As Librarian of Congress, I am frequently asked two questions that are similar but come from diametrically opposed assumptions. First, “Is the Library of Congress only for members of Congress?” And second, “Do members of Congress actually use the Library?”
The answer to the first is, no, the Library of Congress is for everyone—and I hope everyone reading this will visit (there is plenty to visit online, even if you can’t come to Washington). The answer to the second is a resounding yes, members of Congress use the Library, and they use it all the time and in many different ways.
Members have access to a unit of dedicated experts who provide nonpartisan research and analysis, fielding thousands of queries every year. Members check out books by the thousands. And members use the Library’s physical spaces for all kinds of activities. As well, the Library hosts many programs throughout the year—some for broader audiences and some just for members of Congress.
It is in support of our mission to provide information to Congress that the Library has hosted the Congressional Dialogues series. These events are an opportunity for members to come to the Library for an evening built around the study of individuals who have been significant in American history. They feature treasures from the Library collections related to the individuals and topic, illuminated by our historians and curators—and, of course, the main event, a conversation with biographers and historians who have studied and written acclaimed works about these figures. Members have the opportunity to listen, ask questions, and dialogue with the guest author and with each other—a rare opportunity for bipartisan gathering and learning.
I have learned something too, on every one of these occasions. In part that is due to the exceptional interviewer who moderates and asks questions of each guest author, David M. Rubenstein. David is a remarkable person for many reasons. He describes his approach to charitable giving as “patriotic philanthropy.” But don’t think he has simply coined a phrase. His actions bear this out, in extraordinary ways. In addition to his support of the Library of Congress and its programs, including the National Book Festival, he has made historic contributions to the National Archives, restored the Washington Monument, mounted the panda program at the National Zoo, and too many other endeavors to fully chronicle here. In addition to all this, David and I share a voracious love of reading. It is his reading and preparation that help make these conversations insightful, spirited, and memorable.
Which brings me back to the first question about whether the Library is only for members of Congress. While these sessions are, in fact, for Congress, I am grateful to David for his vision in sharing the portion of these programs devoted to his discussion with the authors. In these pages you will find thoughtful exchanges about some of the giants in history—what motivated them, what scared them, what inspired them? It is my hope you will be inspired as well, to read some of these books in their entirety and expand your understanding of the shared history of our nation.
Carla Hayden
14th Librarian of Congress