February 20, 2026 Library Honors Women’s History Month with Norah O’Donnell’s New Book, Poetry, Crafts and More During Live! At the Library in March

The Library of Congress will celebrate Women's History Month in March with Emmy Award-winning journalist Norah O'Donnell who will discuss her new book, "We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America," during Live! At the Library.

Having done research for her book at the Library of Congress, O’Donnell returns to share her discoveries and insights. She includes the stories of such women as the Forten family women, considered the “Black Founders” of Philadelphia, and the first women to serve in the armed forces even before suffrage had passed. O’Donnell will be in conversation on March 5 with CNN's Dana Bash.

Also on March 5, former three-time U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky returns to the Library to discuss his poetry and criticism with book critic Ron Charles. The conversation promises sharp insights from two of America's leading literary voices. 

On March 26, Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company visits the Library to perform choreographies by Japanese dancer Michio Itō, whose collection is held by the Library. Also that night, Craft Night at the Library celebrates Women’s History Month as visitors are invited to browse through posters, portraits and suffrage materials from the Library's collections to design their own buttons inspired by the women who fought for the right to vote.

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

Ticketing
For events during Live! At the Library, please use the event registration ticketing link found next to the event 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 March

March 5: Emmy Award-winning journalist Norah O'Donnell of CBS News will discuss her new book "We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America," a portrait of unsung American women from 1776 to the present who have shaped the nation though they may not have received the credit they deserve. O'Donnell will discuss these untold stories in conversation with Dana Bash, host of “Inside Politics” and co-anchor of “State of the Union” on CNN. The conversation begins at 6 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Register for tickets.

March 5: Former three-time U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky returns to the Library of Congress for a discussion of his poetry and criticism with book critic Ron Charles. This event will be hosted in Room LJ-119 at 6:30 p.m. with a book signing will follow. Register for tickets.

March 12: Singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah performs during Live! At the Library at 7 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. The performance is part of a two-day American Folklife Center symposium examining COVID-19's intersection with cultural heritage. Register for tickets.

March 12: Celebrate Nobel Laureate Poets Gabriela Mistral, Nelly Sachs and Wisława Szymborska in honor of Women's History Month with a reading and conversation focused on translations of their works. The event features translators Edward Hirsch, Anna Deeny and Joshua Weiner. This event will be moderated by poet and scholar Rosanna Warren. The event begins at 7 p.m. in Room LJ-119 with a book signing to follow. Register for this event.

March 19: As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, gather your friends for Who Knew? Trivia Night, spotlighting the Veterans History Project. Test your knowledge of U.S. and military history inspired by the stories and collections that preserve the voices and experiences of America’s veterans. Register for tickets.

March 26: Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company celebrates the legacy of Japanese dancer and choreographer Michio Itō with a performance featuring six of his choreographies accompanied by projected images. Now in its 33rd season, the company highlights the Michio Itō Collection in the Music Division of the Library of Congress. Performance begins at 7 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Register for free tickets. 

March 26: Visitors are invited to attend an open house of the African and Middle Eastern Reading Room featuring collection displays. Chat with librarians, explore the reading room and discover rare manuscripts, early printed books, newspapers, posters and pamphlets that provide unique perspectives on the cultures, histories and literatures of Africa, the Middle East and Hebraic communities. Open house runs from 5 to 7 p.m in the African & Middle Eastern Reading Room (Room LJ-229). Register for tickets.

March 26: Celebrate Women’s History Month by designing buttons inspired by historic suffrage images from the Library of Congress. Browse posters, portraits and other materials from the suffrage movement, and then create wearable art that pays tribute to the women who fought for the right to vote. Register for tickets.

Exhibitions On View

• The Library’s 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. The exhibition has been extended through July 4, 2026.
• 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.
• “A National Treasure: The Library of Congress” is a small display that celebrates the history of the Thomas Jefferson Building, which opened to the public on Nov. 1, 1897. Designed in an Italian Renaissance style, this building features the works of more than 40 American sculptors and painters. It was also the first building in Washington, D.C., designed with electric lighting. The state-of-the-art facility was built to accommodate the Library’s burgeoning collections.
• In celebration of Women’s History Month in March and National Poetry Month in April, the Library of Congress presents a display of manuscript writings of Ojibwe poet and knowledge keeper Jane Johnston Schoolcraft (1800–1842) (Bamewawagezhikaquay) of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. This display features handwritten poems and English-language renditions of traditional Ojibwe stories included in the Muzzeniegun manuscript magazine in 1826-1827. This small display will be on view from March 3 through April 30.

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.