The Library of Congress

C-SPAN have recently broadcast a programme about the Library of Congress. The documentary is available here. It tells the story of the institution which began as a reference library for Congress, but has grown into one of the most important centres of information and culture in the world. It is the largest library worldwide in terms of shelf space and the number of books. I strongly recommend watching this fascinating documentary and visiting the Library's website here. In addition to the books there are collections of recordings, maps, newspapers, and manuscripts.

The Library also contains a research service, the Congressional Research Service. I've been impressed by both the quality and quantity of material produced by CRS. Their reports are prepared for Members of Congress - but thanks to OpenCRS, documents already in the public domain can be accessed at the OpenCRS website. Whether you are looking for something on practice and procedure in Congress - or a report on a specific policy subject - CRS in one of the best places for an impartial, well researched - and well written report. These can be short articles or long, in-depth pieces.

The Library is spread over a number of buildings. CRS are housed in the Madison Building, while the most famous of the sites is the Jefferson Building - worth a visit just for the superb art it contains. (It also has an excellent bookshop). The main reading room is a superb place to research - not only because of the wealth of material available in the Library - but for the beauty of the room itself.

The Making of the President

One of the delights of visiting Washington DC is to visit the many bookstores (though sadly Trovers and the Borders near the National Press Club have now closed). I get lots of new ideas - and pick up books which are either unavailable in the UK or are cheaper.

I've already visited Politics and Prose; Borders at 18th & L Street; the George Washington University Bookstore; and the bookstore in the Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress. Unbelieveably, I can still lift my case!

Already I have original editions of  "The Making of the President 1960" and "...1972". They are great studies for anyone interested in political campaigning - as well as US political history. Theodore White (C-SPAN programme about the influence of Theodore White is available here.) was a political journalist, who wrote the first of the series (1960), and continued through 1972. He began a tradition of campaign books which has now mushroomed. He died in May 1986.

Friday Morning

Thankfully the threatened snow didn't hit Washington DC overnight. However temperatures are predicted to fall this weekend - so my sponsored walk (to raise funds for my election campaign in Milton Keynes in May) won't be happening this weekend!

Yesterday I spent some more time in the Library of Congress reading through the Washington Posts of late 1974 and early 1975. This is for research into congressional "history" (I don't like to think of the time I can remember as "history" - it's just "early current affairs"!). It was interesting to come across reports of what was happening in England - we had a government with a razor thin majority.

The big news from London yesterday has not merited the attention of the TV news in Washington. Thanks to the internet I have been able to update myself via the Guardian; Independent, BBC News & Sky (and that all on my iPhone by the bed).

Today I'm turning from scholar to tourist - at least during the daylight hours.

The view from the Library of Congress

I filmed this at about 1pm Washington time (6pm UK time)yesterday. The morning was spent catching up on the news [It is so good to be able to read the physical editions of The Hill, Politico & the Washington Post - I'm grateful for the ability to read them online from 3600 miles away - but it's nicer to read - and mark - the hard copies. I also rang & then emailed a number of Members' offices - to set up interviews in the coming days.

Having made my way to "the Hill" I popped into the Library of Congress Book/Gift shop - before making this video. Then I crossed to the Newspaper and Current Periodicals Reading room, which like the Congressional Research Service, is based in the Madison Building. I spent some wonderful hours reading the Washington Post from November 1974.

I made my way to Politics and Prose - where I picked up a signed copy of President Carter's Diaries. I have quite a bit of reading to do - and I'll be blogging about some of that soon.