Dr. Carla D. Hayden May Become the First Woman and African-American to Serve as Librarian of Congress

Hayden has “overseen the modernization and expansion” of Baltimore libraries since 1993, when she became chief executive of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. In 1995, she became the first African-American to be awarded Library Journal’s Librarian of the Year, for her extensive teen outreach program at the Pratt Free Library. One of her most notable programs was a community center where students could get help with homework and college and career counseling. She also pioneered “free interactive programs” to make STEM more accessible to Baltimore teens. She’s been working in libraries since 1973, and was previously chief librarian of the Chicago Public Library.

Hayden also garnered national attention for her advocacy against anti-privacy laws as the president of the American Library Association, from 2003 to 2004.

President Obama announced that he would be nominating Hayden as Librarian of Congress on February 24th. If appointed, she would be the 14th Librarian, replacing Russia scholar James H. Billington.

If you’re still not convinced of Hayden’s librarian badassery, just watch this video she posted on President Obama’s Facebook page, where she explains the importance of inclusivity and community in libraries.

 

Cover image courtesy of the NEH.

By Ariel Wodarcyk on March 1, 2016
Ariel is a contributing writer for Helloflo. She is currently studying journalism at the Newhouse School of Syracuse University, and is an intern at Arts Council Napa Valley, a nonprofit arts adovacy agency. Her writing has been feautured on the Arts Council Napa Valley blog, FLURT, Naturma, and in the Napa Valley Register. You can find Ariel’s shameless self-promotion and newsy shares on Twitter.