Preserving 135 years of media at the Library of Congress Packard Campus – WTOP News

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Preserving 135 years of media at the Library of Congress Packard Campus

By Matt Kaufax | [email protected]

February 10, 2026, 4:59 AM

Preserving 135 years of media at the Library of Congress Packard Campus

Imagine you had access to the original reels of film for your favorite movies of all time.

It’s better than streaming; it’s the world’s largest physical media collection, and it’s located right in the D.C. area.

In today’s episode of “Matt About Town,” we’re heading to Culpeper, Virginia, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Library of Congress Packard Campus.

Also known as the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, the state-of-the-art 45-acre campus with mountain views is dedicated to collecting, preserving and providing access to the United States’ history and culture through 135-plus years of media.

The facility is a staggering achievement to media preservation, with one of its largest wings housing over 144,000 nitrate film reels in a storage vault. Built into the side of a hill, it comprises 124 individual climate-controlled pods (to prevent nitrate fires) and the largest collection of original studio negatives from giants like Paramount, Universal, Disney, Columbia Pictures, and more.

But it isn’t just movies.

The 415,000-square-foot space at Packard, complete with 90 miles of shelving, is also home to the most comprehensive repository of television programs, radio broadcasts, archival news footage, and other sound recordings in the world.

If all of this isn’t fascinating enough, you might also be surprised to learn that this facility didn’t start operating until 2007. When the original building in Culpeper was first constructed in 1969 during an era of Cold War nuclear paranoia, it was built as a cash vault by the Federal Reserve.

In the event of a nuclear disaster, the building was supposed to replenish the money supply of the entire Eastern Seaboard. There were even dormitories for up to 300 people to live inside the walls.

It was only after American corporate giant Hewlett Packard’s co-founder, David Packard, acquired the building from the government in the 1990s — then renovated and donated it back through his philanthropic organization — that the building transitioned into to what it is today.

In the coming weeks, we’re going to take you through our extensive exploration of Packard, giving you an in-depth look at what staff here are doing to preserve — and make available to the public — generations of history.

At Packard, they’re not just preserving films and media. They’re preserving the living proof of the very fabric of America, democracy, and the highs and lows all laid bare for the historical record.

Tune in every Tuesday and Thursday through March 10 on “Matt About Town” for episodes exploring every nook and cranny here. This all-access tour is one you won’t see anywhere else! Learn more about the Library of Congress’ Audio-Visual Conservation program online.

Hear “Matt About Town” first every Tuesday and Thursday on 103.5 FM! If you have a story idea you’d like Matt to cover, email him or chat with him on Instagram and TikTok. Check out all “Matt About Town” episodes here! Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Preserving 135 years of media at the Library of Congress Packard Campus – WTOP News

Books the DC Public Library recommends for Black History Month – WTOP News

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Books the DC Public Library recommends for Black History Month

Mike Murillo | [email protected]

February 9, 2026, 4:49 AM

The DC Public Library’s book recommendations by Black authors

Throughout February, WTOP is celebrating Black History Month. Join us on-air and online as we bring you the stories, people and places that make up our diverse community. 

As Black History Month continues, the D.C. Public Library said reading is one of the most meaningful ways to understand the voices, history and creativity of Black communities.

Maryann James‑Daley, director of library services for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, is sharing a range of books for adults, teens and kids that she says help readers connect more deeply with Black stories and experiences.

James‑Daley says one of her top go‑to recommendations is the work of Octavia Butler.

“For Black History Month, she has a collection of short stories called ‘Bloodchild.’ And so, I think that’s a good recommendation for people to get a sense of her and to become familiar with her work. And it’s a nice, quick read.”

She also points readers to a deeply local history book written by one of the library’s own.

“’The NAACP in Washington, DC’ by Derek Gray, who actually is an archivist here at the library, and he wrote a book that digs into the rich history of the local NAACP, and showed how it quickly became a leading organization in the country.”

Gray told WTOP his book looks back at the early years of the NAACP in D.C., which quickly became a leading opponent of President Woodrow Wilson’s move to segregate federal offices.

He said that over the decades, the organization balanced between more aggressive activism and cautious, conservative strategies as it worked to fight Jim Crow discrimination.

For those drawn to immersive fiction, James‑Daley said N.K. Jemisin’s award‑winning “The Broken Earth Trilogy” fits the bill.

“It’s very immersive. You read one book, you’re going to want to read the rest of them,” she said.

In the children’s section, James‑Daley says there are several strong options available at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, starting with engaging picture books, among them “Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince.”

“It’s about a kid who connects with this community and his joy of dance hall music and dancing in fun.”

Another pick is Nnedi Okorafor’s “Binti” series, which follows a young woman who leaves her tight‑knit Himba community to attend a top university in space and ends up caught in an alien conflict she never asked for.

She said nonfiction can be just as powerful for young readers.

“’Young, Gifted and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present’ and that’s by Jamia Wilson. And so it gives nice little snapshots of 52 icons of color from the past and present.”

James‑Daley also emphasizes why representation matters in children’s literature.

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“It is important for kids to see themselves in the books that they read.”

For middle‑grade readers, she highlights a title that connects with earlier library exhibits on Black travel, “Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America.”

It “digs into the green book and the roots of Black travel, it’s a great book for kids to delve into,” she said. The book, she adds, “delves into the intricacies of Black travel. It (looks into) the origin of the green book and how the green book really shaped Black people’s travel lives.”

When asked about what she’s reading right now, she said it is “The Personal Librarian.”

“It’s a historical fiction book based on a real-life woman who was a librarian, personal librarian, in the early to mid-1900s and she had to deal with crossing the color line and passing as white in order to grow in her profession.”

The library encourages families and readers of all ages to explore these recommendations and more throughout February.

‘Continue/Read Original Article Here: Books the DC Public Library recommends for Black History Month – WTOP News

Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin speaks out on Epstein files, shutdown and gerrymandering – WTOP News

Home » Government News » Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin…

Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin speaks out on Epstein files, shutdown and gerrymandering

By Zsana Hoskins | [email protected]

November 15, 2025, 3:46 PM

Newly-released emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate are stirring political tensions in D.C. Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin spoke with WTOP about the emails, fallout from the federal shutdown and the political stakes ahead.

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The email messages, disclosed by the House Oversight Committee, suggest a closer relationship between Epstein and President Donald Trump than previously acknowledged — including one email in which Epstein wrote that Trump “knew about the girls,” though it remains unclear what he meant.

The White House has reiterated that the president did nothing wrong and has said his association with Epstein ended in the 2000s.

On Friday afternoon, Trump further escalated the controversy by directing the Justice Department to investigate several Democrats that he alleges had ties to Epstein, including former President Bill Clinton.

“They (the newly released emails) confirm what I think most Americans have suspected, which is that Donald Trump indeed knew what was going on with the girls … But in any event, what we’re looking for here is a complete release of the file,” Raskin said. 

At the same time, lawmakers are dealing with the fallout from the 43-day government shutdown that ended this week, sending hundreds of thousands of federal workers back to their jobs.

Congress approved a short-term sending bill to keep the government open through the end of January, but the temporary deal leaves the possibility of another shutdown looming if no long-term agreement is reached.

Discussing the government shutdown, Raskin said lawmakers had been fighting to protect health care, federal workers and SNAP benefits.

“There was a trillion-dollar cut to Medicaid at the same time there was a trillion-dollar tax break given to the wealthiest people in the country … and we did not get everything we wanted. And we’re going to keep fighting to make sure that the health care of the people is addressed,” he said.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin speaks out on Epstein files, shutdown and gerrymandering – WTOP News

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