A New Interactive Experience for Young Researchers at the Library of Congress
This May, SKOLNICK Architecture celebrates the opening of the Library of Congress’s new experiential research gallery, THE SOURCE: WHERE CURIOSITY SPARKS DISCOVERY.
Created for youth ages 8–15, this permanent interactive experience invites young visitors to explore the Library’s primary source collections and build meaning through research and discovery through four immersive sections: image, text, sound, and film.
Photos above by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
In addition to a fanciful card catalog that introduces visitors to the Library and its holdings and virtual librarians that greet visitors, THE SOURCE includes the Research Desk where visitors will be able to explore curated stories of research conducted by adults and children using Library resources. Drawing on the expertise of Library educators, collections specialists and a youth advisory council SKOLNICK worked collaboratively with the Library of Congress to design this engaging and accessible environment through a seamless integration of the Library’s historic architecture, interpretive planning, and environmental design.
THE SOURCE brings the Library’s collections to life, inspiring curiosity, discovery, and learning for a new generation of visitors.
Left: The Card Catalog introduces visitors to the Library of Congress’ collections, with media projections and sound effects.
Right: Virtual librarians welcome visitors to THE SOURCE, guiding them into the Library’s collections and the research process.
Photos above by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
In addition to a fanciful card catalog that introduces visitors to the Library and its holdings and virtual librarians that greet visitors, THE SOURCE includes the Research Desk where visitors will be able to explore curated stories of research conducted by adults and children using Library resources.
Left: Listening closely to the stories within the Library’s collections.
Middle: Interactive books reveal the questions kids typically ask about the Library.
Right: Exploring the Library’s image collection through a stereograph viewer.
Photos above by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.
Drawing on the expertise of Library educators, collections specialists and a youth advisory council SKOLNICK worked collaboratively with the Library of Congress to design this engaging and accessible environment through a seamless integration of the Library’s historic architecture, interpretive planning, and environmental design.
THE SOURCE brings the Library’s collections to life, inspiring curiosity, discovery, and learning for a new generation of visitors.
Left: The SKOLNICK Architecture team pictured from left: Scott Briggs, AIA, Associate Principal; Lee H. Skolnick, FAIA, Principal; Jo Ann Secor, Principal, Director of Interpretive Services; Katie Ahern, Senior Manager, Content and Visitor Experience Design; and Emily Mak, Senior Exhibit Designer.
SKOLNICK’s design partners for THE SOURCE include Hyperquake (formerly Potion) for media design/production, lighting design by Available Light, acoustic design by Cerami, and structural engineering by TYLin. Goppion and Atomic Design provided fabrication and installation with AV systems design and integration by FordAV.