Tag Archives: library of congress
A Tour of The Library of Congress’ Library of Awesome
Coinciding with Awesome Con, the Library of Congress is celebrating comics and graphic novels with the “Library of Awesome.”
The “Library of Awesome” is a pop-up exhibit featuring items from the Library’s comic collection. We walk you through what you can expect when you visit.
The display runs Wednesday June 14 through Saturday June 17 on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street S.E., Washington DC. Tickets aren’t required.
Library of Congress Announces Webcomics Archive
The Library of Congress has announced two new born-digital collections are now available – the Webcomics Web Archive and the Web Cultures Web Archive.
The Webcomics Web Archive focuses on comics created specifically for the web and supplements the Library’s extensive holdings in comic books, graphic novels and original comic art.
Webcomics selected for this collection include award-winning comics as well as webcomics that are significant for their longevity, reputation or subject matter. The collection includes sites such as Dinosaur Comics, Hyperbole and a Half, and XKCD. Also included are works by artists and subjects not traditionally represented in mainstream comics, including women artists and characters, artists and characters of color, LGBTQ+ artists and characters, as well as subjects such as politics, health and autobiography.
The Web Cultures Web Archive is a representative sampling of websites documenting the creation and sharing of emergent cultural traditions on the web such as GIFs, memes and emoji. The project is part of the American Folklife Center, established by Congress to document traditional cultural forms and practices.
The effort will help scholars 25 and 100 years from now to have a fuller picture of the culture and life of people today. Sites included in the archive are Urban Dictionary, Internet Meme Database, Emojipedia and Boing Boing.
The Library collected and is displaying these sites with permission. Any further use by the public may also require permission.
The Library has been archiving select websites since 2000 and has now preserved more than a petabyte of web content, including collections of federal executive, legislative and judicial websites; sites of international governments; and national institutions such as the U.S. Olympic Committee and the American Red Cross.
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.
Lynda Carter Joins “Library of Awesome” at the Library of Congress this June
The Library of Congress today announced that Lynda Carter, the famed actress known for her role as Wonder Woman, will appear at Library festivities celebrating the world of comics.
The Library of Congress last week announced “Library of Awesome,” a pop-up exhibit featuring items from the Library’s comic-book collections presented in conjunction with Awesome Con, Washington, D.C.’s annual convention of comics, cosplay and pop culture, on view Wednesday, June 14 – Saturday, June 17 on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street S.E., Washington D.C. Tickets are not required.
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden will interview Carter, known for her role in the 1970s Wonder Woman television series, at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 16, in the Coolidge Auditorium of the Thomas Jefferson Building, located at 10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C. Carter will discuss how her legendary character empowered generations of girls and boys. Tickets will be available beginning at noon on Monday, June 5 at this website. The interview will be live-streamed on the Library’s Facebook page and its YouTube channel.
The Library of Congress holds several significant issues of the Wonder Woman series. As the first female superhero, Wonder Woman first appeared in All Star Comics, No. 8 (1941) in a nine-page story as the Amazon princess Diana, who nursed American Captain Steve Trevor back to health following an airplane crash. She debuted as the lead character in the inaugural issue of Sensation Comics, No. 1 (1942) arriving in the United States with Captain Trevor. Both comic issues will be on display. Her creator, psychologist William Moulton Marston, who took the pen name of Charles Moulton, has stated that he created her to be the strong, self-reliant and confident female superhero that she became.
The Library of Congress will Celebrate the World of Comics
The Library of Congress is gearing up for a super summer treat celebrating the role of comics and graphic novels in promoting literacy, as collectibles, in the arts, advertising, sociology, popular culture and history. Making a variety of collection items more accessible to the general public, the “Library of Awesome” features a pop-up display of famous comic-book issues, drawings, original comic strips and related items. Programming for all ages will be offered.
Nearly 100 comic-book collection items will be on display for “Library of Awesome,” a pop-up exhibit featuring items from the Library’s comic-book collections presented in conjunction with Awesome-Con, Washington, D.C.’s annual convention of comics, cosplay and pop culture. The display will be on view Wednesday, June 14 – Saturday, June 17 on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street S.E., Washington D.C. Tickets are not required.
