Dr. Carla D. Hayden
Photo courtesy of City of Baltimore

President Barack Obama announced on February 24 his intent to nominate Carla D. Hayden, CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library (EPFL) in Baltimore and 1995 LJ Librarian of the Year, as Librarian of Congress. In addition to leading EPFL since 1993, Hayden served as president of the American Library Association (ALA) from 2003–04 and has been on the National Library and Museum Services Board, which advises the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), since 2010. Hayden was also a member of the 2010 steering committee that guided the formation of the Digital Public Library of American (DPLA). In a statement, President Obama said, “Michelle and I have known Dr. Carla Hayden for a long time, since her days working at the Chicago Public Library, and I am proud to nominate her to lead our nation’s oldest federal institution as our 14th Librarian of Congress. Dr. Hayden has devoted her career to modernizing libraries so that everyone can participate in today's digital culture. She has the proven experience, dedication, and deep knowledge of our nation’s libraries to serve our country well and that’s why I look forward to working with her in the months ahead. If confirmed, Dr. Hayden would be the first woman and the first African American to hold the position—both of which are long overdue.” In June 2015 James Billington, who had served as the 13th Librarian of Congress since he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1987, announced his retirement effective January 1, 2016, but he stepped down on September 29. Since then David Mao, then Deputy Librarian of Congress, has been serving as Acting Librarian. Billington’s retirement coincided with a storm of criticism of the Library of Congress (LC) for its lack of technology oversight, response to contemporary copyright challenges, and failure to hire a permanent chief information officer since 2012 (Bernard A. Barton Jr. was appointed to the position on September 8). In November President Obama signed a law limiting the term of the Librarian of Congress to ten years, though a given Librarian can still be reappointed for multiple terms. In addition, many in the library field spoke out in favor of appointing a credentialed librarian to the position. Only two Librarians of Congress have actually been librarians to date: L. Quincy Mumford, former director of the Cleveland Public Library, and Herbert Putnam, a former director of the Boston Public Library and past president of ALA. Hayden holds a B.A. from Roosevelt University in Chicago and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the Graduate Library School of the University of Chicago, and has worked in public, academic, and special libraries. The changing of the guard at LC presents a number of opportunities for transforming the 216-year-old institution, now including the potential to be led by the first woman, and the first African American, in in its history.

A WIDE-RANGING CAREER

Hayden began her career at the Chicago Public Library (CPL) as children’s librarian from 1973–79 and young adult services coordinator from 1979–82, stepping into the role of library services coordinator for the Museum of Science and Industry from 1982–87. From 1987–91 she served as assistant professor of library science at the University of Pittsburgh. Hayden then returned to CPL, where she was deputy commissioner and chief librarian from 1991–93. Hayden was appointed director of EPFL in 1993, at a time when the library’s infrastructure and outreach were at a crossroads. In her 23 years at EPFL, Hayden oversaw system-wide technology updates, a new annex for the Central Library, the renovation of ten branches, and the construction of the new Southeast Anchor Library, Baltimore’s first new library building in more than 35 years. The $112 million renovation of the Central Library/State Library Resource Center, currently in progress, is scheduled for completion in 2018. EPFL made news last April, when the Pennsylvania Avenue branch remained open in the face of citywide protests after Freddie Gray, an African American man, died in police custody. Hayden, along with Ferguson Municipal Public Library, MO, director Scott Bonner, became a spokesperson for libraries stepping up to serve their communities in troubled times. During her ALA presidency, Hayden had occasion to publicly comment on a number of challenges to the fundamentals of civil liberties in libraries, speaking out against the 2003 Supreme Court ruling on the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and revisions to the USA PATRIOT Act. Hayden has received numerous awards for her commitment to the profession. In addition to being the first African American to be named LJ’s Librarian of the Year in 1995, she was one of Ms. Magazine’s ten Women of the Year in 2003, and received ALA’s 2013 Joseph W. Lippincott Award, honoring distinguished service to the profession of librarianship. “This is truly a great honor to be nominated by President Obama to lead the nation’s library, the Library of Congress,” said Hayden. “It is my privilege to serve the Enoch Pratt Free Library and the citizens of Baltimore for more than 20 years, during which time we restored its world-renowned reputation. I want to thank the Pratt librarians and staff, the Board, our donors and partners, and most importantly our patrons for entrusting in us their trust to provide equal access to a variety of programs, services, and resources to people across Baltimore and the State of Maryland.” In the event of Hayden’s confirmation, the EPFL board of directors and trustees will begin a nationwide search for a permanent CEO. “We are thankful for Dr. Carla Hayden’s dedication and the amazing work she has accomplished in the 23 years she spent with the Pratt Library,” said Patricia Lasher, Board of Directors and Trustees Chair. “She has made this library system a world renowned institution and continued Enoch Pratt’s legacy by providing a place of learning for all citizens with amazing resources, services, and programming.”

ENTHUSIASM FOR HAYDEN

Hayden was one of several library leaders proposed for the Librarian of Congress position when Billington announced his retirement, including New York Public Library president Anthony W. Marx and former Boston Public Library President Amy Ryan. In October, Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Sen. Ben Cardin (both D-MD) wrote the White House, encouraging President Obama to consider nominating Hayden. “I’m proud to have recommended Dr. Hayden to President Obama to serve as our next Librarian of Congress, and look forward to her confirmation by the Senate,” said Senator Mikulski in a statement to the press. “Dr. Hayden has brought knowledge and truth to our communities, helping the leaders of today blaze trails and forge the way to the future. She has done a great service to Baltimore families, leading the way as Enoch Pratt Libraries light up the way for so many with knowledge.” Added Senator Cardin, “Dr. Hayden is a cultural treasure to our city and a long-time defender of the free flow of information…. While the loss will be a great one for Baltimore City, I look forward to introducing Dr. Hayden to my colleagues and to welcoming her as our nation’s top librarian.” "Dr. Hayden will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role," said IMLS Director Kathryn K. Matthew in a press release. "She has demonstrated a firm commitment to libraries, museums and archives and is especially adept at finding new and innovative ways to engage communities and populations. As the Library of Congress continues to expand its digital and outreach capabilities, Dr. Hayden will be well-situated to lead the institution into the future. We at IMLS look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Hayden in her new role." “The Association of Research Libraries [ARL] is pleased that President Obama has nominated Carla Hayden to this vital post at a critical time," ARL president Larry Alford said in a statement. "Now more than ever, the Librarian of Congress ensures the broad access to information that is essential to teaching, learning, and civic engagement.” At ALA, the response to Hayden’s nomination has been particularly enthusiastic. “The President could not have made a better choice,” said ALA President Sari Feldman in a statement. “Hats off to President Obama for nominating Dr. Hayden, a professional librarian uniquely positioned with the leadership and management skills and understanding of digital technology to make the Library of Congress the preeminent national library in the world, highly-valued by and serving all Americans as a treasured resource. We look forward to working closely with her to further librarians’ bedrock principle that all Americans everywhere deserve and must have equitable access to the information that they need to succeed and lead productive lives in the digital age.” Below: Meet President Obama's Nomination for Librarian of Congress: