Welcome to Litsy!

My mom & I went to the National Bool Festival in DC today. It was our first time going. It was amazing but a bit overwhelming. We walked around some, bought a ton of books. I was able to get a book signed by Joy Harjo, which was amazing. I had hoped to get more books signed but my mom was done earlier than expected. Still a good day, not sure if huge book festivals are my thing.

The Library of Congress released the times of talks & book signings last week. I‘m planning on going as of right now. Hopefully the current occupier of the WH ends his authoritarian take over of DC. https://www.loc.gov/events/2025-national-book-festival/

Last week the Library of Congress announced the authors for the DC Book Festival (https://www.loc.gov/events/2025-national-book-festival/). It looks like they are going to have some decent authors. I‘m excited about: Jill Lepore, Jo Harjo, Ron Chernow, RL Stine, Geraldine Brooks, Chimamanda Nazi Adichie, John Green, Kwame Alexander, Katherine Applegate. I‘m interested in going & supporting authors/Library of Congress.

The only surprise is that it‘s taken this long. The email referred to Dr Hayden in the familiar. Also, they claimed Dr Hayden had placed inappropriate material for children in the library. It‘s almost like they do not know what the Library of Congress does. They saw “library” and a Black, educated woman, and this was their knee-jerk reaction. We are well and truly cooked as a country.

#libraryofcongress
#trumphatestheeducated

I realized late last night that I hadn‘t made a post for #psrw and #longtimefed but I was tired and needed to go to bed. Today I‘ll post twice! As I wait for the start of a town hall with my congresswoman at the library, I‘m absorbing the news that Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, has been fired. Not a surprise I guess, but nonetheless I‘m done with the National Book Festival for the foreseeable future. I‘ll BBL with another post.

Books as #decorations at the Library of Congress! No books were harmed in the making of this #Christmascheer

PS - when you‘re done at LoC head down the hill to the botanical gardens. No admission fee at either place! (At least not for now…)

I got to check off a bucket list experience today. It was incredible. The place is stunning in person. I highly recommend a visit if you get a chance.

Anyone else going? @wanderinglynn and @Susanita and I have all discussed going! Let us know if you want to text/chat and or meet up after!

“Give instruction unto those who cannot procure it for themselves.” Confucius

I wish I could stay in here for hours. Or days. Or for life. 💛

I love my local libraries, but the Library of Congress is a great place to visit. #sundayfunday

Thanks for the tip @Susanita - The library of Congress was beautiful. Well worth a visit.

I still don‘t know my volunteer assignment for the #NationalBookFestival but I have my shirt! I rode the subway from LOC to the ballpark for a game tonight. While I wait for the gates to open, I‘m enjoying a salad at one of the eateries, while listening to Grateful Dead and watching tennis. I can think of worse ways to spend a late summer afternoon.

The National Book Festival is in person this year. @wanderinglynn is coordinating a Litsy meet up for anyone interested. Sign up here if you want to meet up around the event :
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGAxGg9BQq7oJw3timsO2I0Pjoq-3qt26yfzKv...

#OnThisDay in 1800 the United States' oldest cultural institution was established - the Library of Congress. In 1812 British forces burned the library down, so in 1815 Thomas Jefferson sold his 6000 book collection to Congress for $23,950. In 1988 films were added to the collection, and now the library also collects EVERY public tweet. #HistoryGetsLIT

The thing about the Library of Congress is that you can look out the window and see the Capitol.

The perfect plates for the next time you book a dinner at home, don‘t you think?

A gift from my younger sister: a Library NOTECARD catalog! Complete with envelopes to send messages. 🥰 These are actual reproductions of cards from the Library of Congress card catalog.

1. I had a wonderful government teacher in high school. He made sure all of us were registered to vote and helped all of us learn and challenge ourselves to make a better community. (He had a saying about all government starting local.) He is the reason I was a political science major in college. He was an amazing man, and I was proud to have a letter I had written read at his funeral. 💙

2. Just #bookspinbingo and my new Persephones!