Library of Congress International Collections

10/23/2026

October 23 is a special day for Hungarians, and today it has been exactly 70 years since Hungarians rose up in 1956. Before the Soviet army crushed the first revolution within the Eastern block, Hungarian media was free to publish and broadcast people's opinions and document the events of those days. These materials were suppressed for decades but are available now, and the Library of Congress has a collection of them as well. You can check out our guide to them here:

This guide to Hungarian newspapers at the Library of Congress includes titles published within Hungary, regardless of language, as well as in Hungarian published abroad. It provides information about print, microfilm, and digitized issues.

10/16/2026

*Job Announcement: Cataloging Librarian*

Apply Now: https://www.loc.gov/item/careers/librarian-vacancyvar003433/

The Library of Congress is looking for a cataloging librarian with knowledge of Southeast Asian languages, preferably Vietnamese and Khmer. This permanent position is located in the Asian & Middle Eastern Division at the Library of Congress.

The application deadline is November 5, 2026.

For questions about the application process, contact [email protected].

10/09/2026

In celebration of Han’gŭl Day 한글날 (Korean Alphabet Day), test your knowledge of Han’gŭl!

1. What was the original name of Han’gŭl?
2. What was the name used for the first commemoration of Han’gŭl Day in 1926?
3. Why do South Korea and North Korea observe Han’gŭl Day on different dates?
4. What is the name of the book that first explained the principles behind the invention of Han’gŭl?

See the comment section below for the answers!

Among the many titles about Korean language in the Library’s Korean Rare Book Collection is “Hunmin chŏngŭm tohaebon” 訓民圖監圖解本, an illustrated text by the late Chosŏn scholar Sin Kyŏng-jun (1712-1781), which visually explains Hunmin chŏngŭm. A digitized version is freely accessible at https://www.loc.gov/item/2016500265/?loclr=fbint. The diagram here illustrates the pronunciation of vowels in Han’gŭl. (See a larger version online at https://www.loc.gov/resource/asiankrb.2016500265.2016500265_vol01/?sp=37&loclr=fbint).

10/06/2026

10/05/2026

🗺️🔬🧮🖋️📒 Happy World Teachers’ Day! - Oct. 5 🌟🏵️💐❤️🤗
In the 16th century, some unlucky Chinese officials were assigned the highest-pressure teaching gig ever: tutoring their 10-year-old emperor.

Their solution? Creating “Imperial Mirror: Illustrated Lessons” (Di jian tu shuo 帝鑑圖説), a custom-made children’s textbook featuring history lessons told through large pictures and engaging stories: what good emperors did right, what terrible ones did wrong, and how to lead wisely. (View online at https://www.loc.gov/item/2012402955/?loclr=fbint)

Teachers in Japan loved it too. The textbook soon landed in samurai households for teaching their youth. It inspired generations of educators across cultures in East Asia. Examples of both appear in the images here.

A lovely reminder that great teaching ideas travel far and stand the test of time. Here’s to all educators sharing wisdom!

10/01/2026

On Thursday, October 08, 2026, join the African and Middle Eastern Division on a journey through the rich collections of the Library of Congress that showcase the writings of African Muslims in the Americas. In conversation with Professors Carl Ernst and Mbaye Lo, the program will explore the lives, beliefs, and vibrant intellectual traditions of West African Muslims in the Americas in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It will also include an examination of Arabic texts penned by enslaved African Muslims, specifically Omar ibn Said, Abdurrahman, and Sana See.

For details, times, and registration please go to:

https://www.loc.gov/item/event-423486/live-at-the-library-omar-ibn-said-and-the-arabic-writings-of-enslaved-african-muslim-scholars/2026-10-08/

09/30/2026

2026 Junior Fellow, Sid Tiller, discusses his research with 19th-century Russian fables at the Library of Congress. Using materials from the Yudin Collection, he explores the place of fables in the historical framework of Russian literature and politics. Click through to read the full blog post.

https://blogs.loc.gov/international-collections/2026/09/council-of-mice-russian-fables/

09/14/2026

Hebraic Collections at the Library: An Online Orientation for New Researchers

Librarian Sophia Shoulson will guide you through the extraordinary offerings of the Library’s Hebraic Section and answer your questions. She will highlight key resources, strategies for browsing the collection, and demonstrate how to use the Library search systems and research guides to locate materials of interest. The Library's physical and digital collections are available for exploring, learning, and research. We will discuss how the reference staff can help you jumpstart a new project and navigate the wealth of information at your fingertips.

• September 17, 2026
• 12 PM EDT – 12:45 PM EDT
• Zoom

Register at:
https://loc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/9217884081429/WN_qcwLDNs8R4-IbyWqlG8CTQ/

Or if you want to link to the Library’s page: https://www.loc.gov/item/event-423490/hebraic-collections-at-the-library-an-online-orientation-for-new-researchers/2026-09-17/

09/13/2026

**Webinar - Introduction to the Japanese Collection**
Japanese collection specialists in the Asian Division invite you to attend an online, interactive webinar introducing the division's Japanese collection, as well as Japan-related materials across the Library of Congress more broadly.

Date & time: Thurs., Sept. 17, 3:00pm to 4:00pm EDT
Register online at: https://loc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/8417888923012/WN_HOD-ZU24QdycQWm7_WVTKA

Participants will learn about relevant print materials, digital collections, e-resources, and services available to both on-site and remote users. Topics will include rare books, newspapers on microfilm, maps, woodblock prints, films, and a wide range of pre-1946 materials, including publications from governmental institutions and the South Manchuria Railway Company. Following the presentation, collection librarians will be available to answer audience questions.