America's Library: The Story of the Library of Congress, 1800-2000

by James Conaway, Edmund Morris (Introduction)

The Library of Congress, considered by many to be the greatest library on earth, holds over 110 million items―books in 450 languages, irreplaceable national documents, priceless art works, and objects of cultural fascination. From a modest collection of 740 books purchased by the Congress in 1800, the Library has grown to house hundreds of miles of bookshelves. Laid end to end, they would stretch from Washington, D.C., to Chicago. This book tells the continuously interesting story of the first two hundred years of the Library of Congress. It is a vast history, filled with an immense cast of characters ranging from presidents, poets, journalists, and congressmen to collectors, artists, curators, and eccentrics.

James Conaway centers this history around the thirteen men who have been appointed by presidents to lead the Library of Congress. The author investigates how the Librarians’ experiences and contributions, as well as the Library’s collections, have reflected political and intellectual developments in the United States. Each Librarian confronted great the entire Library collection was lost when the British burned the Capitol in 1814; in the 1940s, a backlog of one and a half million objects waited to be catalogued; the gigantic task of replacing the card catalogue with a computerized system was undertaken in the 1980s. Yet each Librarian also enjoyed the excitement of acquiring unique treasures―from Walt Whitman’s walking stick to the papers of the Wright brothers, from the Civil War photographs of Mathew Brady to the archives of Leonard Bernstein. This lively account of the Library of Congress and those who guided its progress over two centuries is the history of an American institution that today is truly a library to the world, serving readers and researchers everywhere.



Copublished with the Library of Congress

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Books About Books, American History, Politics, Library Science

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2000

About the author

James Conaway is a former Wallace Stegner fellow at Stanford University, and the author of thirteen books, including Napa at Last Light and the New York Times bestseller, Napa: The Story of an American Eden. His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, Harper's, The New Republic, Gourmet, Smithsonian, and National Geographic Traveler. He divides his time between Washington, DC, and California.

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfiction history of the Library of Congress is highly readable. It's rather slender, as far as adult nonfiction usually goes, and not dry at all. The book is broken up into chapters spanning 50 years each, and talks about the creation of the Library, the succession of Librarians of Congress, and the different iterations and innovations of the Library over the years.

I've visited the Library of Congress three times and work in a public library myself, so I thought I knew quite a bit. I was so wrong! But that's ok; it means that I learned a lot in reading this book. I found myself nearly continually reading little segments out loud to the hubby, I found it all so interesting.

The information is broken up with lots and lots of pictures, all in color (except, of course, the really old pictures where color wasn't available). They are scattered all through the text, not lumped in the middle of the book, and all have clear captions describing the content.

[DW]

Seeing the struggles that this one building faced throughout its history gives me hope for the future of the mind, books, and libraries in general. This author grounds his book in a day-by-day account of the various staff, politicians, and events that made the library what it is today. Well, until 2000.

Secret bonus for library people: It discusses the politics of trying to get objectives pushed through in unfriendly environments or when you have people working at cross-purposes. That makes this book invaluable reading. Hidden title = How to not get stuck for 200 years and instead make real change happen in your library.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

An accessible and fascinating history of the Library of Congress from its inception to the year 2000. I particularly enjoyed the many photos included from the LOC archives and descriptions of the incredible collections acquired over the years. Fingers crossed I get to visit it someday.

James H. Billington (13th librarian of the LOC) said the LOC is, “the memory for an inherently memory-less society”. He saw the library’s responsibility as, “that of neutral provider of information from which knowledge is derived, at no charge, so that people could be free to make up their own minds in matters small and momentous”.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent biography of America’s greatest institution; the Library of Congress ROCKS!!!

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful history of the Library of Congress and it’s equally unique head Librarians over its first 200 years of existence. The photos and drawings really made the history come to life.

[Laurie Sytsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was amazingly readable, considering it was about the history of The Library of Congress, a subject that many people would find extremely dry.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous read! Covering two hundred years of the Library of Congress. From it's inception to the twenty-first century, it covers every era of the library, and includes wonderful features on special collections in the library. Highly recommended, especially if you are about to make your first visit to this great national treasure.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The historical story of our nation's library. Government hasn't changed much since the inception of the Library of Congress with all its twists and turns. One of my favorite nonfiction reads and close to my librarian heart.

Interesting discussion of Spofford's and subsequent librarians' view of the library of Congress with respect to the American Library Association.

[Lindsey Harmon]

I chose this book because it discusses the history of a library that many have heard of but few understand. The Library of Congress is at the heart of many others libraries; thus, librarians should learn a bit more about it.

[Kristin Comeaux]

Although I haven't read this book yet, I believe it would be beneficial because it would allow me to understand how the Library of Congress came about.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted you to be more exciting.

[Andrew Stout]

Read chapters 4 and 5 - background reading for a paper on Archibald MacLeish.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good history