The collections of the Library of Congress include nearly 140,000 comic books dating back to the 1930s. Visitors will see famous editions of such comic-book characters as Wonder Woman, Superman and some of the most significant artwork and storylines in comic-book history. These include original artwork for the first appearance of Spider-Man and the American classic known as Famous Funnies No. 1 (1934), considered by many to be the first American comic book. First appearances of Batman, the Fantastic Four and the Incredible Hulk will be on display, as well as rare early science fiction and children’s comics. The exhibit will also feature first issues of Archie, Luke Cage: Hero for Hire and Supergirl.
Additional programming includes a family-friendly costume contest with a chance to win a pair of tickets to Awesome-Con 2017, workshops and demonstrations.
Events are free and open to the public. Visitors who come to “Library of Awesome” dressed in a superhero character costume will receive a 15 percent discount on merchandise at the Library of Congress Shop.
The programming includes:
Wednesday, June 14
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (LJ 113, first floor, Thomas Jefferson Building)
“Library of Awesome” Comic-Book Display
Visitors are invited to explore this pop-up display of more than 100 iconic comic-book issues of today’s most popular characters. The display will feature multiple themes including Wonder Woman and milestones, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, children’s comics and sci-fi comics. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.
Thursday, June 15
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (LJ 113, first floor, Thomas Jefferson Building)
“Library of Awesome” Comic-Book Display
Visitors are invited to explore this pop-up display of more than 100 iconic comic-book issues of today’s most popular characters. The display will feature multiple themes including Wonder Woman and milestones, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, children’s comics and sci-fi comics. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.
2 p.m. (Young Readers Center)
Cosplay Demonstration
Library Technician Ashley Dickerson and other cosplayers will demonstrate how they develop characters. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.
3 p.m. (Young Readers Center)
Cosplay Workshop
Library of Congress Young Readers Center staff and cosplayers will teach visitors how to make superhero arm gauntlets using basic craft supplies. Kids are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite characters. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.
Friday, June 16
9:30 a.m. (Neptune Plaza)
Costume Contest
Get your capes ready! Come dressed up as your favorite comic-book character for the ultimate costume contest. There will be separate categories for children and adult participants. The winners of the adult contest will receive a pair of passes to 2017 Awesome-Con to be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Free and open to the public. Reservations required; visit Eventbrite for reservation and official contest rules.
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (LJ 113, first floor, Thomas Jefferson Building)
“Library of Awesome” Comic-Book Display
Visitors are invited to explore this pop-up display of more than 100 iconic comic-book issues of today’s most popular characters. The display will feature multiple themes including Wonder Woman and milestones, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, children’s comics and sci-fi comics. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.
Saturday, June 17
9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Young Readers Center)
“Library of Awesome” themed activites and displays
Young Readers Center staff will host activities all day, including drawing comic books, creating props, and assembling costumes. Visitors will also be able to explore comic books, graphic novels and other Young Readers Center collections and partake in superhero and sci-fi-themed photo shoots.
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (LJ 113, first floor, Thomas Jefferson Building)
“Library of Awesome” Comic-Book Display
Visitors are invited to explore this pop-up display of more than 100 iconic comic-book issues of today’s most popular characters. The display will feature multiple themes including Wonder Woman and milestones, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Children’s comics and sci-fi comics. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.
11 a.m. (Walter E. Washington Convention Center)
“Comics Conversation: Collections and Preservation at the Library”*
Join Library of Congress staff members, including Senior Rare Book Conservator Claire Dekle, Curator of Popular and Applied Graphic Art Sara W. Duke, Reference Specialist Megan Halsband, Head of the Newspaper Section Georgia Higley and Curator of Popular and Applied Graphic Art Martha H. Kennedy, for a panel discussion about the original art and collections held at the Library. Panelists will share highlights of the collections, provide insights on the conservation and preservation of this material, and suggest how attendees might come to use the Library’s collections for their own research. *Awesome-Con 2017 ticket required for attendance.
