|
The Library of Congress opened
a new Visitors' Center in May 1997. Equipped with new information
desks, a visitors' theater where a 12 minute award winning film
about the Library is shown and interactive information kiosks,
the Visitors' Center enhances the experience of approximately
one million visitors each year. It is here that visitors learn
about the splendor of the Library, the importance of its mission,
the depth and breadth of its collections, services and staff,
and, of course, the beauty and significance of the magnificent
Thomas Jefferson Building.
In preparation for the opening, the Library began a volunteer
docent program. Each docent must complete a graduate-caliber four
month long course in preparation for leading tours. There are
now over 80 docents in the program. Library docents are always
on site to interpret the building's art and architecture and to
answer all your questions.
>> Link to information on becoming
a volunteer docent
Visitors' Theater
Located on the north corridor,
off the Visitors' Center, the Visitors' Theater seats 90. Four
times each hour the Library's newest film is shown. The film provides
visitors with an introduction about the Library. Produced by Hillman
and Carr Associates, and narrated in part by James Earl Jones,
the film has won a number of international awards, including a
special award from the International Film and Video Association,
the Gold Medal from the New York Film Festival, a Gold Certificate
from the CINDY competition, the Chris Award from the Columbus
International Film and Video Festival and a Gold Plaque from the
International Film and Video Competition.
Theater Hours: 10:00am to 5:15pm, Monday-Saturday
The Visitors' Services Office
The Visitor Services Office (VSO)
is the Library's welcoming bridge to many of its constituencies
including Members of Congress, important guests and the general
public. To meet and greet its more than one million annual visitors,
the office operates and maintains the Library Visitors' Center
in the Thomas Jefferson Building which includes two information
desks, 12 interactive computer terminals that provide general
information and access to the online catalog, and the Visitors'
Theater. A third information desk is located in the lobby of the
James Madison Building.
To accomplish its work, the office relies on the service of
more than 150 volunteers which include a number of Library staff.
Volunteers are recruited, trained, scheduled and monitored by
VSO staff to serve in one of two capacities: at the information
desks in the Visitors' Center in the Thomas Jefferson Building
and the James Madison Building or as docents conducting tours.
Volunteers also serve at the researcher guidance desks providing
logistical assistance to the first time researcher. The docent
program is a pivotal aspect of the VSO offerings and is designed
to produce walking lecture-tours that include the history of the
Great Hall and surrounding areas and the services to Congress
and the nation. Library
docents are also trained to conduct tours of the exhibitions.
Very specialized service to Congress is provided through tours
for the Members, families, staff and constituents. An average
160 congressional offices contact VSO each month to request tours
or additional services.
The office also manages the Library's professional appointment
program for
domestic and foreign visitors. Through this program arrangements
are made for visitors to meet with Library staff. These visitors
can range from library science students to guests of the Librarian
to high ranking officials. In fiscal year 1998, official visitors
from 81 countries, often under the sponsorship of agencies such
as the United States Information Agency (USIA), were scheduled
for such appointments.
|