Librarian of Congress Names New Recordings to the National Registry
“Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has announced the second annual selection of 50 sound recordings to the National Recording Registry. Under the terms of the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the Librarian is responsible for annually selecting recordings that are ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.’ Registry recordings must be at least 10 years old. Nominations for the registry were gathered from members of the public, who submitted suggestions online, and from the National Recording Preservation Board, which comprises
leaders in the fields of music, recorded sound and preservation. The board also assisted the Librarian with the review of nominations.”
Selections include George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, a speech by William Jennings Bryan, Garrison Keillor’s first broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion, the John F. Kennedy Inaugural Ceremony, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book, and many other works representing quite a slice of American culture.
