Library of Congress announces the "Books That Shaped America"

Copies of J.D. Salinger's classic novel "The Catcher in the Rye" are seen at the Orange Public Library in Orange Village, Ohio.

/ AP

(CBS/AP) The Library of Congress is celebrating the "Books That Shaped America" with a new list of 88 titles and an exhibit in Washington.

The library released its picks of the most influential books Friday. Librarian of Congress James Billington says the titles aren't meant as the "best" books. Instead, he says the library wants to spark a conversation about books that influenced the nation.

The list begins with Benjamin Franklin's "Experiments and Observations on Electricity" from 1751. It includes Thomas Paine's "Common Sense," novels including "The Scarlet Letter," "The Catcher in the Rye," "Moby-Dick," "Little Women," "The Great Gatsby," "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and "The Cat in the Hat."

Also making the cut are Jack London's "The Call of the Wild," William Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury" and Toni Morrison's "Beloved."

An exhibit on the "Books That Shaped America" opens Monday.

See the full list here.