Center for the Book at Colorado Humanities and the Denver Public Library.

Sen. Wayne Allard and U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette will be special guests at the event. They will receive, on behalf of the Denver Public Library, a high-resolution facsimile of a 1908 panoramic map of Denver from the collections of the Library of Congress.

On the program from the Library of Congress are John Y. Cole, director of the Center for the Book; Sherrie Galloway and Gail Petri, educational outreach specialists; and Jennifer Gavin, senior public affairs specialist. The program will include the screening of a special feature available with the DVD for "National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets," filmed in part in the Library’s extraordinary Thomas Jefferson Building.

The "National Treasures" program will include demonstrations by Library of Congress educational specialists on how to bring Colorado history alive with rare primary-source materials available on the Library’s Web site at www.loc.gov.

Margaret A. Coval, executive director of Colorado Humanities, will introduce two young finalists in the River of Words (www.riverofwords.org) environmental art and poetry contest sponsored by the Center for the Book. The students will read their prize-winning poems.

Earlier that day, Galloway and Petri will conduct a workshop for teachers and librarians that includes an online demonstration of the interactive Library of Congress Experience (www.myLOC.gov), which brings unique historical and cultural treasures to attendees through cutting-edge interactive technology. The Experience comprises a series of new exhibitions and a continuing online educational experience on this personalized Web site. These include:

• "The Art and Architecture of the Thomas Jefferson Building," a tour through this exuberant 1897 masterpiece of American craftsmanship.

• "Creating the United States," which tells the story of how our Founding Fathers used creativity, collaboration and compromise to form our nation, with a focus on the words and phrases that created the republic.

• "Thomas Jefferson’s Library," which features thousands of original volumes that provided the foundation for the Library of Congress and its universal collections.

• "Exploring the Early Americas," which tells the story of the Americas before the time of Columbus, as well as the periods of contact, conquest and their aftermath. Jay I. Kislak’s extensive collection of rare books, manuscripts, historic documents, maps and art of the Americas comprises the major portion of this exhibition, which also features Martin Waldseemüller’s 1507 Map of the World, the first document to use the word "America."

Also on the program are presentations by staff of Colorado Humanities and Denver City Librarian Shirley Amore.

The Center for the Book (www.loc.gov/cfbook) was established by Congress in 1977 "to use the resources and prestige of the Library of Congress to promote books, reading, literacy and libraries." With its many educational programs that reach readers of all ages, through its support of the National Book Festival and through its dynamic state centers in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the Center for the Book has developed a nationwide network of organizational partners dedicated to promoting the wonders and benefits of reading. The center’s Books and Beyond author series brings writers of all genres to the Library of Congress to discuss their work.

"National Treasures, Local Treasures," which made its first stop in Broward County, Fla., will also be presented by state centers for the book and public libraries in the following cities:

Monday, Nov. 24
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Dallas Public Library

Thursday, Dec. 11
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
San Francisco Public Library

Friday, Dec. 12
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Los Angeles Public Library

# # #

PR 08-188
10/14/08
ISSN 0731-3527

Back to top