The White House announced today that President Obama tapped Dr. Carla Hayden to head the Library of Congress.
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.”
Hayden has developed a reputation as a visionary within her field. The Baltimore Sun reports:
Hayden, is credited with bringing the city's library system into the digital age, building a new annex at the Central Library, and renovating a number of neighborhood branches. She also gained national attention, as the head of the American Library Association, for sparring with former Attorney General John Ashcroft over the scope of the Patriot Act.
Photo: Cory Donovan