Dr. Carla D. Hayden: The First African American Librarian of Congress

A remarkable moment in library history!!

On Wednesday, September 14, 2016, Dr. Carla D. Hayden was sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress by Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, Jr.  The ceremony was broadcast live on the Library of Congress's YouTube channel.

Members of the United States Congress who spoke during the ceremony included Representative Paul Ryan (Speaker of the House), Senator Roy D. Blunt (Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration), and Senator Barbara A. Mikulski.


Some facts about Dr. Hayden:

The first African American to serve as the Librarian of Congress.

The first woman to serve as the Librarian of Congress.

Nominated for the position of Librarian of Congress by President Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United States.

President of the American Library Association, 2003-2004.

Served as director of the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore, Maryland from 1993-2016.

Received her library science education at the University of Chicago Graduate Library School.

Worked at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and at the Chicago Public Library in the 1970s and 1980s.

Taught library science at the University of Pittsburgh.

Library Journal's Librarian of the Year in 1995.

In 1992, Dr. Hayden edited Ventures into Cultures: A Resource Book of Multicultural Materials and Programs. 

Timeline of Dr. Hayden's journey to the Library of Congress:

February 24, 2016  --  Dr. Hayden Nominated by President Barack Obama

April 20, 2016  --  Confirmation Hearing Held for Dr. Hayden

July 13, 2016 -- Dr. Hayden Confirmed 

September 14, 2016 -- Dr. Hayden sworn in as Librarian of Congress

Transcripts of Dr. Hayden's confirmation hearing and swearing-in ceremony:


The transcript of the confirmation hearing (click on the title below): 

United States Congress. Senate. Committee on Rules and Administration. Nomination of Dr. Carla D. Hayden, to Be Librarian of Congress: Hearing Before the Committee on Rules and Administration, Congress of the United States, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, April 20, 2016. Washington : G.P.O., 2016. PDF File.


The transcript of Dr. Hayden's remarks from the swearing-in ceremony can be accessed by clicking here: 

Remarks by Carla Hayden, 14th Librarian of Congress: Swearing-In Ceremony, September 14, 2016. [Washington, D.C.] : Library of Congress, 2016. PDF.

Black Caucus of the American Library Association Newsletter:

The Summer 2016 issue of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association Newsletter features Dr. Hayden on the cover as well as some pieces written about her (see pages 42-48):

http://bcala.org/Summer2016/BCALA_Summer2016.html

Update 10/04/2016: 

The October 2016 issue of Essence features a brief paragraph on Dr. Hayden:

"History Maker." Essence 47.6 (Oct. 2016): 86. Print.

Also, the September/October 2016 issue of Library of Congress Magazine features an interview of Dr. Hayden in which she discusses what she hopes to accomplish as the new Librarian of Congress:

"The 14th Librarian of Congress." Library of Congress Magazine 5.5 (Sept./Oct. 2016): 2-3. PDF File.

Update 10/08/2016:

On September 19, 2016, Dr. Hayden was interviewed by Jeffrey Brown on PBS Newshour:

"The New Librarian of Congress on the Value of Free Information"
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/new-librarian-congress-value-free-information/

Update 10/25/2016:

The October 15, 2016 issue of Library Journal features an article about Dr. Hayden:

Schwartz, Meredith. "Librarian of the People: The New Librarian of Congress Sets an Ambitious Agenda and a New Tone." Library Journal 141.17 (Oct. 2016): 20-22. Print.

Update 10/31/2016:

The Nov./Dec. 2016 issue of American Libraries features an article about Dr. Hayden:

Landgraf, Greg. "America's Librarian: Carla Hayden Plans to Continue Her Career-Long Focus on Access and Technology as Librarian of Congress." American Libraries 47.11/12 (Nov./Dec. 2016): 40-44. Print.

Update 11/03/2016:

Related articles:

Page, Susan. "Carla Hayden Becomes First Woman, First Black to Lead Library of Congress." USA Today 14 Sept. 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.

Woods, Baynard. "Carla Hayden: New Librarian of Congress Makes History, with an Eye on the Future." The Guardian 15 Sept. 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.

Darnton, Robert. "The New Hillary Library?" The New York Review of Books 27 Oct. 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016. 

McGlone, Peggy. "'Rock Star' Baltimore Librarian Makes History at Library of Congress." Washington Post 14 Sept. 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.

