LOC adds online touch for visitors
Library of Congress unveils interactive online technology to personalize library access
- By Kathleen Hickey
- Nov 20, 2008
Congress soon will be able to personalize their experience by
customizing to-do lists online through myLOC interactive kiosks at
the Thomas Jefferson Building that can later be accessed at home or
in the classroom via the Internet. The “Passport to
Knowledge” will bear a unique barcode that connects to
personalized accounts on the Library’s interactive companion
site, myLOC.gov. The feature, which will be available as of Dec.
11, will enable users to access their customized collections on
myLOC.gov at home or in the classroom. “The Library of
Congress experience is about providing an educational and engaging
interface with some of the Library’s unparalleled
collections, not just for the millions of people who come through
our doors, but also for the hundreds of millions who use our Web
site,” said Jo Ann Jenkins, the library’s chief
operating officer. Users also will be able to engage in Knowledge
Quest, an educational adventure that lets players investigate
unique artifacts from the Library’s buildings and
exhibitions. Visitors will be able to continue Knowledge Quest
online at myLOC.gov. Through myLOC.gov, teachers will gain access
to a greater range of educational resources including on-site and
online multimedia activities. The features are part of the new
“Library of Congress Experience,” which launched in
April. Since its launch, the library has seen a 25 percent increase
in visitors to the Thomas Jefferson Building.
About the Author
Kathleen Hickey is a freelance writer for the 1105 Government Information Group.