For the Love of Stephen, Accepted into
the Library of Congress

Often described as one of the greatest library collections in the world, the Library of Congress serves as the official research arm of the United States Congress and as a global steward of human knowledge. With holdings exceeding 170 million items, it preserves the intellectual, cultural, and social record of the nation across centuries. Its collections span books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, films, recordings, and rare archival treasures—including a preserved copy of the Gutenberg Bible.

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The Library of Congress does not exist to celebrate popularity or commercial success. Its mission is preservation, access, and historical memory. Works accepted into its collection are selected because they document lived experience, reflect cultural truth, or illuminate aspects of American life that future scholars, educators, policymakers, and citizens may one day need to understand.

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Acceptance into the Library of Congress is neither a literary prize nor an endorsement. It is a scholarly and historical distinction. Approximately half of all submitted books are selected through a formal review process. Once accepted, a book becomes part of the permanent national record of the United States—cataloged, preserved, and safeguarded, often indefinitely. It is protected against time, obscurity, and loss, ensuring that its voice will remain accessible long after market cycles and public attention fade.

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In January 2026, For the Love of Stephen: The Story of a Boy Who Was Never Broken was formally admitted into the Library of Congress. A copy of the book now resides in its archives, preserved alongside works that collectively tell the story of who we have been as a nation—and who we are becoming.

In selecting For the Love of Stephen, the Library determined that the book holds enduring value in documenting:

• Disability history in America

• Family life and caregiving across generations

• Pre-IDEA education and institutional barriers

• The lived experience of intellectual and developmental disability

• Faith-based advocacy and moral witness in American culture

A helpful way to understand this distinction is simple:

Awards say: “This book is excellent.”
The Library of Congress says: “This book matters.”​​