September 18, 2025 Live! At the Library Presents Kate McKinnon and Poet Laureate Arthur Sze in October

Bestselling author Kate McKinnon, the award-winning actress, comedian and “Saturday Night Live” alum, will appear at Live! At the Library on Oct. 2 for an exciting discussion about her children’s book series "The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science" and its latest entry, "Secrets of the Purple Pearl."

On Oct. 9, Live! At the Library presents poet Arthur Sze in his inaugural reading as the 25th U.S. Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress. This historic reading marks the beginning of Sze's laureateship and the Library's literary season.

Later in October, prepare for Halloween with Horror Book Night at the Library on Oct. 23. Finally, Grammy-nominated Mexican contemporary percussion ensemble Tambuco returns to the Library of Congress on Oct. 30 for the annual Founder's Day concert.

During Live! At the Library on Thursday evenings, the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building and all exhibitions are open for extended hours from 5 to 8 p.m. Visitors are invited to enjoy happy hour drinks and snacks available for purchase in the beautiful Great Hall overlooking the Capitol while visiting the Library’s exhibitions and programs.

Live! At the Library attendees are also invited to Experience the Main Reading Room during Live! at the Library. Usually reserved for researchers, visitors can walk inside and see one of Washington’s most beautiful spaces.

Ticketing
For events during Live! At the Library, please use the event registration ticketing links found next to the events below or at loc.gov/live. This ticket grants access to the program as well as the Library’s exhibitions and the happy hour portion of the evening.

Programming Highlights for October

Oct. 2: Actress and comedian Kate McKinnon, a former cast member of “Saturday Night Live,” comes to the Library of Congress for a book talk and signing. This event begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. McKinnon will discuss her children’s book series "The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science" and its latest entry, "Secrets of the Purple Pearl." Signed books will be available for sale with a meet-and-greet to follow. Register for tickets.

Oct. 9: Visitors are invited to the opening reading of U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze in the Coolidge Auditorium at 7 p.m. Register for tickets.

Oct. 16: Join Live! At the Library for an exciting scavenger hunt around the Library of Congress! Participate as an individual or team in a series of activities to learn more about the history, collections and services of the Library. This event begins at 6 p.m. in the Great Hall. Register for tickets.

Oct. 23: Visitors are invited to Horror Book Night at the Library of Congress. Authors Catherine Dang, Cassandra Khaw and Josh Malerman will discuss their latest books. Visitors can also explore a Halloween-themed collection display and watch a screening of ”What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” This event begins at 6 p.m. in the Great Hall. Register for tickets.

Oct. 30: Tambuco Percussion Ensemble returns to the Library of Congress for the annual Founder's Day concert. Enjoy a night of dynamic repertoire by Latin American composers featuring music that ranges from delicately intricate to powerfully expansive. This event begins at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Register for tickets.

Oct. 30: Join Nigerian-American poet and scholar Oludamini Ogunnaike for a poetry reading and conversation. His work, including "The Logic of the Birds" and “The Book of Clouds”, explores spiritual and social themes through West African Islamic poetic forms. 6 p.m. in LJ-119. Register for tickets.

Exhibitions On View

• A new exhibition, “The Two Georges: Parallel Lives in an Age of Revolution,” explores the lives and legacies of George Washington and King George III of Britain, adversaries during America’s war for independence. The Library of Congress brings their papers together for the first time to reveal the real men behind the myths. 
• “Collecting Memories: Treasures from the Library of Congress,” the inaugural exhibition in the David M. Rubenstein Treasures Gallery, draws from the Library’s rich Americana and international holdings in more than 450 languages and a variety of formats created across time and continents. “Collecting Memories” marks the ways and the means cultures preserve memory. 
• Take a trip through a re-created version of Thomas Jefferson’s Library, which assembles 6,487 volumes that founded the Library of Congress, and learn how one of America’s great thinkers was inspired through the world of books. 
• “The Great Gatsby Turns 100” 2025 marks the one-hundredth anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby.” Over the years, The Great Gatsby has been adapted into films, musicals and graphic novels, and has inspired several other novels. This display features books, photographs and other items from the Library of Congress’s collections. On view Aug. 14 through Oct. 18. 
• “Herblock Looks at 1975: Fifty Years Ago in Editorial Cartoons” Herbert L. Block (1909–2001), known to the world as Herblock, was one of the most influential political commentators and editorial cartoonists in American history. This display features a selection of his work from 1975. On view through Oct. 18.

Live! At the Library is part of a broader effort to reimagine the visitor experience at the Library of Congress that invites visitors to enjoy the Library and its collections in new ways during extended evening hours from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday nights. The series regularly features special conversations, music, performances, films and workshops that showcase the broad range of holdings at the national library.

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.