Tag Archives: card catalog

Happy National Library Week (April 19-26, 2026)!

Earlier this year, the Nebraska Center for the Book, housed in the Nebraska Library Commission, received a special delivery from the Library of Congress (LoC): a vintage LoC card catalog transformed into an informational kiosk to celebrate and explore the many services and programs of our national library.

From their press release: “The Library of Congress has brought 56 card catalog cases out of retirement, transforming them into Library of Congress information kiosks that have been distributed to each state and territory through the Library’s Center for the Book affiliate network. From the Washington State Library in Tumwater, Washington, and the Texas State Library and Archives in Austin, Texas, to the Mayagüez Children’s Library in Puerto Rico and the public libraries in Denver, Colorado; Ames, Iowa; and beyond, the kiosks help remind library patrons – especially during National Library Week (April 19-25) – that the Library of Congress is a library for all..”

“Each card catalog kiosk features signage indicating the card catalog was once in active use at the Library of Congress and explaining its history and original purpose. The front of each drawer includes the name of a Library of Congress service or program. Inside each of the 15 drawers is a card containing a brief description of the featured initiative, along with a QR code leading to the page on the Library’s website that contains more information.”

Read more about the LoC Card Catalog Kiosk project here: https://www.loc.gov/programs/center-for-the-book/card-catalog-kiosks/.

If you are in the downtown Lincoln area, stop by and take a look at our card catalog kiosk in the main entry area of the Nebraska Library Commission. During the month of April 2026, you can also view our display of historical photos, documents, and other items celebrating the Library Commission’s 125th anniversary.