Where is the world's largest library located? Right here in the USA! Located in Washington, D.C., the complex was established by an act of Congress in 1800 when President John Adams signed a bill that described a reference library for Congress only, containing "such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress."
In 1815, retired President Thomas Jefferson offered his personal library collection of 6,487 volumes, collected over 50 years, to replace the manuscripts and papers burned by the British in the War of 1812. A new building was authorized in 1873, and again in 1888, to house the growing collection.
Today, the complex, completed in 1897, is one of the grandest libraries in the world and is still being used by US Congress members. The collection contains 144 million items with 33 million cataloged books, and other print materials in 460 languages.
The public may visit the displays and use the interactive kiosks. Keith Bellows in National Geographic Traveler commented, "The library houses its share of quirky material," so have everyone find Alexander Graham Bell's first drawing of the telephone or the library's first-edition Barbie doll. New interactive kiosks lets visitors use touch screens to flip through the pages of George Washington's copy of the U.S. Constitution or to decipher Mayan hieroglyphs.
The Main Reading Room, "the heart of the library," is best viewed from the open second level, "which surveys the book-filled floor below and the gilded dome towering 160 feet above."
[Mr. Bellow's quotes taken from The Week. March 16, 2012. p. 30]
This week I will visit with 3-Bruns and 4-Kahsdorf. Both classes will use the computer lab to search the web site of the Library of Congress at http://www.loc.gov/. I will not be in the district on Thursday.
Have a great rest of the week!
Mrs. T. Reiter
K-12 Teacher Librarian
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Children's Books Ireland
The United States isn't the only country to recognize the value of books and reading. Ireland, a small island country in Europe, has established the Children's Books Ireland organization.
CBI is the national children’s books organisation of Ireland. Through their many activities and events they aim to engage young people with books, foster a greater understanding of the importance of books for young people and act as a core resource for those with an interest in books for children in Ireland. Children’s Books Ireland was founded in 1997 as a result of the merger of The Irish Children’s Book Trust (ICBT) and the Children’s Literature Association of Ireland (CLAI). Both of these orgnisations had developed during the late eighties and nineties, a time of significant progress in Ireland for publishing and writing for children. The new organisation, Children’s Books Ireland, was established. CBI has continued to grow and now has a combined Irish and international membership of approximately 1,700.
The first chapter of CBI’s story has taken place at a time of extraordinary change in Irish society. Shifting arts, education and socio-economic landscapes have formed a dramatic backdrop to our first fifteen years. Significant lifestyle changes, along with increased immigration and urbanisation, have changed how people interact with the arts and, importantly, how children interact with books. Likewise, arts policy and infrastructure development have contributed to a positive relationship between the public and the arts. As an innovative and active arts organisation, CBI will continue to ensure that children’s books and the children’s books community are valued, cherished and supported. We look forward to Children’s Books Ireland making its contribution to the future vibrancy of the arts in a multi-cultural Ireland.
For More information about CBI, search their website at www.childrensbooksireland.ie.
This week I will only meet with two classes. On Tuesday, Mrs. Jass's Kindergarten class will listen to "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!" and "Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog?"; both by Dr. Seuss. They will also receive Dr Seuss bookmarks from Mrs. Reiter. Mrs. Tangeman's 2nd grade class will watch the DVD, "Molly's Magic" based on the book by the same title written by Penelope Colville Paine and illustrated by Itoko Maeno.
Enjoy your Spring Break. See you next week!
Mrs. Reiter
K-12 Teacher Librarian
CBI is the national children’s books organisation of Ireland. Through their many activities and events they aim to engage young people with books, foster a greater understanding of the importance of books for young people and act as a core resource for those with an interest in books for children in Ireland. Children’s Books Ireland was founded in 1997 as a result of the merger of The Irish Children’s Book Trust (ICBT) and the Children’s Literature Association of Ireland (CLAI). Both of these orgnisations had developed during the late eighties and nineties, a time of significant progress in Ireland for publishing and writing for children. The new organisation, Children’s Books Ireland, was established. CBI has continued to grow and now has a combined Irish and international membership of approximately 1,700.
The first chapter of CBI’s story has taken place at a time of extraordinary change in Irish society. Shifting arts, education and socio-economic landscapes have formed a dramatic backdrop to our first fifteen years. Significant lifestyle changes, along with increased immigration and urbanisation, have changed how people interact with the arts and, importantly, how children interact with books. Likewise, arts policy and infrastructure development have contributed to a positive relationship between the public and the arts. As an innovative and active arts organisation, CBI will continue to ensure that children’s books and the children’s books community are valued, cherished and supported. We look forward to Children’s Books Ireland making its contribution to the future vibrancy of the arts in a multi-cultural Ireland.
For More information about CBI, search their website at www.childrensbooksireland.ie.
This week I will only meet with two classes. On Tuesday, Mrs. Jass's Kindergarten class will listen to "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!" and "Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog?"; both by Dr. Seuss. They will also receive Dr Seuss bookmarks from Mrs. Reiter. Mrs. Tangeman's 2nd grade class will watch the DVD, "Molly's Magic" based on the book by the same title written by Penelope Colville Paine and illustrated by Itoko Maeno.
Enjoy your Spring Break. See you next week!
Mrs. Reiter
K-12 Teacher Librarian
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