WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dr. Carla Hayden, a former president of the American Library Association (ALA) and Chief Executive Officer of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland, was sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress on Wednesday, Sept. 14. The historic ceremony was broadcast live on the Library of Congress YouTube channel. Dr. Hayden is the first female and the first African American to lead the Library of Congress. The nation’s Library has been led by a library professional three times before in its history.
ALA President Julie Todaro released the following statement:
“Dr. Hayden personifies the modern librarian: informed, articulate and committed. She will provide the leadership that the Library’s highly qualified staff needs to manage their world-class collection, which she has rightly called a ‘national treasure.’
“Throughout her career, Dr. Hayden has been a champion for information equality, privacy and freedom of thought and speech. Like all librarians, she is committed to the bedrock principle that all Americans everywhere deserve equitable access to the information that they need to succeed and lead productive lives in the digital age.
“We know that with Dr. Hayden at the helm, the Library of Congress will strengthen its ties with the nation’s libraries and other groups that influence how people access knowledge and information in the digital age. The Library is an extraordinary national and global resource and can and will greatly expand its reach in the digital age.”
Dr. Hayden was nominated by President Obama to be a member of the National Museum and Library Services Board in January 2010 and was confirmed by the Senate in June 2010. In 2013 she served on the steering committee that led to the launch of the National Digital Public Library. Prior to joining the Pratt Library, Dr. Hayden was Deputy Commissioner and Chief Librarian of the Chicago Public Library from 1991 to 1993. She was an Assistant Professor for Library and Information Science at the University of Pittsburgh from 1987 to 1991. Dr. Hayden was President of the American Library Association from 2003 to 2004. She received a B.A. from Roosevelt University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the Graduate Library School of the University of Chicago
 and Chief Executive Officer of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland, was sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress on Wednesday, Sept. 14.){kind=link}