The Neighborhood Library

The highlight of the week has been getting my access card for the neighborhood library - the Library of Congress! As a registered "reader" (which any citizen can sign up to be), I am able to work in the various reading rooms of the three library buildings (Jefferson, Adams, and Madison), use library data bases and other computer resources, and request materials. There is also a special entrance directly into the non-tourist areas. I've been using the Main Reading Room in the Jefferson Building; The physical space is beautiful and inspiring, but it's easy to get distracted by the other features of the building. They have, for example, reassembled nearly all the titles from Jefferson's original collection, nearly two-thirds of which was lost to fire (which is ironic since Jefferson originally "donated" his library to Congress after its first collection was destroyed by fire during the War of 1812). There are also incredible temporary exhibitions, including "Creating the United States," an amazing collection of early documents, and "Discovering the Americas," which features some of the earliest world maps to include the Western Hemisphere, from 1507 and 1516! So this is the setting, despite all the distractions, in which I am finding good resources to help prepare me for my project in South Africa.

Besides a pleasant run along the Mall one morning, the primary sightseeing activity this week was an evening tour of the Naval Observatory. We learned about the importance of precise time for ship navigation and also got to see Jupiter and four of its moons through one of their giant telescopes (interrupted by the Vice President's helicopter coming in to drop him off). The weather has turned to a familiar cool, wet, and gray, but it's not supposed to last (unlike, sorry, how I hear it is at home).

Stay dry!