Krampus: Origins and Development of a Winter Devil

12/03/2025

Krampus: Origins and Development of a Winter Devil

12/03/2025 07:59 PM EST

These days, it’s hard to make it through December in the U.S. without encountering Krampus. Hairy, scary, hoofed, and horned, the devilish character is wildly popular from coast to coast. Across the country, hundreds of events feature Krampus, including parades, “runs,” Christmas markets, and even mall photo-ops. Books, magazines, movies, and comics highlight his history and his adventures. But American Krampus is entirely a 21st century phenomenon. As recently as 2000, the Library of Congress had not a single book about Krampus in English. So just who is Krampus, and where does he come from? We’ll take a look at the medieval origins and modern development of Krampus in this blog.

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Congress.gov: Bills Presented to the President Update

12/04/2025

You are subscribed to Congress.gov: Bills Presented to the President from the Library of Congress. This information has recently been updated.

H.J.Res.130

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "Buffalo Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment".

H.R.1912

Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act of 2025

H.R.983

Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025

H.R.970

Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2025

Books & plush

12/04/2025

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Poetry 180: Poem 057 - "White-Eyes"

12/04/2025

Poem 057 - "White-Eyes"

A poem by Mary Oliver from the Library's Poetry 180 Project.

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Today in History - December 4

12/04/2025

Today in History - December 4

On Thursday, December 4, 1783, General George Washington received the officers of the victorious Continental Army to say farewell in the Long Room of Fraunces Tavern located in lower Manhattan in New York City. Continue reading.

On December 4, 1619, thirty-eight colonists arrived from England and ventured ashore to settle the land grant along the James River that became known as the Berkeley Hundred (Berkeley Plantation). Continue reading.

On December 4, 1875, William M. "Boss" Tweed, notorious leader of New York City's Democratic political machine, escaped from the Ludlow Street jail and went into hiding. Continue reading.

Click here to search Today in History for other historic moments.

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Jobs and Internship Opportunities OPEN NOW|2026 Junior Fellows Program (Remote Internship)

12/04/2025

2026 Junior Fellows Program (Remote Internship)

Opening Date: December 2, 2025
Closing Date: January 2, 2026
OPM Control Number: 851215400
Vacancy Number: JFP 2026 Remote
LC Organization Unit: All Service Units
Grade: GS-03
Series: 0301
Minimum Salary: $17.29
Maximum Salary: $19.24
Availability: U.S. Citizens Only
Telework Eligibility: Remote

The Library of Congress Junior Fellows Program (JFP) is a paid, 10-week annual summer internship program that enables undergraduate, graduate students, and recent graduates to gain career experience by working with analog and digital collections and supporting the services of the world's largest library.

The Summer 2026 session of the Junior Fellows Program includes options for both onsite and remote project work. This posting is for the remote project track. Interns will complete all work remotely.

For full project descriptions and list of required skills/knowledge for each project, applicants must review the information at this link prior to applying.

Click here for more information.

To see more current job and internship opportunities at the Library of Congress, visit our careers site and our internship and fellowships site.

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Jobs and Internship Opportunities OPEN NOW|2026 Junior Fellows Program (Onsite Internship)

12/04/2025

2026 Junior Fellows Program (Onsite Internship)

Opening Date: December 2, 2025
Closing Date: January 2, 2026
OPM Control Number: 851223700
Vacancy Number: JFP 2026 Onsite
LC Organization Unit: All Service Units
Grade: GS-03
Series: 0301
Minimum Salary: $17.61
Maximum Salary: $17.61
Availability: U.S. Citizens Only
Telework Eligibility: On-Site

The Summer 2026 session of the Junior Fellows Program includes options for both onsite and remote project work. This posting is for the onsite project track. Interns hired under this announcement will be expected to commute to a Library of Congress facility in Washington, DC or Culpeper, VA to conduct work duties.

For full project descriptions and list of required skills/knowledge for each project, applicants must review the information at this link prior to applying.

Click here for more information.

To see more current job and internship opportunities at the Library of Congress, visit our careers site and our internship and fellowships site.

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“A Marvel of Ingenuity” — The Library’s Main Reading Room

12/04/2025

“A Marvel of Ingenuity” — The Library’s Main Reading Room

12/04/2025 09:00 AM EST

Since 1897 the Library's Main Reading Room has been the dazzling center of the Library's collections. Its circular design was inpsired by the British Museum Library, its art based on the classics of Western civiilization and its mission settled on fulfilling the American ideal of knowledge and education. Today, although much of the Library's collections have spread to other reading rooms and are available online, it is still a vibrant research center and the go-to tourist attraction for visitors.