Update 11/14/2016:

Dr. Hayden is featured on a Library of Congress webcast reading to children at the Library of Congress Young Readers Center:

http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=7464

Update 12/05/2016:

A photograph of Dr. Hayden being sworn in as the Librarian of Congress is on page 24 of the November/December 2016 issue of Library of Congress Magazine:

"Around the Library." Library of Congress Magazine 5.6 (Nov./Dec. 2016): 24. PDF File.

Update 1/14/2017:

A photograph of Dr. Hayden and singer Smokey Robinson is on page 24 of the January/February 2017 issue of Library of Congress Magazine:

"Around the Library." Library of Congress Magazine 6.1 (Jan./Feb. 2017): 24. PDF File.

Dr. Hayden was also interviewed by Shannon Maughan for Publishers Weekly:

Maughan, Shannon. "PW Talks with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden." Publishers Weekly 16 Dec. 2016. Web. 14 Jan. 2017.

Update 2/01/2017:

Cox, Ana Marie. "Carla Hayden Thinks Libraries Are a Key to Freedom." New York Times Magazine 22 Jan. 2017: MM66. Print.

Update 2/04/2017:

Daliyah Marie Arana, a four-year-old from Georgia, visited with Dr. Hayden at the Library of Congress and served as its first "Librarian for the Day":

https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2017/01/17/newsmaker-daliyah-marie-arana/

Update 2/16/2017:

Dr. Hayden was interviewed by Lottie L. Joiner for the Fall 2016 issue of Crisis:

Joiner, Lottie L. "The Accidental Librarian: Carla Hayden is the First Woman and First African American to Head the Library of Congress." Crisis 123.4 (Fall 2016): 22-25. Print.

Note: Crisis is the journal of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was founded by W.E.B. DuBois in 1910.

Update 2/26/2017:

Dr. Hayden was interviewed by Sarah Larson for the New Yorker:

Larson, Sarah. "The Librarian Congress and the Greatness of Humility: The Values of Dr. Carla Hayden, the First Woman and the First of Color in the Position, Can Be Seen in Every Aspect of the Institution She Runs." The New Yorker 19 Feb. 2017. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/sarah-larson/the-librarian-of-congress-and-the-greatness-of-humility

Update 03/26/2017:

Dr. Hayden will be a part of the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Spectrum Scholarship Program: 

"Dr. Carla Hayden to Kick Off Spectrum 20th Anniversary Celebration at ALA Annual Conference." ALA News 20 Mar. 2017. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.

http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2017/03/dr-carla-hayden-kick-spectrum-20th-anniversary-celebration-ala-annual



