Library of Congress
Today in History - July 31

Today in History - July 31

On July 31, 1816, George H. Thomas was born in Southampton County, Virginia.  Continue reading.

Patrick Francis Healy, SJ, was inaugurated as president of Georgetown University on July 31, 1874.  Continue reading.

Click here to search Today in History for other historic moments.

 

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Folklife News & Events: Lisa Rathje Aug 4, Amanda Pascali Aug 13: August Folklife Events

Lisa Rathje Aug 4, Amanda Pascali Aug 13: August Folklife Events

Join the American Folklife Center for two great events in August!

Lisa Rathje Speaks August 4

August 4, 12 Noon, Whittall Pavilion, Thomas Jefferson Building

Benjamin A. Botkin Lecture

Teaching with Folk Sources:
Education, Innovation, and the American Folklife Center Archives
A lecture by Lisa Rathje

How can teachers make use of the American Folklife Center’s (AFC) archival treasures in their classrooms? In this talk, Lisa Rathje, Executive Director of the pioneering non-profit organization Local Learning, will describe how educators can use AFC’s local and regional collections to enhance classroom experiences at all grade levels. The AFC’s archives contain a wealth of primary sources – first-hand reports and descriptions, classic recordings, striking images and compelling fieldwork documenting traditional culture in the United States and throughout the world. Today, as more of its holdings are being digitized and made available online, the AFC is becoming a valuable resource for classroom teachers, due, in part, to the efforts of organizations like Local Learning. Local Learning’s work is facilitated by its status as a Consortium Partner of the Library of Congress’s Teaching with Primary Sources (TSP) program, which works with educators to share ideas that create fuller, more complex narratives of cultures, communities, and histories. As the AFC celebrates its 50 year anniversary and America celebrates its 250th, this talk considers the multiple ways archives speak to a moment and support learning across formats to frame futures.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. This presentation is hosted as part of the American Folklife Center’s Benjamin A. Botkin Lecture Series and in celebration of the American Folklife Center’s 50th anniversary.

 

Amanda Pascali Concert August 13

August 13, 2026 7:00 PM Coolidge Auditorium, Thomas Jefferson Building

Homegrown Concert

An Evening with AFC Artist in Resonance Amanda Pascali and her Trio

Amanda Pascali is the American Folklife Center's 2026 Artist-in-Resonance and is a rising voice among America's most ethnically diverse generation of young people, creating music that speaks to the experience of growing up as a first-generation American. In this concert, Pascali will present an evening of what she calls “Immigrant American Folk,” which blends folk/Americana influences with Mediterranean, Balkan, and Latin rhythms to create powerful tales of America told through the eyes of immigrants. As AFC's 2026 Artist-in-Resonance, Pascali will be visiting the American Folklife Center later in the year, to conduct research in our archival collections to inform this performance.

Pascali is an internationally acclaimed, bilingual singer/songwriter, and was awarded as the Houston Chronicle's "Musician of the Year" in 2021. She was born in New York City, and is now based in Texas. Pascali has performed on national and international stages, from the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. to the European Union Parliament in Brussels. After her songs went viral on social media, she amassed hundreds of thousands of fans around the globe. Her recordings, which include Sicilian traditional songs, Sicilian-English translations, and original music, have been praised by NPR and numerous other outlets. As a Fulbright Fellow, she pioneered the first comprehensive project to translate and revitalize Sicilian folk songs in collaboration with the US embassy in Italy. She is a Fulbright Ambassador and serves on the board of the music-activism non-profit, Music to Life. Amanda is currently a Harrington Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin where she conducts research in ethnomusicology and Italian Studies.

The American Folklife Center is organizing this concert as part of the Homegrown Concert Series, Live! at the Library, and in celebration of the Center's 50th anniversary.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required to attend.

Accessible seating is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.


Visit our upcoming events page and click through for each event to get your free tickets!

 

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Jobs and Internship Opportunities Procurement Technician (Internship)

Procurement Technician (Internship)

  • Opening Date: July 30, 2026
  • Closing Date: July 30, 2027
  • LC Organization Unit: Office of the Chief Operating Officer
  • LC Organization Unit - Specific Office: Contracts and Grants Directorate
  • Grade: GS-05
  • Series: 1106
  • Availability: U.S. Citizens Only
  • Telework Eligibility: Remote
  • Duration: 12 weeks

To apply, please send an email addressed to cgdresume@loc.gov / recipient: James Summers. Use subject line: Procurement Technician Application. Please include a short cover letter in the body of your email that addresses any experience or interest in procurement and Federal contracting and attach a PDF Federal résumé.

Interns are expected to work approximately 15 hours per week for a minimum of 12 weeks with the possibility of working more hours as desired. Returning interns and graduate students in library are given priority, but all students and alumni are welcome to apply.

Interests/Areas of Study:  Accounting, Business, Finance, Law, Contracts, Purchasing, Economics, Industrial Management, Marketing, Quantitative methods, or Organization and Management

This program is offered year-round with flexible start dates.

The application period is ongoing.

Compensation: These internships are full-time or part-time, temporary staff positions at the GS-05/step 1 level.  Onsite or Remote, 15 - 40 hours per week.   Rates are subject to variations based on federal cost of living adjustments and differences in locality pay area rates for the current year.

Find your location and its accompanying hourly pay rate here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/.

Academic Credit: The Library does not provide academic credit, but you may arrange with your school to receive credit.

