Library of Congress to Open New Experiential Gallery for Children and Teens

New educational space expands how the nation's library engages young audiences through curiosity-driven, participatory learning.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Library of Congress is developing a new 4,000-square-foot experiential gallery called 'The Source: Where Curiosity Sparks Discovery' that will open in May 2026. Designed especially for visitors ages 8-15, the gallery will encourage young people to engage with the library's primary source collections in creative and personalized ways through interactive stations and guided exploration.

Why it matters

As educational institutions seek new ways to engage young audiences, the Library of Congress' new experiential gallery represents a shift toward curiosity-driven, youth-centered learning in one of the country's most historic spaces. The gallery aims to help build confidence in budding researchers and encourage them to think like creators.

The details

The new learning space has been designed and developed with input from a youth advisory council. It will feature interactive stations where youth can investigate items from the library's image, film, sound, and text collections through guided exploration and open-ended discovery. The Source is intended to primarily serve young people, their families, school groups, and educators.

  • The new 4,000-square-foot gallery will open in May 2026.
  • The project began in 2021 as part of a broader institutional commitment to youth-centered learning and public engagement.

The players

Library of Congress

The world's largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States and extensive materials from around the world, both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office.

Shari Werb

Director of the Library's Center for Learning, Literacy and Engagement, who stated that the new experiential gallery represents a new way of thinking about how the Library of Congress can serve young people as they explore topics of interest.

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What they’re saying

“This experiential gallery represents a new way of thinking about how the Library of Congress can serve young people as they explore topics of interest; we want to encourage them to think like creators and researchers.”

— Shari Werb, Director of the Library's Center for Learning, Literacy and Engagement (vannuysnewspress.com)

What’s next

Additional details of the new educational space, including design elements, programming, educational connections, group visits and opening events, will be announced closer to the opening in early May. The Library will host a media preview and interview opportunities with principals in advance of opening day.

The takeaway

The Library of Congress' new experiential gallery for children and teens represents a forward-thinking approach to engaging young audiences in one of the country's most iconic institutions. By prioritizing curiosity-driven, participatory learning, the library aims to inspire the next generation of creators and researchers.