Events at the Library of Congress

Sunday, September 12, 6 p.m. ET 

“Open a Book, Open the World: The Library of Congress National Book Festival,” hosted by LeVar Burton, premieres Sunday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS Video app, and becomes available on the National Book Festival website on Monday, Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. ET.

Click here to learn more. 

2021 National Book Festival

Friday, September 17-26

Create your National Book Festival experience with the Library of Congress in 2021 by engaging in author conversations online, watching the broadcast special on PBS, listening to NPR podcasts, tuning in to Washington Post Live author interviews and attending a ticketed event at the Library. Join us for an expanded Festival, September 17-26, a 10-day event with the theme, “Open a Book, Open the World.”

Click here to learn more. 

PBS Books Author Talk: Annette Gordon-Reed Monday, September 13, 8-9 p.m. ET In celebration of the 2021 National Book Festival, PBS Books will host Annette Gordon-Reed to discuss "On Juneteenth" with Kevin Young. Click here to learn more.

Watch the premiere with closed captions on Facebook.

Join us for the final two films of American Folklife Center’s Homegrown Foodways in West Virginia film series with "Ravioli and Sauce with Lou " and "Turkish Cuisine with Mehmet Öztan."

Click here to learn more. 

PBS Books Author Talk: Tana French Wednesday, September 15, 6-7 p.m. ET In celebration of the 2021 National Book Festival, PBS Books will host Tana French to discuss "The Searcher" with Brian O'Donovan. Click here to learn more.  .

PBS Books Author Talk: Maria Hinojosa Thursday, September 16, 8-9 p.m. ET In celebration of the 2021 National Book Festival, PBS Books will host Maria Hinojosa to discuss "Once I Was You" with GPB President and CEO Teya Ryan. Click here to learn more.

Webinars from the Library of Congress

• Contemplations and Collaborations Using Historic Newspapers

  Tuesday, September 14, 1-2:15 p.m. ET

  Join us for a discussion on how research involving historical newspapers contributes to better understanding of the Mexico-United States borderlands and beyond. Register for this event. 

• 2021 Constitution Day Lecture with Kurt Lash

  Thursday, September 16, 3-4 p.m. ET

  Join us for the 2021 Constitution Day Lecture with Kurt Lash on the history of the Bill of Rights. Register for this event. 

• Orientation to Law Library Collections Webinar

  Tuesday, September 21, 1-2 p.m. ET

  Join the Law Library of Congress for a webinar designed for patrons who are familiar with legal research, and would instead prefer an introduction to the collections and services specific to the Law Library of Congress. Register for this event. 

• Discovering Science Collections Virtually at the Library of Congress

  Tuesday, September 21, 2-3 p.m. ET

  Join us for a webinar that will cover how the Library developed its Science and Technology Collections and recommended research strategies to discover science at the Library of Congress. Register for this event. 

• Free Speech and the Regulation of Social Media in Egypt and Pakistan

  Thursday, September 23, 2-3 p.m. ET

  Join us for a webinar that will focus on current and proposed legal frameworks for regulating unlawful and harmful speech on social media platforms in Egypt and Pakistan. Register for this event. 

Exhibitions at the Library of Congress

Several exhibitions are open for visitors to visit at the Library of Congress.

• Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words

• Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight For the Vote

• Thomas Jefferson's Library

• Exploring the Early Americas

• Mapping a New Nation: Abel Buell’s Map of the United States, 1784

IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to enter the Library's Thomas Jefferson Building and experience the exhibition, each visitor must apply for and receive one of a limited number of free timed entry passes. For information on reserving tickets, visit loc.gov/visit, where visitors can review “Know Before You Go” guidelines and reserve their free passes.