With the approach of Thursday’s second anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Library of Congress will host a daylong symposium today titled “September 11 as History: Collecting Today for Tomorrow.”

Leading U.S. historians, librarians and archivists will be present to discuss the use of digital materials in creating history and memory.

Today’s symposium will culminate in a reception at which the Library of Congress will formally accept into its collection the “September 11 Digital Archive,” which contains more than 130,000 written accounts, e-mails, audio and video recordings, photographs, Web sites and other materials that documented the attacks and their aftermath.

Highlights of the symposium include Dr. Ronald Walters’ presentation on how historians will write about Sept. 11 at 9:15 a.m.; and a presentation titled “12/12 and 9/11: Tales of Power and Tales of Experience in Contemporary History” by Michael Kazin, a professor of history at Georgetown University, at 3 p.m.

The symposium will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium of the Thomas Jefferson Building. The event is free and open to the public.

More information about the symposium is available at www.loc.gov/ 911symposium.

— John McArdle