Library of Congress Announces 2023 Literacy Awards on International Literacy DayThree organizations working to expand literacy and promote reading will be awarded the 2023 Library of Congress Literacy Awards, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced today. Top prizes are being awarded to The News Literacy Project, Downtown Boxing Gym and Worldreader.The Literacy Awards program, sponsored by David M. Rubenstein since 2013, honors organizations that provide exemplary, innovative and replicable strategies to combat illiteracy. For more than 10 years, the Library of Congress has recognized the urgent need to achieve universal literacy through the program."Literacy is a pathway to an individual’s happiness, health, and wellbeing,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. “The Library of Congress is proud to honor and celebrate the achievements of these extraordinary organizations, through the generosity of David M. Rubenstein, in their commitment to expanding literacy around the world.”Click here for more information. You are subscribed to Latest News from the Library of Congress.

Ada Limón: 'You Are Here'U.S. Poet Laureate to Publish Anthology, Bring Poetry to National ParksAda Limón’s signature project as the nation’s 24th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, “You Are Here,” will feature two major new initiatives: an anthology of commissioned nature poems and poetry installed as public art in seven national parks.“I want to champion the ways reading and writing poetry can situate us in the natural world,” Limón said. “Never has it been more urgent to feel a sense of reciprocity with our environment, and poetry’s alchemical mix of attention, silence, and rhythm gives us a reciprocal way of experiencing nature — of communing with the natural world through breath and presence.”Click here for more information. You are subscribed to Latest News or Poetry & Literature News from the Library of Congress.

Library Awards New Lewis-Houghton Civics and Democracy Initiative Grants to Organizations Developing Resources for History, Civics and Democracy StudentsThe Library of Congress has awarded Lewis-Houghton Civics and Democracy Initiative grants to six organizations that are working to develop digital educational projects that teach history, civics, and democracy to secondary students using creative arts materials from the Library’s collections.The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act of 2023 appropriated money for the new Lewis-Houghton Civics and Democracy Initiative, which honors the service and democratic ideals of Reps. John R. Lewis and Amo Houghton. The Library has awarded each organization $100,000. Grantees who make sufficient progress toward agreed-upon goals may apply for an additional two years of funding.Click here for more information. You are subscribed to Latest News from the Library of Congress.

The 2024 Junior Fellows Program (JFP) is accepting applications now through Monday, November 27, 2023. JFP 2024 is a paid internship offering remote and onsite projects for many different majors and interests.OpportunityThe Junior Fellows Program is a paid, full-time summer internship that enables the next generation of diverse cultural institution professionals to experience and interpret the collections, events, and services of the world's largest, all-inclusive library. Projects increase access to Library of Congress collections and promote awareness of the Library's resources to Congress and people in communities across America. With guidance from mentors, Junior Fellows produce products that position the Library as a dynamic center for fostering innovation, sparking creativity, and building lifelong connections. Program Dates and ScheduleJFP24 starts on Monday, May 20 and ends on Friday, July 26, 2024. Junior Fellows work 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday.EligibilityCurrently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students from all majors, and recent graduates between January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023 are eligible to apply. How to Apply Download the JFP How to Apply This brochure provides step-by-step advice for preparing and submitting an application. Read the full description of JFP 2024 on the Library’s Internships and Fellowships Opportunities Review remote and/or onsite project offerings and follow the links to USAJOBS to apply.Connect with JFP Visit the JFP Overview page on loc.gov for intern portfolio content, including capstone Display Day videos. Subscribe to the Of the People blog, an active platform for intern spotlights, program resources, and new ways to use Library collections.Researching the Black Press in Chronicling America (Remote)Project Description: In this project, the Junior Fellow will learn how to research the Black Press in America in the 19th and early 20th centuries using primary and secondary sources and write newspaper history essays to provide context to users of Chronicling America under the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP). This project seeks to expand collection access and context for many of the individual newspaper titles digitized in a 2021-2023 project. The incumbent will create up to ten well-researched newspaper history essays up to 500 words long, representing significant titles or groups of titles from this collection, providing additional context to the content in the newspapers, the community they served, and the publishers and editors who created the newspapers. Americans will benefit from this project by gaining a deeper of the Black Press and its impact.Knowledge and skills required: Ability to perform research in historic primary resources. Ability to research and write concise, well-written essays for public consumption. Knowledge of 19th and early 20th century African American History, including people, events, and places. Familiarity in using digital collections repositories or databases, or digitized materials.Knowledge and skills preferred: Ability to perform research in historic newspapers. Familiarity with the American Black Press in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Library Seeks Applicants for the 2024 Junior Fellows ProgramThe Library of Congress is seeking applicants for its next Junior Fellows Program, a summer internship held from May 20, 2024, to July 26, 2024. This 10-week, full-time paid internship is open to undergraduate and graduate students, and recent graduates interested in learning and conducting research using the resources of the largest library in the world. Remote and on-site project opportunities are available. The deadline to apply is Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.  Click here for more information. You are subscribed to Latest News from the Library of Congress.

