David S. Ferriero

David S. Ferriero
Name	David S. Ferriero
Birth date	1949
Birth place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Librarian, Archivist, Administrator
Known for	10th Librarian of Congress
Alma mater	University of Michigan, Simmons College
Employer	National Archives and Records Administration, Library of Congress, MIT, Tufts University

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David S. Ferriero

David S. Ferriero served as the tenth Librarian of Congress, leading the Library of Congress and shaping interactions between the National Archives and Records Administration community, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and international cultural institutions. A career archivist and librarian educated at the University of Michigan and Simmons College, he previously directed major repositories including the New York Public Library and the National Archives at New York City. Ferriero's tenure bridged traditional custodial stewardship with digital initiatives involving partnerships with Google Books, the Internet Archive, the Biodiversity Heritage Library, and academic centers such as the Harvard University library system.

Early life and education

Ferriero was born in New York City and raised in a family connected to the Brooklyn and Queens boroughs, with early influences from visits to the New York Public Library and exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and a Master of Library Science from Simmons College, where he studied alongside peers from institutions including Columbia University, Syracuse University, and Rutgers University. His training involved internships and apprenticeships at repositories such as the Massachusetts Historical Society, the American Antiquarian Society, and the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

Ferriero's professional path included leadership roles at the Brooklyn Public Library, the Boston Public Library, and the University of Massachusetts Boston library system before becoming the head of the New York Public Library research libraries. He served as the regional director of the National Archives and Records Administration in the Northeast Region and later as the Archivist of the United States's regional holdings in New York City. Ferriero collaborated with curators from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, scholars from Yale University, Princeton University, and Columbia University, and municipal bodies such as the New York City Department of Records and Information Services. He engaged with professional organizations including the American Library Association, the Society of American Archivists, and the Council on Library and Information Resources.

Nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate, Ferriero took office as Librarian of Congress, overseeing collections, services, and infrastructure across the Jefferson Building and the Thomas Jefferson Building. His leadership required coordination with the Architect of the Capitol, the Government Publishing Office, and congressional committees such as the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Ferriero participated in exchanges with national libraries including the British Library, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and the Library and Archives Canada, and worked with cultural ministries from France, Germany, and Japan on collaborative digitization and preservation projects.

Ferriero emphasized digitization and access initiatives, expanding partnerships with the Internet Archive, Google Books, and the Digital Public Library of America, while coordinating with the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. He advanced open access dialogues involving stakeholders such as Stanford University, University of California, and Harvard University libraries, and engaged legal advisors from the U.S. Copyright Office and scholars from Georgetown University and Columbia Law School on copyright and fair use. His policies addressed digitization of historic newspapers with partners including the Library of Congress's Chronicling America project, collaborations with the Smithsonian Institution on digitizing artifacts, and preservation standards aligned with the National Digital Stewardship Alliance and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.

Ferriero received recognition from organizations such as the American Library Association, the Society of American Archivists, the National Archives Foundation, and the New-York Historical Society. He was honored with awards from academic institutions including Simmons College and University of Michigan alumni associations, and received commendations from municipal entities such as the City of New York and cultural organizations including the American Historical Association.

Ferriero is noted for mentoring staff across institutions such as the New York Public Library, the National Archives and Records Administration, and the Library of Congress, and for promoting diversity initiatives with partners including the Association of Research Libraries and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. His legacy includes contributions to digital preservation dialogues involving UNESCO, collaborations with the European Union cultural programs, and influence on archival education at institutions like Simmons College, Syracuse University, and Rutgers University. He remains a figure cited in discussions by scholars from Princeton University, Yale University, and Columbia University about the future of national repositories and public access.

Category:Librarians Category:Archivists