The world’s largest library has debuted a new experience for young researchers. The Source: Where Curiosity Sparks Discovery, a research gallery at The Library of Congress, opened May 9. It’s designed for children ages 8 to 15.
This new gallery is part of an ongoing effort by the Library of Congress — called A Library for You — to upgrade its visitor experience.
The 4,000-square-foot gallery is on the ground floor of the Jefferson Building. Its goal is to get kids to “understand the value of using primary sources as they follow their curiosity as budding researchers, storytellers, and creators,” according to a news release.
The gallery has video kiosks where guests can watch librarian experts dive into the research process. These videos will span topics like music, folklife, and the environment. For example, one will highlight the evolution of basketball while another will explore what inspires cartoon artists.
It also features reproductions of Library of Congress collection items in four formats: text, images, sound, and film.
Some examples include:
- Text: 40 manuscripts from LOC collections, including presidential papers from Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt
- Images: 40 images that can be scanned on the investigation stations to explore in detail
- Sound: 50 sound samples available through hands-on listening stations
- Video: 59 film examples, including clips of The Wizard of Oz and a 1926 Babe Ruth home run
The Source will be open Tuesdays to Fridays, 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekday mornings are reserved for educational groups during the school year.
“We know that young people have access to information everywhere, and we hope that through The Source they will develop tools to examine it critically and carefully — making research a lifelong practice,” said Shari Werb, director of the Library’s Center for Learning, Literacy and Engagement and lead curator of the gallery.
Feature image courtesy Library of Congress
