Libraries in Pop Culture

The Library of Congress’s National Film Registry preserves hundreds of culturally important works from our nation’s cinematic history—and this month, 25 titles from the past century have been added to the prestigious list. Movies were selected for their culture, aesthetic, or historic significance, and range from blockbusters and Oscar winners to art films and documentaries. Librarian of Congress Carla …

“Shrek,” “The Joy Luck Club,” and 23 Other Movies Join the National Film Registry Read More »

In a new PSA video, legendary multi-instrumentalist Mike Mills shares why he and his R.E.M. bandmates have always supported libraries. “We love literacy,” he explains in the video. “Libraries provide free access to music, movies, and books.” “Libraries provide a place for people of all backgrounds to discover their creative talents and nurture those creative abilities,” …

Why the Rock Icons from R.E.M. Love Libraries Read More »

The Library of Congress is home to a vast collection of archival audio and video recordings—and now, thanks to the innovative Citizen DJ project, musicians of all skill levels can remix this extensive historical material into unique beats and songs. After debuting as a demo in May, Citizen DJ is now fully launched and available to the …

Turn History into Hip-Hop with the Library of Congress Read More »

Thirty years ago, beloved rock band R.E.M. posed for the American Library Association (ALA)’s READ campaign to promote the joy of literacy, and the resulting poster became an instant collector’s item. Now, book lovers and music fans can enjoy this iconic image as a jigsaw puzzle, with all sales supporting literacy efforts. On the poster, musicians …

Get This R.E.M. Puzzle for the Shiny Happy People in Your Life Read More »

Members of the Library and Information Technology Association (a division of the American Library Association) have put together an out-of-this-world list of recent science fiction books for young readers. Their picks include options for kids of all ages, with titles aimed at readers from pre-school through 12th grade. Here are there 30+ picks: Books for …

Librarians’ Favorite Sci-Fi Books for Kids and Teens Read More »

When people think about librarians and libraries, they may point to films, live-action TV shows, or even novels. However, one area is often missed: animation. In Hollywood, stereotypes are plentiful, as librarians are used as “shortcuts to propel the plot forward,” in the words of Jennifer Snoek-Brown, author of the Reel Librarians blog. While this generally applies to animation as …

These Animated Shows Defy Library Stereotypes Read More »