May 2, 2025 “The Library of Congress,” a History of the Nation’s Library, Publishes with Georgetown University Press

“The Library of Congress: From Jefferson’s Vision to the Digital Age,” publishing May 2, is a new comprehensive history of the nation’s library as the institution turns 225 years old.

The Library of Congress is the research arm of Congress, home of the U.S. Copyright Office, and a public forum for artistic and literary culture. It is generally considered the national library of the United States, and it has influenced cultural affairs worldwide in myriad ways since its founding more than two centuries ago.

In “The Library of Congress,” Jane Aikin draws on a wealth of primary and secondary sources to weave a narrative of the individuals, events, and controversies that have shaped the history of this venerable institution.

“The Library of Congress’ progression from a small legal library to a grand national library, and one of the world’s greatest intellectual and cultural resources, is a story shaped by extraordinary individuals and hardworking civil servants,” wrote Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden in the foreword. “Above all, it is a story of an institution constantly evolving to face the mutable and ever-expanding sources of knowledge. What started in 1800 with only 740 books and three maps rapidly expanded to include sheet music, prints, newspapers, and new technologies like photographs, recorded sound and motion pictures.”

Punctuated by stories about key donors and pivotal performances by poets, authors, and celebrities, this engaging and informative narrative sheds new light on the world’s largest library and its global impact on knowledge and culture.

“Comprehensive, richly detailed, meticulously researched – in this essential history of an extraordinary American institution, Jane Aikin traces how the Library of Congress became a hub for scholarship, a leader in the library community, and a resource for all Americans,” wrote Scott E. Casper, president, American Antiquarian Society

“The Library of Congress” is published by Georgetown University Press in association with the Library of Congress. It will be available May 2 in hardcover ($32.95) and ebook ($32.95) in bookstores, online, and the Library of Congress Store.

About the Author

Jane Aikin served as director of the Research Division at the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her publications include “The Nation's Great Library: Herbert Putnam and the Library of Congress, 1899–1939” (1993) and, as coeditor with John Y. Cole, “Encyclopedia of the Library of Congress: For Congress, the Nation & the World “ (2005).

About the Library of Congress

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.