Carla Hayden

Carla Hayden is an American librarian and library administrator who has served as the 14th Librarian of Congress since 2016. Appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate, she is the first woman and the first African American to hold the position in the institution's over 200-year history. Hayden previously served as the CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland, and as president of the American Library Association from 2003 to 2004. Her tenure has focused on modernizing the Library of Congress, expanding public access to its collections, and championing the role of libraries in civic life.

Early life and education

Carla Diane Hayden was born in Tallahassee, Florida, and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother was a teacher and her father worked as a musician, fostering an early appreciation for both education and the arts. She attended public schools in Chicago before pursuing higher education at Roosevelt University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. Hayden then obtained a Master of Arts degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in library science from the Graduate Library School at the University of Chicago, studying under prominent figures in the field.

Early career and library roles

Hayden began her professional career as a children's librarian at the Chicago Public Library system. She later served as a library associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Information Sciences. In 1991, she moved to Baltimore to become Deputy Commissioner and Chief Librarian of the Chicago Public Library before being appointed CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in 1993. During her 23-year leadership at Enoch Pratt, she was widely praised for innovative community programs and for keeping the library open during the 2015 Baltimore protests following the death of Freddie Gray. Hayden also served as president of the American Library Association from 2003 to 2004, where she was a vocal advocate against provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act she believed threatened reader privacy.

Tenure as Librarian of Congress

Nominated by President Barack Obama in February 2016, Hayden was confirmed by the United States Senate in July of that year and officially sworn in on September 14, 2016. As Librarian of Congress, she oversees the world's largest library, including the United States Copyright Office and the Congressional Research Service. Key initiatives have included the ambitious By the People crowdsourcing project to transcribe historical documents, major digitization efforts to make collections like the papers of Rosa Parks and Abraham Lincoln more accessible online, and a modernization of the institution's technology infrastructure. She has also emphasized outreach, increasing the library's presence on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, and overseeing the renovation of the historic Thomas Jefferson Building.

Awards and honors

Throughout her career, Hayden has received numerous accolades for her contributions to librarianship and public service. She was named Librarian of the Year by Library Journal in 1995 and has received the Joseph W. Lippincott Award from the American Library Association. In 2013, she was appointed by President Obama to serve on the National Museum and Library Services Board. She holds honorary doctorates from several institutions, including Johns Hopkins University and Morgan State University. In 2021, she was elected to the American Philosophical Society, and her portrait was added to the National Portrait Gallery in 2023.

Personal life

Hayden is known to be private about her personal life. She resides in Washington, D.C., and is an avid reader with stated interests in American history and biography. Colleagues often describe her as a passionate advocate for equitable access to information and a dedicated mentor within the library profession.

Category:American librarians Category:Librarians of Congress Category:University of Chicago alumni Category:1952 births Category:Living people