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Events from the Library of Congress


  • May
    2 Thu
    Join Or Die - Film Screening

    Join Or Die - Film Screening

    Located in Coolidge Auditorium, Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street, SE – Ground Floor
    Washington, DC
    Doors at 5:00 PM, Show at 5:30 PM
    TICKET PRICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
    GENERAL ADMISSION: $0.00

    TICKET SALE DATES
    GENERAL ADMISSION Public Onsale: April 2, 2024 8:00 AM to May 2, 2024 8:00 PM

    PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION

    Please join us for a screening of the documentary film, "Join or Die." This film is being screened in support of our Join In: Voluntary Associations in America exhibit. As the directors, Rebecca and Pete Davis, explain:


    "Join or Die is a film about why you should join a club — and why the fate of America depends on it. In this feature documentary, follow the half-century story of America's civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking "Bowling Alone" research into America's decades-long decline in community connections could hold the answers to our democracy's present crisis. Flanked by influential fans and scholars — from Hillary Clinton, Pete Buttigieg, and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to Eddie Glaude Jr., Raj Chetty, and Priya Parker — as well as inspiring groups building community in neighborhoods across the country, join Bob as he explores three urgent civic questions: What makes democracy work? Why is American democracy in crisis? And, most importantly… What can we do about it?"



    Accessible seating is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.

  • May
    10 Fri
    An Evening with Whoopi Goldberg

    An Evening with Whoopi Goldberg

    Located in Coolidge Auditorium, Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street, SE – Ground Floor
    Washington, DC
    Doors at 6:00 PM, Show at 6:30 PM

    PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION

    Multi-award winner Whoopi Goldberg talks about her forthcoming book "Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me," a new and unique memoir of her family and their influence on her early life.


     


    Whoopi Goldberg is one of an elite group of artists who have won the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards) and is the bestselling author of the Sugar Plum Ballerina series, "Whoopi Goldberg Book," and "Is It Just Me?: Or Is It Nuts out There?" While performing in the Bay Area she created the characters that became "The Spook Show" and evolved into her hit Broadway show, Grammy Award–winning album, and the HBO special that helped launch her career. Spanning decades, Whoopi’s credits include roles in the well-known films "The Color Purple," "Ghosts of Mississippi," "Sister Act," and "Ghost." She produced the documentary "Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley," and she appeared in and was one of the producers of the critically acclaimed 2022 feature film "Till." She loves VW Bugs, working casinos and comfortable clothing, and is a passionate supporter of the audio arts and dedicated collector of audiobooks.


     


    There will be a book signing after the program.



    Accessible seating is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.

    Sold Out
  • May
    11 Sat

    Hidden Portals Mask-Making Workshop

    Washington, DC
    Show at 11:00 AM
    TICKET PRICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
    GENERAL ADMISSION: $0.00

    TICKET SALE DATES
    GENERAL ADMISSION Public Onsale: March 21, 2024 12:22 PM to May 11, 2024 11:00 AM

    PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION

    Tigers are a symbol for protection used in doorways in Chinese and Korean traditions. For this AAPI History Month, Library of Congress Innovator in Residence Jeffrey Yoo Warren invites families with children ages 6-12 to a mask-making workshop at the Library, where attendees will create cardboard virtual reality masks in the shape of a tiger’s head and use them to visit “hidden portals” the artist has made to historic Chinatowns around the US.


    No special equipment beyond a smart phone is required to participate! Registration is encouraged but not required. Lessons will begin every half hour from 11:00- 2:00pm ET in the Thomas Jefferson Building, Room LJ-119.

    "This project has been a powerful way for me to connect with and learn about the earliest AAPI communities, and I hope it will be especially meaningful for Asian American families this month."


    Accessible seating is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.



  • May
    11 Sat

    Hidden Portals Mask-Making Workshop

    Washington, DC
    Show at 11:30 AM
    TICKET PRICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
    GENERAL ADMISSION: $0.00

    TICKET SALE DATES
    GENERAL ADMISSION Public Onsale: March 21, 2024 12:22 PM to May 11, 2024 11:30 AM

    PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION

    Tigers are a symbol for protection used in doorways in Chinese and Korean traditions. For this AAPI History Month, Library of Congress Innovator in Residence Jeffrey Yoo Warren invites families with children ages 6-12 to a mask-making workshop at the Library, where attendees will create cardboard virtual reality masks in the shape of a tiger’s head and use them to visit “hidden portals” the artist has made to historic Chinatowns around the US.


    No special equipment beyond a smart phone is required to participate! Registration is encouraged but not required. Lessons will begin every half hour from 11:00- 2:00pm ET in the Thomas Jefferson Building, Room LJ-119.

    "This project has been a powerful way for me to connect with and learn about the earliest AAPI communities, and I hope it will be especially meaningful for Asian American families this month."


    Accessible seating is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.