The Library of Awesome is made possible by gifts to the Library of Congress Fund. Those interested in supporting free programs at the Library can contact devofc@loc.gov.
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.
Raina Telgemeier at the 2016 National Book Festival
Raina Telgemeier discusses Ghosts at the 2016 Library of Congress Book Festival in Washington, D.C.
Raina Telgemeier is an author, illustrator, and cartoonist. Her graphic novels “Smile” and “Drama” are both No. 1 New York Times best-sellers. “Smile,” Telgemeier’s autobiographical account of her childhood dental drama, is a Boston Globe-Horn Award Honor title and an Eisner award winner for Best Publication for Teens. “Drama” won the 2013 Stonewall Book Award Honor from the American Library Association. Telgemeier has also adapted and illustrated four graphic novel versions of Ann M. Martin’s “Baby-Sitters Club” series. Her latest graphic novel is “Ghosts”.
Comic Highlights from This Weekend’s National Book Festival
This weekend is the 2016 National Book Festival in Washington, DC. Sponsored by the Library of Congress the convention takes place September 24 at the Washington Convention Center. The event is so big it was actually moved from the National Mall to the convention center to better handle everything. Yes, it’s that big.
In total there’s over 120 authors and illustrators coming to the event, including an impressive number of those involved in the comic book world.
The convention includes panels and signings and luckily the Library of Congress posts the video of the panels after it all wraps up, of course we’ll post that when available. Check out the comic folks you can find at the convention below.
Main Stage
| 5:30 pm-6:30 pm | Raina Telgemeier | 4:00 pm-5:00 pm |
Graphic Novels
| Time | Author | Signing |
|---|---|---|
| 5:10 pm-5:50 pm | Andrew Aydin | 6:30 pm-7:30 pm |
| 5:10 pm-5:50 pm | Rep. John Lewis | 6:30 pm-7:30 pm |
| 6:00 pm-6:40 pm | Berkeley Breathed | 4:00 pm-5:00 pm |
| 6:50 pm-7:30 pm | Noelle Stevenson | 5:00 pm-6:00 pm |
| 7:40 pm-8:20 pm | Michael Ramirez | 6:00 pm-7:00 pm |
| 7:40 pm-8:20 pm | Darrin Bell | 6:00 pm-7:00 pm |
| 8:30 pm-9:10 pm | Ed Piskor | 6:30 pm-7:30 pm |
| 9:20 pm-10:00 pm | Gene Luen Yang | 3:30 pm-4:30 pm |
Note that the some signings are BEFORE the event.
Children I
| 2:00 pm-2:30 pm | Juana Medina | 12:30 pm-1:30 pm |
Children II
| Noon-12:30 pm | Kate Beaton | 1:00 pm-2:00 pm |
| 2:00 pm-2:30 pm | Shannon Hale | 3:00 pm-4:00 pm |
Teens
| 2:30 pm-3:00 pm | Gene Luen Yang | 3:30 pm-4:30 pm |
Poetry & Prose
| 6:00 pm-6:45 pm | Yuko Shimizu | 4:00 pm-5:00 pm |
Library of Congress Names Gene Luen Yang the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature
It has been announced that Gene Luen Yang has been appointed as National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. The position was established in 2008 to highlight the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education, and the development and betterment of the lives of young people. The announcement was made by the Children’s Book Council (CBC), Every Child a Reader (ECAR), and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress (CFB).
Yang will travel nationwide over the course of his two-year term promoting his platform, “Reading Without Walls,” showing kids and teens that reading is a vital part of their lives, and speaking to parents, teachers, librarians—everyone invested in young people’s literacy—about how better to connect with kids and teens and help them love reading.
Previous individuals nominated were Jon Scieszka (2008–2009), Katherine Paterson (2010–2011), Walter Dean Myers (2012–2013), and Kate DiCamillo (2014–2015). Gene Luen Yang is the first-ever graphic novelist to be named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
The inauguration ceremony, presided by acting Librarian of Congress David S. Mao and featuring both Yang and DiCamillo, will take place on Thursday, January 7 at 11 a.m. in room LJ-119 of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington D.C. The event is open to the public; no tickets are required.