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Law Library: News & Events: Join Us next Thursday, December 11 for Human Rights Day 2025

12/04/2025

We hope you will join us online next Thursday, December 11, at 3:00 p.m. EST for our annual Human Rights Day event. This event is co-hosted by the Law Library of Congress and the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Law Library of Congress. To help celebrate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this Human Rights Day event will draw on the Law Library's foreign, comparative, and international law expertise by highlighting the impact the Declaration had, not only domestically, but also in several foreign jurisdictions.

Please register here.

To learn more about the panelists and the event, read our blog post here.

125 years of binding, Part Four: Madison and the Digital Age

12/04/2025

125 years of binding, Part Four: Madison and the Digital Age

12/04/2025 11:00 AM EST

As we celebrate 125 years of binding at the Library of Congress, our final chapter in this blog series looks at the changes in binding and the industry with the rise of the digital age. The past 40 plus years brought the Binding Office to a new home, created a new partner, and finally, gave it a new name that is more forward looking than past. With quotes from the people that were there and made it happen, we share this retrospective conclusion, on the 125th anniversary of the office first opening its doors.

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Arthur Sze and “Library of Congress”

12/04/2025

Arthur Sze and “Library of Congress”

12/04/2025 11:08 AM EST

Celebrating our poet laureate's upcoming events in Queens, NY and at the Library in Washington, DC—and the publication of his poem "Library of Congress."

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Switzerland: Voters Approve Electronic ID Law in National Referendum

12/04/2025

Switzerland: Voters Approve Electronic ID Law in National Referendum

12/04/2025 11:50 AM EST

On September 28, 2025, Swiss voters narrowly approved the Federal Act on Electronic Identification Services (e-ID Act) (Bundesgesetz über den elektronischen Identitätsnachweis und andere elektronische Nachweise; E-ID-Gesetz, BGEID), with 50.39% of votes cast for the act. The new law will establish a state-run digital form of identification. Switzerland anticipates making the electronic ID, or e-ID, …

Continue reading “Switzerland: Voters Approve Electronic ID Law in National Referendum”

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Join Us in Washington, D.C., for NCSS

12/04/2025

Join Us in Washington, D.C., for NCSS

12/04/2025 11:00 AM EST

The Library's education team - and subject matter experts from many divisions of the Library - will be at the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) annual conference in Washington, D.C., on December 5-6. Visit us in Booth #241!

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12/04/2025

December 4, 2025

Issue 329

The Copyright Royalty Judges announce a cost of living adjustment (COLA) to the royalty rate that noncommercial radio stations at certain colleges, universities, and other educational institutions that are not affiliated with National Public Radio must pay for the use in 2026 of published nondramatic musical compositions in the SESAC Performing Rights, LLC (SESAC), and Global Music Rights, LLC, (GMR), repertories pursuant to the statutory license under the Copyright Act for noncommercial broadcasting. This rate is applicable for the period beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2026. For more information, click here.

The Copyright Royalty Judges announce a cost of living adjustment (COLA) in the royalty rates for the statutory license for making and distributing phonorecords of nondramatic musical works regarding physical phonorecords and Permanent Downloads. These rates are applicable for the period beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2026. For more information, click here.

The Copyright Royalty Judges announce a cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 2.9 percent in the royalty rates satellite carriers pay for a compulsory license under the Copyright Act. The COLA is based on the change in the Consumer Price Index from October 2024 to September 2025. These rates are applicable for the period beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2026. For more information, click here.

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Hair from Over There: Centuries of Human Hair Trade Data

12/04/2025

Hair from Over There: Centuries of Human Hair Trade Data

12/04/2025 02:00 PM EST

In 1876, human hair imports to the United States were valued at $4.5 million in today’s dollars. Where did all this hair come from and what was it used for? We investigate the hair industry and Library of Congress resources relevant to trade data, including our new research guide on international economics and trade.

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Congress.gov: Senate Floor Today Update

12/04/2025

H.J.Res.131

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision". (12/04/2025 legislative day)

25 for 25, “Madness in the Family: Women, Care, and Illness in Japan” by H. Yumi Kim

12/04/2025

25 for 25, “Madness in the Family: Women, Care, and Illness in Japan” by H. Yumi Kim

12/04/2025 02:40 PM EST

This post is part of the Kluge Center’s 25 for 25, in honor of the Kluge Center’s 25th anniversary, celebrating 25 books that were written thanks to the Kluge Center’s support. Read the introductory post to the series here. During Japan’s Meiji period (1868-1912), there was little structural or governmental support for those with mental illnesses. Even by 1918, …

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Congress.gov: Senate Floor Today Update

12/04/2025

H.Con.Res.62

Authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for an event to unveil the statue of Barbara Rose Johns. (12/04/2025 legislative day)

Congress.gov: Senate Floor Today Update

12/04/2025

S.Res.531

A resolution celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act on November 29, 2025, and recognizing its transformative impact on the education of children with disabilities. (12/04/2025 legislative day)