I have to start our new guide training in January, so as a review to myself, I"ll be covering some important places we will be visiting on this training.
Since I met someone who works at the LoC yesterday, I figured I should begin with this, my favourite building in DC. The LoC is actually three buildings but the only one worth visiting is the Jefferson. And when anyone says LoC they mean Jefferson anyways.
The LoC outdates this building.The Library of Congress started out as just that, the Library. Of Congress. When John Adams signed into law that DC was the Capitol, he also appropriated $5000 for books that Congress might need. Then 14 years later, the British popped by and burnt down our Capitol and with it the books.
Conveniently, Thomas Jefferson was broke and in possession of a lot of books. A library comprised of books that Congress needs should not have books on sheepkeeping and a Arabic translations of Euclids Geometery, but being the shifty person we all know him to be Jefferson convinced everyone that there may not be a subject that Congress at some time will not need to consult. So he sold his collection of $6,497 books for about $23,000. What amounts in today's money as about $30 a book.
Of course there was then another fire... they really need to fire proof the Library by now.
Each time the LoC needed more books, it had to ask Congress.
Since I met someone who works at the LoC yesterday, I figured I should begin with this, my favourite building in DC. The LoC is actually three buildings but the only one worth visiting is the Jefferson. And when anyone says LoC they mean Jefferson anyways.
The LoC outdates this building.The Library of Congress started out as just that, the Library. Of Congress. When John Adams signed into law that DC was the Capitol, he also appropriated $5000 for books that Congress might need. Then 14 years later, the British popped by and burnt down our Capitol and with it the books.
Conveniently, Thomas Jefferson was broke and in possession of a lot of books. A library comprised of books that Congress needs should not have books on sheepkeeping and a Arabic translations of Euclids Geometery, but being the shifty person we all know him to be Jefferson convinced everyone that there may not be a subject that Congress at some time will not need to consult. So he sold his collection of $6,497 books for about $23,000. What amounts in today's money as about $30 a book.
Of course there was then another fire... they really need to fire proof the Library by now.
Each time the LoC needed more books, it had to ask Congress.
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