  • May
    11 Sat

    Hidden Portals Mask-Making Workshop

    Washington, DC
    Show at 12:00 PM
    TICKET PRICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
    GENERAL ADMISSION: $0.00

    TICKET SALE DATES
    GENERAL ADMISSION Public Onsale: March 21, 2024 12:22 PM to May 11, 2024 12:00 PM

    PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION

    Tigers are a symbol for protection used in doorways in Chinese and Korean traditions. For this AAPI History Month, Library of Congress Innovator in Residence Jeffrey Yoo Warren invites families with children ages 6-12 to a mask-making workshop at the Library, where attendees will create cardboard virtual reality masks in the shape of a tiger’s head and use them to visit “hidden portals” the artist has made to historic Chinatowns around the US.


    No special equipment beyond a smart phone is required to participate! Registration is encouraged but not required. Lessons will begin every half hour from 11:00- 2:00pm ET in the Thomas Jefferson Building, Room LJ-119.

    "This project has been a powerful way for me to connect with and learn about the earliest AAPI communities, and I hope it will be especially meaningful for Asian American families this month."


    Accessible seating is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.



  • May
    11 Sat

    Hidden Portals Mask-Making Workshop

    Washington, DC
    Show at 12:30 PM
    TICKET PRICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
    GENERAL ADMISSION: $0.00

    TICKET SALE DATES
    GENERAL ADMISSION Public Onsale: March 21, 2024 12:22 PM to May 11, 2024 12:30 PM

    PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION

    Tigers are a symbol for protection used in doorways in Chinese and Korean traditions. For this AAPI History Month, Library of Congress Innovator in Residence Jeffrey Yoo Warren invites families with children ages 6-12 to a mask-making workshop at the Library, where attendees will create cardboard virtual reality masks in the shape of a tiger’s head and use them to visit “hidden portals” the artist has made to historic Chinatowns around the US.


    No special equipment beyond a smart phone is required to participate! Registration is encouraged but not required. Lessons will begin every half hour from 11:00- 2:00pm ET in the Thomas Jefferson Building, Room LJ-119.

    "This project has been a powerful way for me to connect with and learn about the earliest AAPI communities, and I hope it will be especially meaningful for Asian American families this month."


    Accessible seating is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.



  • May
    11 Sat

    Hidden Portals Mask-Making Workshop

    Washington, DC
    Show at 1:00 PM
    TICKET PRICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
    GENERAL ADMISSION: $0.00

    TICKET SALE DATES
    GENERAL ADMISSION Public Onsale: March 21, 2024 12:22 PM to May 11, 2024 1:00 PM

    PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION

    Tigers are a symbol for protection used in doorways in Chinese and Korean traditions. For this AAPI History Month, Library of Congress Innovator in Residence Jeffrey Yoo Warren invites families with children ages 6-12 to a mask-making workshop at the Library, where attendees will create cardboard virtual reality masks in the shape of a tiger’s head and use them to visit “hidden portals” the artist has made to historic Chinatowns around the US.


    No special equipment beyond a smart phone is required to participate! Registration is encouraged but not required. Lessons will begin every half hour from 11:00- 2:00pm ET in the Thomas Jefferson Building, Room LJ-119.

    "This project has been a powerful way for me to connect with and learn about the earliest AAPI communities, and I hope it will be especially meaningful for Asian American families this month."


    Accessible seating is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.



  • May
    11 Sat

    Hidden Portals Mask-Making Workshop

    Washington, DC
    Show at 1:30 PM
    TICKET PRICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
    GENERAL ADMISSION: $0.00

    TICKET SALE DATES
    GENERAL ADMISSION Public Onsale: March 21, 2024 12:22 PM to May 11, 2024 1:30 PM

    PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION

    Tigers are a symbol for protection used in doorways in Chinese and Korean traditions. For this AAPI History Month, Library of Congress Innovator in Residence Jeffrey Yoo Warren invites families with children ages 6-12 to a mask-making workshop at the Library, where attendees will create cardboard virtual reality masks in the shape of a tiger’s head and use them to visit “hidden portals” the artist has made to historic Chinatowns around the US.


    No special equipment beyond a smart phone is required to participate! Registration is encouraged but not required. Lessons will begin every half hour from 11:00- 2:00pm ET in the Thomas Jefferson Building, Room LJ-119.

    "This project has been a powerful way for me to connect with and learn about the earliest AAPI communities, and I hope it will be especially meaningful for Asian American families this month."


    Accessible seating is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.



  • May
    11 Sat
    George Takei Shares “My Lost Freedom” (May Family Day)

    George Takei Shares “My Lost Freedom” (May Family Day)

    Located in Coolidge Auditorium, Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street, SE – Ground Floor
    Washington, DC
    Doors at 1:30 PM, Show at 2:00 PM
    TICKET PRICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
    GENERAL ADMISSION: $0.00

    TICKET SALE DATES
    GENERAL ADMISSION Public Onsale: April 11, 2024 8:00 AM to May 11, 2024 4:00 PM

    PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION

    Hear from award-winning author, actor and civil rights advocate George Takei about his new book, “My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story” as part of the Library’s Family Day: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. All ages are welcome.



    Accessible seating is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.

