Teens

For Readers & Writers

Hear from your favorite authors and poets and get inspired with collections and writing prompts.

• Write with prompts from Jason Reynolds, YA author and current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
• Discover e-book classics available in their entirety. Check out early editions of titles like Alice in Wonderland, The Raven, and the first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet.
• Find a poem for every day of the school year with Poetry 180 from former US Poet Laureate Billy Collins.

For Teen Historians

Find documents for your next research project and get help from our librarians.

• Ask a Librarian: Have a question? Ask us now! Librarians are available to answer your questions and help with your research.
• Research Guides: Research guides to the Library’s general collections of books and periodicals, as well as general subject guides prepared by Library of Congress reference librarians. This guide about Harriet Tubman is a great place to start.
• Chronicling America: The Library has over 16 million pages of newspapers digitized! You can find coverage of historic events and incredible ads from decades and even hundreds of years ago, like this tuberculosis ad. Here is a quick start guide.
• Digital Collections: Find digitized documents, including papers of influential figures in history. Then, take part in By The People! Transcribe, review, and tag digitized images of manuscripts and typed materials from the Library’s Collections.
• Primary Source Sets: Ready-made resources provide easy ways to incorporate the Library’s collections into your research and projects.
• Listen to oral histories from the Veterans History Project and more. Learn how you can help add stories to the collections with these resources. Consider recording your own story or your family’s story today.

For Makers & Creators

Experiment and create with the Library’s collections.

• Play with emerging technologies and digital methods in LC Labs: experiments.
• Find, adapt and make your own art with images that are Free to Use and Reuse.
• Print your own Library of Congress 3D model and Lincoln’s Fist.
• Download activity kits using Library collections.
• Explore Copyright law and your rights as a creator here.

Visit Past National Book Festivals

• Watch Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan read from their book “Watch Us Rise” about girls who stand up against unfairness and speak up to make change. Watch here
• Get writing advice from fantasy author Leigh Bardugo as she discusses the writing of her books “Six of Crows” and “Crooked Kingdom.” Watch here
• Check out Jason Reynolds’s talk about go-go music in DC as he discusses why he writes books like “Sunny.” Watch here
• Watch the interview with Angie Thomas as she discusses code-switching, why she writes for teens, and how much representation matters. Watch here
• Explore all the National Book Festival videos for teens, and search for your favorite authors. More

Information and Opportunities

Even when the buildings are closed, we are here for you virtually.

• Discover
• Engage
• Volunteer