We are excited to share that the Library of Congress recently added to its collections nineteen books of student poems, stories, and essays published by 826DC. These 19 anthologies span more than a decade from 2011 to 2025.
Each of these 19 anthologies resulted from one of 826DC’s signature writing residencies in local schools and community centers over the course of our fifteen year history working in the local community. Through our writing residencies, students are supported to create original written work around a central theme and genre. In partnership with classroom educators, teaching artists and professional writers, students spend months developing their written pieces, and then engaging in a rigorous editing and revision process with guidance from the 826DC staff and experienced volunteers. Each anthology features an original foreword written by a noted local author, who served as a mentor for the students and the project.
The 826DC student publications now form part of the more than 25 million books, bound serials, and other items that constitute the Library’s general collections. The publications are shelved in the Library’s Main Reading Room, located in the Thomas Jefferson Building. Visitors who obtain a Library Reader Identification Card (must be 16+ years of age) can enter the Main Reading Room and read the books. Anyone who has questions about how to access the books can contact the Library of Congress for guidance.
At 826DC, we are on a mission to help students develop a lasting, positive relationship with writing that catalyzes their ability to live into their fullest possibility.
We are proud of the accomplishments of our young authors, who build their fundamental writing skills while adding their stories, poems and essays to the literary culture of our city. The Library of Congress’s acquisition of these titles adds a representative selection of local youth voices to the collections of the world’s largest library, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Please join us in celebrating our young writers and their inclusion in the Library of Congress’s collection. Along with so many local and national partners, we are pleased to be building a city in which every young person is able to confidently use writing to communicate their experiences, explore new ideas, and enjoy the creative process.