  • May
    15 Wed
    "From Folk to Baroque" with Celtic music duo Rakish

    "From Folk to Baroque" with Celtic music duo Rakish

    Located in Whittall Pavilion, Thomas Jefferson Building 10 First Street, Ground Floor
    Washington, DC
    Doors at 11:40 AM, Show at 12:00 PM
    TICKET PRICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
    GENERAL ADMISSION: $0.00

    TICKET SALE DATES
    GENERAL ADMISSION Public Onsale: March 28, 2024 11:01 AM to May 15, 2024 2:00 PM

    PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION

    Using musical form and harmonic language as focal points, Rakish demonstrate the influence and overlap between dance music and airs from Britain and Ireland and art music or classical music from surrounding countries. The concert will include musical dance forms and tune types including Jigs, Reels, Hornpipes, and Airs, arranged from written collections to be performed on the fiddle and guitar. 


     


    Using musical transcriptions from The American Folklife Center and the Library’s Music Division, Rakish will trace the connections between traditional music from Britain and Ireland in the period from 1650 to 1750 and the late baroque and early Galant music from surrounding countries such as France, Germany, and Italy. The Galant style (1720-1770) was a return to a simpler, more melody-driven musical aesthetic after the complexity of the baroque period. Galant music parallels the inherent simplicity of traditional tunes that were composed and played in Ireland, Scotland, and England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. 


     


    Rakish is the duo of Violinist Maura Shawn Scanlin and guitarist Conor Hearn. They take their name from the traditional Irish tune Rakish Paddy, an origin that aptly suits the duo and their shared background in traditional Irish and Scottish music. Maura and Conor draw on the music they grew up with and perform it in a way that reflects their shared interest in and love for chamber and improvised music. Maura Shawn, a two-time U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, and a winner of the Glenfiddich Fiddle Competition, has the technical range of a classical violinist and the sensitivity of a traditional musician. Conor, a native to the Irish music communities of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD, makes his home in Boston playing guitar for several traditional music acts and bands.


    Accessible seating is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.


  • May
    23 Thu
    Live! At the Library: Somapa Thai Dance Company in Concert

    Live! At the Library: Somapa Thai Dance Company in Concert

    Located in Coolidge Auditorium, Thomas Jefferson Building 10 First Street, Ground Floor
    Washington, DC
    Doors at 6:30 PM, Show at 7:00 PM
    TICKET PRICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
    GENERAL ADMISSION: $0.00

    TICKET SALE DATES
    GENERAL ADMISSION Public Onsale: April 11, 2024 12:48 PM to May 23, 2024 9:00 PM

    PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION

    Somapa Thai Dance Company is a distinguished Thai dance and music company based in the Washington DC area, featuring an accomplished Thai orchestra. Many of its artists have been trained with highly recognized dance and music masters, including National Artists and others from Chulalongkorn University and the prestigious Department of Fine Arts in Bangkok, Thailand. The orchestra is led by the widely recognized Thai music master Vorayot Suksaichon. The group has performed at prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, the Walters Art Museum, the Maryland Folk Festival, and the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington DC.


    The group’s mission is to preserve and promote Thai culture and arts in the Americas. Through performances and workshops, the Company hopes that music and dance will bring peace and diversity to society through increased understanding of people’s different cultures and backgrounds.


     


    The American Folklife Center is hosting the group in celebration of the Asian and Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month and as part of the Homegrown Concert Series and Live! At the Library. Presented in cooperation with Folklore Society of Greater Washington 




    Accessible seating is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.

  • May
    30 Thu

    Live! at the Library: Shaker Community Sing with Kevin Siegfried

    Located in LJ-119, Thomas Jefferson Building 10 First Street, First Floor
    Washington, DC
    Doors at 6:30 PM, Show at 7:00 PM
    TICKET PRICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
    GENERAL ADMISSION: $0.00

    TICKET SALE DATES
    GENERAL ADMISSION Public Onsale: April 15, 2024 11:49 AM to May 30, 2024 9:00 PM

    PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION

    Shaker music is a rich and varied body of spiritual folk music and vital American musical tradition. The widely known song “Simple Gifts,” popularized by Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring, represents only the tip of the iceberg of a tradition that encompasses thousands of songs, hymns, anthems, and dance tunes. Whether lively and joyful, or moving and deeply felt, Shaker spirituals boast a strong sense of melody and feature texts that speak to universal and inspirational themes. Shaker music is community music and comes alive in the context of group singing, and song leader Kevin Siegfried has a passion for sharing his love of this unique and vibrant music. The year 2024 marks the 250th anniversary of the Shakers’ arrival in America, providing a wonderful opportunity to reflect on their enduring legacy. Experienced and non-experienced singers alike are invited to attend and participate. Kevin will be providing sheets of words and music for participants. All are welcome!


     


    Part of Homegrown Concerts and Interviews


    Generous Support for this event comes from the Capitol Hill Chorale




    Accessible seating is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.

10 First Street SE
Washington, DC
United States

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States—and extensive materials from around the world—both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.