Joint Committee on the Library

Joint Committee on the Library is a Congressional committee responsible for the management and oversight of the Library of Congress, including the United States Botanic Garden and the National Statuary Hall. The committee was established in 1806, with the goal of providing guidance and support to the Library of Congress, which was founded in 1800 with a collection of Thomas Jefferson's books. The committee has played a crucial role in shaping the Library of Congress into the world's largest library, with a collection of over 170 million items, including rare books, manuscripts, and photographs. The committee has worked closely with librarians, curators, and archivists to develop the library's collections and services, including the National Archives and Records Administration and the Smithsonian Institution.

● History

The Joint Committee on the Library was established on April 24, 1806, with the passage of a Congressional resolution authorizing the creation of a joint committee to oversee the Library of Congress. The committee's early years were marked by significant growth and development, with the library moving to a new building in 1815 and expanding its collections to include rare books and manuscripts from Europe and Asia. The committee has also played a key role in the development of the United States Botanic Garden, which was established in 1820 and is one of the oldest botanic gardens in the United States. The committee has worked with notable figures such as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Abraham Lincoln to shape the library's collections and services, including the acquisition of the Stewart Collection and the development of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

● Membership

The Joint Committee on the Library is composed of Senators and Representatives appointed by the President pro tempore of the United States Senate and the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. The committee typically consists of five members from each chamber, with the Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Library and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Library serving as the committee's leaders. Members of the committee have included notable figures such as Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell, and John Boehner, who have worked to support the library's mission and goals, including the development of the Library of Congress's digital collections and the expansion of the National Book Festival. The committee has also worked with other Congressional committees, such as the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Appropriations, to secure funding for the library's programs and services, including the Library Services and Technology Act and the Museum and Library Services Act.

● Responsibilities

The Joint Committee on the Library is responsible for overseeing the management and operations of the Library of Congress, including the United States Botanic Garden and the National Statuary Hall. The committee's responsibilities include reviewing the library's budget and appropriations, as well as providing guidance on the library's collections, services, and programs, including the National Library of Medicine and the National Agricultural Library. The committee also plays a key role in the development of the library's digital collections and services, including the Library of Congress's website and the Chronicling America database. The committee has worked with other federal agencies, such as the National Archives and Records Administration and the Smithsonian Institution, to develop and implement programs and services that support the library's mission and goals, including the National Digital Library and the World Digital Library.

● Authority and Governance

The Joint Committee on the Library is authorized by Congress to oversee the management and operations of the Library of Congress. The committee's authority is derived from federal law, including the Library of Congress's enabling legislation and the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act. The committee is governed by the Senate and House rules, as well as the Library of Congress's regulations and policies, including the Library of Congress's strategic plan and the National Library of Medicine's strategic plan. The committee has worked with other Congressional committees, such as the House Committee on House Administration and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, to develop and implement policies and procedures that support the library's mission and goals, including the Library of Congress's preservation and conservation programs and the National Archives and Records Administration's archival programs.

● Notable Actions

The Joint Committee on the Library has taken several notable actions throughout its history, including the establishment of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in 1931 and the development of the Library of Congress's digital collections and services, including the American Memory project and the Chronicling America database. The committee has also played a key role in the preservation and conservation of the library's collections, including the Stewart Collection and the Gutenberg Bible. The committee has worked with notable figures such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Lyndon B. Johnson to support the library's mission and goals, including the development of the National Book Festival and the Library of Congress's literary awards, such as the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. The committee has also worked with other federal agencies, such as the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts, to develop and implement programs and services that support the library's mission and goals, including the National Digital Library and the World Digital Library.