THE OMNIBUS PROJECT Live Taping to Headline Library of Congress Series
Natalie Merchant will host a folklife concert, and Sara Gay Forden will discuss Italian fashion history.
The Library of Congress has announced its September programming for Live! At the Library, with highlights including a live recording of 'The Omnibus Project' podcast, the opening of the American Folklife Center's 50th anniversary exhibition, and a discussion on Italian fashion history.
Visitors can join a live recording Sept. 3 of 'The Omnibus Project,' the podcast hosted by 'Jeopardy!' host Ken Jennings and John Roderick that unearths strange-but-true stories collected as a time capsule for future generations. Fans of the show are also invited to explore a one-of-a-kind display of items from across the Library's collections, each one tied to a past episode.
The American Folklife Center opens its doors for the public opening of its 50th anniversary exhibition, 'Alive in Many Hands' on Sept. 17. The exhibition draws from the American Folklife Center's unparalleled collections to explore the traditions that people create, practice and pass on every day, from music, dance and storytelling, to foodways, festivals and work life. Board member and singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant will host a concert bringing archival materials from the Library's collections to life through the artists who interpret them. Merchant is joined by fellow board members Martha Gonzalez and Lori Pourier in curating performances by some of the nation's most gifted young musicians.
On Sept. 24, it's Italian fashion night at the Library of Congress. Visitors are invited to a conversation between Barbara Faedda, executive director of the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies at Columbia University, and Sara Gay Forden, journalist and author of 'The House of Gucci.' Together, they will trace the entrepreneurship, creative vision and cultural forces that turned Italian fashion into a defining influence on American life and a global phenomenon. The evening also features a curatorial display of items from the Library's collections, tracing the evolution of Italian fashion media and design.
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 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.
For events during Live! At the Library, an event registration ticketing link can be found next to each event 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 September
Sept. 3: John Bullard brings his critically praised blend of banjo and classical music to the Great Hall, offering visitors a distinctly American clash of styles and traditions during this Café Concert. Music will begin at 6 p.m. through 8 p.m. in the Great Hall.
Sept. 3: Ken Jennings and John Roderick come to the Library to record an episode of their podcast, 'The Omnibus Project.' Jennings is the host of 'Jeopardy!' and is celebrated as the holder of the historic 74-game winning streak back in 2004. Roderick is a Seattle-based musician, writer and podcaster best known for his sharp wit and distinctive voice. The live recording will focus on the Library's treasures, accompanied by a special display of artifacts tied to past episodes for visitors to explore. The display will begin at 5 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion, and the conversation will start at 6 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium.
Sept. 10: Mélange Dance Theater's regional premiere of 'Love Letters of World War II' commemorates the 50th anniversary of the American Folklife Center by connecting Veterans History Project narratives with American dance. In addition to the stage performance, visitors can view a special display of World War II veterans' love letters from the Library of Congress collections in the Whittall Pavilion. This event will begin at 6 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium.
Sept. 10: D.C.-based band Everyday Everybody will bring funk, soul and jazz into the Great Hall during Live! At the Library. Visitors can enjoy an energetic live performance from the group, named Best Local Original Band by the Washington City Paper and Best Funk Group by the Washington Area Music Association.
Sept. 17: The American Folklife Center invites visitors to the public opening of its 50th anniversary exhibition, 'Alive in Many Hands.' Board member Natalie Merchant will host a concert featuring artists interpreting archival materials from the Library's collections in the Coolidge Auditorium at 7 p.m. Merchant will be joined by fellow board members Martha Gonzalez and Lori Pourier in curating performances by young, gifted musicians from across the nation.
Sept 24: It's Italian fashion night at the Library! Visitors are invited to hear a conversation between Barbara Faedda, executive director of the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies at Columbia University, and Sara Gay Forden, journalist and author of 'The House of Gucci.' The discussion will focus on the entrepreneurship, creative vision and cultural forces that made Italian fashion a defining influence on American life. The program will be accompanied by a curatorial display of items from the Library collections tracing the evolution of Italian fashion media and design.
Exhibitions On View
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. This exhibition will open again to the public starting on September 11.
'The Declaration's Promise,' in the David M. Rubenstein Treasures Gallery, explores the foundational principles of the Declaration of Independence and their impact on American history. Featured treasures include Thomas Jefferson's rough draft of the Declaration of Independence and Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, among other items. The new exhibition begins with the Revolutionary moment and then uses language of the Declaration's most famous phrases to organize the presentation of treasures from American history. Multimedia experiences draw on the Library's vast audiovisual collections and connect visitors with the Library's content experts.
To mark America's 250th anniversary, the Library of Congress has created a cutting-edge molecular data storage device featuring treasures from the Library's collections, which was placed in a time capsule in Philadelphia to be opened in 2276. This small display will feature an identical copy of the miniature device, which uses synthetic DNA to store digital copies of specially selected Library materials.
'Alive in Many Hands: The American Folklife Center at 50,' is a new exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the American Folklife Center. Opening to the public on Sept. 17, the exhibition explores how the American Folklife Center has documented, preserved and shared living cultural traditions that connect families, communities and generations. Through more than 150 collections items, including photographs, recordings and films, the exhibition demonstrates how these traditions continue to evolve while preserving cultural identity and memory. The exhibition, complemented with an online version, will be on view through Jan. 8, 2028.
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.
