The Library of Congress (Know Your Government)

Synopsis

From the Book Jacket: THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS was founded in 1800 to aid members of Congress in the drafting of legislation. From a collection of just 152 books, the Library's holdings, as well as the number of people the Library assists, have increased through the years. Today it is the largest library in the world, with more than 85 million items: Its collections include books, maps, manuscripts, prints, photographs, sound recordings, motion pictures, and musical works. Through the Congressional Research Service and the Law Library, it still provides research assistance to members of Congress. But it also offers a wide variety of services to the public: It loans books and provides cataloging and bibliographic assistance to other libraries, distributes braille and talking books to the blind, and administers the Copyright Office. The Library of Congress also serves as a cultural center by presenting exhibits, concerts, and poetry readings. Today the Library of Congress is actively exploring new technologies, including paper deacidification and optical disk storage, to preserve its collections for future generations. THE KNOW YOUR GOVERNMENT series is an introduction to the history and functions of the various departments and agencies that make up our national government. The series is designed to present an overview that is comprehensive and yet accessible for young readers and others who require a broad, straightforward introduction to the workings of the federal government. Each volume in the series focuses on the history, purpose, and scope of a different government department or agency. The books are generously illustrated and are written by experts in the fields of history, politics, law, and government. The introduction, "Government: Crises of Confidence," by the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., places the federal government in historical context and explains the purpose of the series. "Without an understanding of government, we cannot have the informed criticism that makes government do the job right. It is the duty of every American citizen to know our government, which is what this series is all about."

Copyright:

1989

Book Details

Book Quality:

Excellent

Book Size:

109 Pages

ISBN-13:

9781555461096

Publisher:

N/A

Date of Addition:

03/22/05

Copyrighted By:

Chelsea House Publishers

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Children's Books, Nonfiction, Politics and Government

Submitted By:

Shelley L. Rhodes

Proofread By:

Liz Bottner

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.