Kiosk Is One of 56 Distributed Nationwide Through Center for the Book Network
Kentucky Humanities, which serves as Kentucky’s Center for the Book, is proud to announce that it has received one of 56 historic card catalogs retired by the Library of Congress and transformed into an interactive information kiosk. The kiosk helps to remind patrons that the Library of Congress is a library for all.
The Library of Congress Card Catalog Kiosk can be found at the Kentucky Humanities office, 206 East Maxwell Street in Lexington.
“We are excited to bring this unique and historic piece to Kentucky,” said Jay McCoy, Director of the Kentucky Center for the Book. “This kiosk is a tribute to the legacy of libraries and a bridge to the vast digital resources of the Library of Congress. It’s a powerful reminder that libraries—past, present, and future—are essential to access, learning, and joy.”
Each card catalog kiosk features signage explaining that the cabinet was once in active use at the Library of Congress, along with information about its history and original purpose. The front of each drawer highlights a Library of Congress service or program. Inside each of the 15 drawers, visitors will find a card with a brief description of that initiative and a QR code linking directly to related resources on the Library of Congress website.
The 15 Library of Congress programs and services featured include:
“We are very grateful for the Library’s Affiliate Centers for the Book,” said Lee Ann Potter, Director of Professional Learning and Outreach Initiatives at the Library of Congress. “Not only does this community of 56 organizations regularly help the Library of Congress promote reading, libraries, and literacy across the country, but all of them played an important role in finding wonderful homes for these card catalog kiosks in their states and territories. The responses we are getting from the Affiliate Center directors have been inspiring.”
About Card Catalogs
Card catalogs were a staple of libraries beginning in the mid‑19th century and remained in widespread use for decades. Each drawer held hundreds of cards organized by author, title, and subject, helping users locate materials and librarians manage collections. With the rise of digital technology in the 1970s, physical card catalogs were gradually retired. Today, the Library of Congress catalog is accessible online at catalog.loc.gov.
About the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library and the main research arm of the U.S. Congress. It provides access to millions of items documenting the creative record of the United States and the world. Learn more at loc.gov, access federal legislative information at congress.gov, and register creative works at copyright.gov.
About the Kentucky Center for the Book
The Kentucky Center for the Book, housed at Kentucky Humanities, is part of the Library of Congress Affiliate Center for the Book network. The Center promotes reading, literacy, and Kentucky’s rich literary and cultural heritage through public programs, partnerships, and statewide initiatives.
