"This is the first comprehensive history of the Library of Congress that is not merely about one aspect or another-e.g., buildings, ornamentation, collections, timeline highlights. Jane Aikin engages deeply with a wealth of primary and secondary sources to weave a narrative of the individuals, events, and controversies that have shaped this venerable institution. Drawing millions of visitors a year, the Library serves as the research arm of Congress, the home of the U.S. Copyright Office, and as a public forum for artistic and literary culture. Never designated by law as the national library of the United States, it nonetheless occupies that place in the national imagination.

This history of 13 male Librarians culminates in 2016 with the swearing in of Carla Hayden, the first woman and first African American Librarian of Congress. The narrative is punctuated by stories of key donors and pivotal performances by poets, authors, and celebrities"--.