WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today applauded the Senate’s confirmation of Dr. Carla Hayden to fill the vacancy of Librarian of Congress. Dr. Hayden is the 14th Librarian of Congress, and the first woman and first African-American to hold the position.
“I congratulate Dr. Hayden on her confirmation as the 14th Librarian on Congress. Dr. Hayden’s impressive career and diligent service to the people of Baltimore as CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library have prepared her well to serve as the guardian and curator of the world’s greatest library,” said Senator Cardin. “Dr. Hayden has been a cultural treasure to our city and a long-time, passionate defender of America’s libraries, ensuring access for all through her work to protect the free flow of information, civil rights and privacy protections. In the case of Dr. Hayden’s historic confirmation, Baltimore’s loss is America’s gain.”
“Our nation and its library will be well served with Dr. Carla Hayden as the next Librarian of Congress,” Senator Mikulski said. “For more than 20 years, Dr. Hayden has proven herself as the Director of the Enoch Pratt Libraries. She is a skilled manager of large, complex projects, handling large budgets while avoiding techno-boondoggles and producing tangible results. From moving the Enoch Pratt into the digital age to managing rare collections, Dr. Hayden has shown she understands the transformative nature of what a library is. With Dr. Hayden at the helm, America’s library will have an extremely qualified leader.”
In October, Senators Mikulski and Cardin wrote to President Obama in support of her nomination. A copy of that letter is available here.
DR. CARLA HAYDEN
Dr. Carla Hayden, of Baltimore, Maryland, has been the Director and CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library since 1993. Previously, she worked as a library service coordinator for the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago and taught as an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Hayden returned to the Chicago Public Library, where she became the deputy commissioner and chief librarian before joining the Enoch Pratt Free Library as CEO. She received the Lippincott Award in 2013, and is the first African American to receive the Librarian of the Year award in 1995. In 2010, she was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate to serve on the National Museum and Library Services Board and National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities. She received her B.A. from Roosevelt University and her Masters and PhD from the University of Chicago Graduate Library School.
###