Available Benefits:  Library Store discounts, and onsite interns may be eligible for a transit subsidy.

Program Duration:  Short-term. Approximately 12 weeks per session; full-time or part-time.

Qualifications:  Must be currently enrolled at time of application at the undergraduate or graduate level, AND/OR have graduated or will graduate between January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026; or recent graduates (1-year post graduation - twelve months prior to their internship start date).

Program Overview:  This program provides undergraduate, graduate, and recent graduate students an invaluable opportunity to gain career experience by working on various projects to support the Library of Congress’ procurement goals. Internships and projects will heighten visibility for Library resources that represent the rich heritage of the United States.

Knowledge and skills required: Ability to communicate effectively and clearly, both orally and in writing, and to prepare accurate reports and create communications; ability to multi-task effectively, communicate progress clearly, ask questions and anticipate challenges; ability to work independently with supervisory direction, to establish work priorities and meet deadlines; strong research, analysis, and organizational skills; Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel and Word; customer service; willingness and/or experience in mentoring peers in a formal setting.

Knowledge and skills preferred: Ability to assess and inventory departmental records accurately and completely; ability to learn new collaborative software programs through independent study, online training and with an expert; ability to maintain effective working relationships with all levels of Library of Congress employees; knowledge of basic quantitative and qualitative analysis to review and report on trends in program activities.

Selection Process:  Applications will be forwarded to selecting officials in the Library who will arrange telephone or MS Teams interviews with promising applicants based on materials submitted. Letters of recommendation are not required for this application; references will be called for top candidates. Selectees will be provided with detailed information about onboarding and preparing for the internship.

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To see more current job and internship opportunities at the Library of Congress, visit our careers site and our internship and fellowships site.

 

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Visualizing the Collections: Legal Reports (Publications of the Law Library of Congress) – Part Two

07/31/2026 10:00 AM EDT

This blog post is the second and final post of the "Visualizing the Collections: Legal Reports (Publications of the Law Library of Congress)" series by former intern Erah Arzate.

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Jobs and Internship Opportunities Librarian (VAR003426)

Librarian (VAR003426)

  • Opening Date: July 31, 2026
  • Closing Date: August 13, 2026
  • OPM Control Number: 878824500
  • Vacancy Number: VAR003426
  • LC Organization Unit: Discovery and Preservation Services
  • Grade: GS-09
  • Series: 1410
  • Minimum Salary: $70,623.00 per year
  • Maximum Salary: $91,815.00 per year
  • Work Schedule: Full-Time
  • Promotion Potential: GS-12
  • Duty Location: Washington, DC
  • Security Clearance: Other
  • Availability: Open to All
  • Telework Eligibility: Hybrid

This position is located in the Anglo Nations, U.S./Anglo Division, Acquisitions and Bibliographic Access Directorate, Discovery and Preservation Services. This position is a hybrid position that combines major duties from both the acquisitions specialist and the cataloger. There is a foreign language requirement for this position depending on the geographical area for which cataloging or acquisitions functions are being performed.

Who may apply: Anyone may apply - By law, employment at most U.S. Government agencies, including the Library of Congress, is limited to U.S. citizens. However, non-citizens may be hired, provided that other legal requirements are met and the Library determines there are no qualified U.S. citizens available for the position.

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To see more current job and internship opportunities at the Library of Congress, visit our careers site and our internship and fellowships site.

 

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Israel: Cabinet Declares It Will Not Abide by High Court Ruling Regarding Broadcast Media Regulator

07/31/2026 12:53 PM EDT

On July 5, 2026, the Israeli government announced that it will not comply with a June 22, 2026, Supreme Court ruling, delivered while sitting as the High Court of Justice, in a dispute concerning the Second Authority Council, the national broadcast regulator. The court had ordered that the “outgoing” council remain in place in its current composition and that resigning members not be counted when determining quorums or membership. News media have described this as an unprecedented constitutional crisis.In a July 7, 2026, decision, the High Court addressed the government’s noncompliance with judicial decisions and emphasized that “the duty to obey and respect court rulings is one of the fundamental conditions in which the rule of law in a democratic country is based....

 

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Jobs and Internship Opportunities Reference Librarian (Geography and Map Division)(VAR003412)

Reference Librarian (Geography and Map Division)(VAR003412)

  • Opening Date: July 31, 2026
  • Closing Date: August 14, 2026
  • OPM Control Number: 878643600
  • Vacancy Number: VAR003412
  • LC Organization Unit: Researcher and Collection Services
  • Grade: GS-09
  • Series: 1410
  • Minimum Salary: $70,623.00 per year
  • Maximum Salary: $91,815.00 per year
  • Work Schedule: Full Time
  • Promotion Potential: GS-12
  • Duty Location: Washington, DC
  • Security Clearance: Other
  • Availability: Open to All
  • Telework Eligibility: Hybrid

This position serves as a Reference Librarian located in the Geography and Map Division, Special Collections Directorate, Researcher and Collections Services within the Library Collections Services Group at the Library of Congress. The incumbent will provides reference services in response to requests received in various forms; communicate with a wide variety of patrons with non-routine questions regarding access, handling, and use of the Geography and Map Division’s materials; provides information on the collections, finding tools, and relevant reference sources; and locates information, often of a specialized or technical nature, from a wide variety of published and unpublished sources and electronic databases related to the field of cartography, history of cartography, and map librarianship.

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To see more current job and internship opportunities at the Library of Congress, visit our careers site and our internship and fellowships site.

 

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