News from the Library of CongressFriends of the Library of Congress, Materials from the Musical ‘Hadestown' and More Be A Friend + Vote for the 2024 Friends Choice Awards!What does a preservation makeover really look like? How does supporting librarians serving the blind and print disabled worldwide build accessible collections? Where do you begin celebrating Africana food and foodways? Help us find out! Be a friend and Vote for your choice in the 2024 Friends' Choice Awards.    The Friends' Choice Award recognizes the project donors most want to fund. You get to decide! If you're already a Friend of the Library - check your email for the voting link. If you are not a Friend - join today! Memberships begin at $50 annually. Learn more about the proposals and vote for the one you want to see come to life.Be a Friend + Vote today!Materials from the Musical ‘Hadestown' Added to Library of Congress CollectionsThe Library of Congress has added rare materials from the development of the Tony Award-winning musical “Hadestown” to its collections, thanks to a donation from the show's Tony Award-winning creator, singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell.Learn more.Library Announces 2023 Music Commissions from Koussevitzky FoundationThe Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress has awarded commissions for new musical works to six composers. The commissions are granted jointly by the foundation and the performing organizations that will present the world premiere of each work.Learn more. George Chauncey, Historian of LGBTQ+ Life and Kluge Prize Recipient, Releases New Video Series “Through History to Equality”George Chauncey, recipient of the 2022 John W. Kluge Prize for Achievement in the Study of Humanity, released three videos today with the Library of Congress examining the experiences of LGBTQ+ Americans. These are now available to watch on loc.gov and the Library's YouTube channel.Learn more. The Wright Brothers History Takes Wing at the LibraryAt 10:35 on the morning of Dec. 17, 1903, on a remote sand dune in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, mankind flew for the first time. Orville Wright piloted a homemade airplane powered by a homemade engine for a few wobbly seconds while his brother and co-creator Wilbur ran alongside the right wingtip. “Success four flights thursday morning” Orville telegraphed their father back home in Dayton, Ohio. The world would never be the same. Humans flew to the moon 65 years later.Read more in the latest issue of the Library of Congress Magazine.

George WashingtonI cannot tell a lie sirI’m sorry as can be.It was with my little hatchetI chopped down the cherry tree.You may also like:The Great Backyard Bird CountBlogProject Organize RefrigeratorLifeGroundhog … [continue reading] The post George Washington Poems appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Larry and Susan Kaseman are retiring from their Wisconsin Parents Association staff positions. Below is only part of their letter: Susan and I have had a long and rewarding experience serving WPA, Susan as Senior Program Specialist and I as Executive Director. It's been 32 years, and we find ourselves in our early 70's and wanting to spend more time with our grandchildren, do more gardening, take more photographs, and do more reading and writing. We will undoubtedly become involved in other projects. We will also see many of you at the WPA conference in May. Over the past two years, we have worked with the WPA Board to ensure a successful transfer of the WPA work we have been doing to others. We are pleased to say that this effort has been fruitful. Two very strong, capable, and committed women who are long-time and currently active homeschoolers and WPA supporters, will be doing the work that Susan and I have been doing. Beginning January 1, 2016, Pamela Roland will be WPA's President and Jen Lynch will be WPA's Executive Director. Pamela and Jen have worked very well with Susan and me in making this transition. It's also a good feeling to be leaving when WPA is on solid ground. Over the past two years, WPA membership has grown, the conference has increased to over 800 attendees, donations are up, and more homeschoolers are sharing their time and talents with WPA. We expect these increases to continue as homeschoolers continue to support WPA as the committed Wisconsin homeschoolers that we are.It's a testament to the strength of homeschoolers and WPA that this transition of work has not been done in haste, is working so smoothly, and that WPA work will continue to be done with a level of moral and ethical commitment to the principles WPA has established over the years. This feels very good to Susan and me, and our thanks go to Pamela and Jen.And thank you to all the homeschoolers who have supported WPA and Susan and me over the past 32 years. WPA is a grassroots organization and your commitments to your families, to homeschooling, and to WPA have given us strength, energy, and joy.Sincerely,Larry and Susan Kaseman