Center for the Book

As the concept of literacy rapidly shifted from traditional notions such as the ability to read only books and other printed media to the ability to consume and process hundreds of media types, the Center for the Book was founded (under the auspices of the U.S. Library of Congress) to promote, protect, and preserve the idea of the book. Originally tasked with furthering the field of book history scholarship, over time, the Center has grown into the Library of Congress’s main vessel for outreach and literacy education, devoted not only to the preservation of knowledge but also to its dissemination. This entry provides an overview of the Center for the Book and then explores its history and principal programs and activities.