November News from the Library of Congress

November is Native American Heritage Month

What started at the turn of the century as an effort to create a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a month being designated for that purpose.

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans with this joint web portal highlighting collections, resources and events: nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/ 

Living Nations, Living Words Earlier this month, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden appointed U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo to a third term, making Harjo the second laureate to receive this extension since terms for the position were established in 1943. During her third term, Harjo will focus on her signature project, “Living Nations, Living Words,” a digital project that maps 47 contemporary Native American poets across the country. The map connects to a new online audio collection developed by Harjo and housed in the Library’s American Folklife Center, which features the participating poets reading and discussing an original poem. Read the announcement:  loc.gov/item/prn-20-075/?loclr=ealn

Everyday Mysteries: Sweet Potato vs. Yam Just in time for Thanksgiving, tackle an important question – what’s is the difference between sweet potatoes and yams? You can find out the answer to this question and other everyday mysteries by checking out fun science facts from the Library of Congress! Discover the Answer: loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/item/what-is-the-difference-between-sweet-potatoes-and-yams/?loclr=ealn Everyday Mysteries: loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/?loclr=ealn

New Virtual Series: Behind the Book If you have ever wondered how a book goes from rough manuscript to published masterpiece and how an author rises from obscurity to fame, then a new series of programs from the Library of Congress is just for you. The new series, Behind the Book, provides a behind-the-scenes view of the world of American book publishing, highlighting the editors, designers, publicists, agents and publishers who make the books that win prizes and endure.  Series announcement and schedule: loc.gov/item/prn-20-078/?loclr=ealn

12/3 Webinar: "Influenza and Covid19: What To Expect This Winter"

The Library of Congress’ Health Services Division and Science, Technology and Business Division invite you to participate in a webinar, “Influenza and Covid19: What should we expect this winter?” featuring international experts on infectious disease outbreaks, epidemiology and modeling.  This webinar, scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 3 at 10 a.m., requires advance registration, which is limited to 1,000 participants. You can submit questions in advance for the panelists using the Ask A Librarian service. When submitting questions, please indicate that it is for the December 3 webinar.

Register Now

Library of Congress Magazine Exceptional photographs communicate with viewers in a universal language to inspire, provoke, educate. In the November/December 2020 issue of LCM, Library of Congress curators and reference librarians choose great photographs from Library collections that have inspired them, including images from the dawn of the photography to the present day. Download Magazine: https://loc.gov/lcm/pdf/LCM_2020_1112.pdf

Library Seeks Applicants for the 2021 Junior Fellows Summer Internship Program

The Library of Congress is seeking applicants for its next Junior Fellows Summer Internship Program, which will run from May 24 – July 30, 2021. This 10-week paid internship is open to undergraduate and graduate students interested in learning and conducting research at the largest library in the world. For the second year in a row, the internship will be conducted virtually. 

The deadline to apply is Monday, Nov. 30, 2020. Students can learn more information or apply to the program by visiting loc.gov/item/internships/junior-fellows-program/.