February 12, 1924, is a landmark date in the annals of American music. The story of that snowy afternoon in New York has become almost legendary -- and the tale has undoubtedly become embellished in its telling and retelling over the past 100 years. The occasion was a concert titled "An Experiment in Modern Music," presented by Paul…

It is difficult to overstate the power of visual images, particularly historical primary source photos, to provide a window into the past. Here, the authors outline how educators can utilize historic photos to provide students with a deeper understanding of the past. When students do not see their heritage and culture represented in images, the…

For more than 150 years, the United States Government Printing Office (GPO), along with its Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), has supported an informed citizenry and democracy by ensuring access and preservation to a broad swath of federal government information. This collaborative national public information program between local…

The building and decoration of the Library of Congress in the late nineteenth century were emblematic of America's longing to be regarded as an enlightened nation and to take its rightful place among the great civilizations of the past. The sources for this ambition, illustrated in the paintings, sculptures, and inscriptions in the library's…

English teachers continually seek ways to offer students quality texts to support the development of individual voices within the context of a dynamic, democratic culture. This article discusses how blog use, promoting choices, and presenting students with literature that changed a nation show them how to find their voices in a democratic…

Using primary sources such as a photograph from the Library of Congress American Memory collection engages learners to think about the past and relate it to their life today. Some artifacts come with an explanation, while some do not. These require critical thinking and investigation to locate information and hypothesize answers to questions posed…

In the information-rich, rapidly changing 21st-century, educators are faced with unprecedented challenges. While new technologies have brought the people of the planet closer together, they have also brought them into contact with an overwhelming array of information sources. The Library of Congress is positioned to help educators respond to these…

Explores issues of privatization, distinctions between public and private sectors in the delivery of services, and possible effects of privatization on the future federal role in the library/information arena. Contracting out of agency libraries and the proposed sale of the National Technical Information Service are examined to raise questions…

Includes 11 reports from the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science; National Technical Information Service; National Archives and Records Administration; Library of Congress; Center for the Book; Federal Library and Information Center Committee; National Agricultural Library; National Library of Medicine; Government Printing…

In April 1971, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Census and Statistics requested that the General Accounting Office (GAO) conduct a management-type review of the adequacy of services furnished by the Presidential libraries. The assignment called for an examination of: (1) the adequacy of the libraries' systems for cataloging materials and making…

The article discusses the regional archives branches in eleven Federal Records Centers established by the National Archives and Records Service, General Service Administration. (AB)

In January 1882, John H. Hickcox, a central government documents figure in his time, and the creator of "United States Government Publications: A Monthly Catalogue" or "Hickcox's Monthly Catalogue" was arrested in Washington, DC, for taking letters addressed to the Librarian of Congress. Although the charges were eventually dismissed, 1882 is the…

Demonstrates how three commercial microcomputer software packages--PC-Talk III, Wordstar, and dBase III--were combined to produce an integrated library system at the U.S. Army Concepts Analysis Agency library. The retrospective conversion process is discussed, and the four modules of the system are described: acquisitions/cataloging; online…

The committee's primary objectives were to evaluate the adequacy of the relationship of Federal libraries to other information activities in the government and to determine the role of the library in a total, integrated information system. A statement in considerable detail of the origin and development of extra-library information programs was…

The nine papers in this booklet were presented at three sessions of the IFLA General Conference. The text of the first paper, "Presidential Address at the Opening of the IFLA Council and General Conference: Moscow 1991" (Hans-Peter Geh, President of IFLA), is provided in English, German, and Russian. The text of the second paper,…