# By the People (Library of Congress)

The Library of Congress's virtual volunteering platform: transcribe, review, and tag digitized historical manuscripts at crowd.loc.gov - no registration needed to start, 500,000+ transcriptions done since 2018.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | Library of Congress |
| Category | volunteer |
| Cost | Free |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grades 6–12 |
| Format | Online / virtual |
| Location | Various |
| Apply | https://crowd.loc.gov/get-started/ |

## About this program

# By the People (Library of Congress)

By the People is the Library of Congress's crowdsourced transcription program, launched in 2018 on the Library's Concordia platform at crowd.loc.gov. Virtual volunteers transcribe and review digitized pages from the Library's collections - past campaigns have included the papers of Theodore Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Walt Whitman, and Susan B. Anthony - and completed transcriptions flow back into loc.gov, making historic documents keyword-searchable and accessible to readers who use screen readers.

## What You'll Do

- Pick an active campaign and transcribe digitized manuscripts and typed materials page by page
- Review and tag other volunteers' transcriptions once you register a free account
- Use the platform's OCR tool as a starting point for typed and printed materials
- Track your contributions on a profile page and download an official letter confirming your volunteer service

## Who Should Apply

Anyone with an internet connection - no minimum age is published, and you do not even need an account to start transcribing. It is one of the easiest genuine federal-institution volunteer roles a middle or high school student can hold, and the Library answers student questions about using it for school-credit virtual volunteering.

## Outcomes

Volunteers get documented service with the Library of Congress, close contact with primary sources, and a concrete public contribution: every approved page improves search and accessibility of American history for everyone. Participation is self-paced and year-round with no deadlines.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does By the People (Library of Congress) cost?

By the People (Library of Congress) is completely free — there is no participation fee. Costs like travel or optional materials may still apply; check the official site for details.

### Who is eligible for By the People (Library of Congress)?

By the People (Library of Congress) is open to students in grades 6–12 (middle and high school). Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is By the People (Library of Congress) online or in person?

By the People (Library of Congress) is fully online — students can participate from anywhere with an internet connection.

### How do I apply to By the People (Library of Congress)?

Apply directly through Library of Congress's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-28.
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