The National Ambassador is selected for: his or her contributions to young people’s literature, the ability to relate to kids and teens, and a dedication to fostering children’s literacy as a whole. The selection is based on recommendations from a CBC-ECAR-CFB-appointed committee comprising educators, librarians, booksellers, and children’s literature expert.
Yang began drawing comic books in the fifth grade; he began making comics professionally over fifteen years ago. In 2006, his graphic novel American Born Chinese became the first graphic novel to be a finalist for a National Book Award and the first to win the American Library Association’s Printz Award. It also won an Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album. In 2013, Boxers & Saints, his two-volume graphic novel about the Boxer Rebellion, was a National Book Award finalist and won the L.A. Times Book Prize. Gene has also won an Eisner for The Eternal Smile, a collaboration with Derek Kirk Kim. He is the author of the Secret Coders series (with artist Mike Holmes) and has written for the hit comics Avatar: The Last Airbender and Superman.
Small Press Expo Sponsors Keith Knight, Miss Lasko-Gross and Diane Noomin at the National Book Festival
Small Press Expo (SPX) is proud to announce it is again a sponsor of the Library of Congress National Book Festival. As a part of this sponsorship, SPX is bringing Keith Knight, Miss Lasko-Gross and Diane Noomin to the National Book Festival.
Keith Knight is a musician and cartoonist. His works include The K Chronicles, (Th)ink and The Knight Life series. He has received the Comic-Con Inkpot Award for career achievement, multiple Glyph Awards for best comic strip and the Harvey Kurtzman Award for best syndicated comic strip. His art has appeared in various publications worldwide, including The Washington Post, Daily KOS, San Francisco Chronicle, Salon.com, Ebony, ESPN the Magazine, L.A. Weekly, MAD Magazine and the Funny Times. The first collection of his Knight Life strip is The Knight Life: Chivalry Ain’t Dead (Grand Central).
Miss Lasko-Gross is a comics artist and author known for her semiautobiographical graphic novels Escape from Special and A Mess of Everything. Her first graphic novel was nominated for YALSA’s Great Graphic Novel award, and A Mess of Everything was named by Booklist among the top 10 graphic novels of 2009. Lasko-Gross has contributed to and worked on a variety of comics and collections. Her latest graphic novel, Henni (Z2 Comics), features a girl with cat-like ears and a tail who questions the religious rules of her community.
Diane Noomin is a comics artist best known as the creator of Didi Glitz. She is one of the original contributors to Wimmen’s Comix and is the editor of the anthology series Twisted Sisters. Her work has appeared in many books, magazines and underground comic publications, including Weirdo, Young Lust, Short Order, Arcade, El Perfecto, True Glitz, Aftershock, Real Girl, Lemme Outta Here, Mind Riot, Titters, Dangerous Drawings, The Comics Journal/Special Editions, The New Comics Anthology, The Nose and The Nation. Noomin has received an Inkpot Award and been nominated for Harvey and Eisner awards. Her book Glitz-2-Go (Fantagraphics) is the first collection of more than 40 years of Didi Glitz comics.
The primary goal of this sponsorship is to bring creators from the indie comics community to the National Book Festival to provide greater exposure for them and their works to the diverse audience that attends this prestigious festival.
The National Book Festival takes place Saturday, September 5, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.
Keith Knight will be in the Graphic Novel Pavilion, signing his books from 6:00PM-7:00PM, and from 7:15PM – 8:05PM will be on a panel with his fellow cartoonists Lalo Alcaraz and Scott Stantis.
Miss Lasko-Gross and Diane Noomin will be in the Graphic Novel Pavilion signing books from 6:00PM-7:00PM, and will be on a panel with Trina Robbins from 8:10PM-8:55PM.
National Book Festival 2014: National Book Festival Author’s Gala
National Book Festival Author’s Gala at the 2014 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. Gene Luen Yang had an amazing speech which starts at about the 20 minute mark