Sources: Pelosi, Nancy. Acceptance letter for the United for Libraries Award and an endorsement of Carla Hayden for Librarian of Congress. 2016 May 2. Letter. ; Fandos, Nicholas and Michael Shear. “Privacy Advocate is Choice to Head the Librarian of Congress.” New York Times (New York ed.). 25 Feb. 2016: A12. Print. ; Fandos, Nicholas. “Library of Congress Nominee Gets Senate Hearing.” New York Times (New York ed.). 21 Apr. 2016: A18. Print. ; Campbell, Colin. “Hayden Glides through Senate Confirmation Hearing to Lead Library of Congress.” Baltimore Sun 20 Apr. 2016. Web. 12 May 2016. ; McGlone, Peggy. “Librarian of Congress Nominee Carla D. Hayden to Testify before Senate.” Washington Post 20 Apr. 2016. Web. 12 May 2016. ; Duner, Alex. “Can Carla Hayden Reinvent the Library of Congress?” U.S News & World Report 25 Mar. 2016. Web. 12 May 2016. ; Peet, Lisa. “President Obama Announces Intent to Nominate Carla D. Hayden as Librarian of Congress.” Library Journal 26 Feb. 2016. Web. 12 May 2016. ; Gravatt, Nancy. “‘The President Could Not Have Made a Better Choice’”: ALA Comments on the Pending Nomination of Dr. Carla Hayden for Librarian of Congress.” ALA News 24 Feb. 2016. Web. 12 May 2016. ; Clark, Larra. “ALA Past President Receives Warm Senate Welcome.” ALA Dispatch 20 Apr. 2016. Web. 12 May 2016. ; Price, Gary. “Librarian of Congress: Carla Hayden’s Senate Confirmation Hearing Scheduled for Next Week.” INFOdocket 14 Apr. 2016. Web. 12 May 2016. ; Trujillo, Mario. “Obama Nominates First Black, Female Librarian of Congress.” The Hill 24 Feb. 2016. Web. 12 May 2016. ; Kenney, Brian. “The Case for Carla Hayden: An Experienced Library Leader is Exactly What the Library of Congress Needs.” Publishers Weekly 263.20 (May 16, 2016): 16-17. Print. ; Connley, Courtney. “President Obama Nominates First African American to Head Library of Congress.” Black Enterprise 25 Feb. 2016. Web. 28 May 2016. ; “Carla Hayden First African American to Be Nominated to Head U.S. Library of Congress.” Caribbean Current 25 Feb. 2016. Web. 28 May 2016 ; Peet, Lisa. "Carla D. Hayden Confirmed as 14th Librarian of Congress by Wide Margin." Library Journal 13 July 2016. Web. 15 Sept. 2016 ; Peet, Lisa. "Carla Hayden Blazes Trail as First Woman, First African American Librarian of Congress." Library Journal 15 Sept. 2016. Web. 15 Sept. 2016. ; "Save the Date: Library Career Expo Coming March 6th." The Wednesday Word: News from the Indiana State Library 13 Jan. 2010. Web. 15 Sept. 2016. ; "Registration Closes Tomorrow for Library Career Expo." The Wednesday Word: News from the Indiana State Library 3 Mar. 2010. Web. 15 Sept. 2016. ; "Carla Hayden Elected New American Library Association President." Jet 101.23 (2002): 34-35. Print. ; Fandos, Nicholas. "New Librarian of Congress Offers History Lesson in Her Own Right." New York Times 15 Sept. 2016: A13. Print. ; "President Obama Announces His Intent to Nominate Carla D. Hayden as Librarian of Congress." Whitehouse.gov, 24 Feb. 2016. Web. 3 Oct. 2016. ; Ventures into Cultures: A Resource Book of Multicultural Materials and Programs. Ed. Carla D. Hayden. Chicago: American Library Association, 1992. Print. ; United States Congress. Senate. Committee on Rules and Administration. Nomination of Dr. Carla D. Hayden, to Be Librarian of Congress: Hearing Before the Committee on Rules and Administration, Congress of the United States, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, April 20, 2016. Washington : G.P.O., 2016. Print. ; Remarks by Carla Hayden, 14th Librarian of Congress: Swearing-In Ceremony, September 14, 2016. [Washington, D.C] : Library of Congress, 2016. PDF. ; "History Maker." Essence 47.6 (Oct. 2016): 86. Print. ;  "The 14th Librarian of Congress." Library of Congress Magazine 5.5 (Sept./Oct. 2016): 2-3. PDF File. ; Schwartz, Meredith. "Librarian of the People: The New Librarian of Congress Sets an Ambitious Agenda and a New Tone." Library Journal 141.17 (Oct. 2016): 20-22. Print. ; Landgraf, Greg. "America's Librarian: Carla Hayden Plans to Continue Her Career-Long Focus on Access and Technology as Librarian of Congress." American Libraries 47.11/12 (Nov./Dec. 2016): 40-44. Print. ; Darnton, Robert. "The New Hillary Library?" The New York Review of Books 27 Oct. 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016. ; Page, Susan. "Carla Hayden Becomes First Woman, First Black to Lead Library of Congress." USA Today 14 Sept. 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016. ; McGlone, Peggy. "'Rock Star' Baltimore Librarian Makes History at Library of Congress." Washington Post 14 Sept. 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016. ; Woods, Baynard. "Carla Hayden: New Librarian of Congress Makes History, with an Eye on the Future." The Guardian 15 Sept. 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016. ; Vercelletto, Christina. "Up Front: The Power of Purpose: SLJ Summit Attendees Got a Fresh Perspective, New Energy, and Actionable Ideas." School Library Journal 69.11 (Nov. 2016): 12-14. Print. Staino, Rocco. "Carla Hayden Headlines the 2016 National Book Festival." School Library Journal 3 Oct. 2016. Web. 14 Nov. 2016. ; Peet, Lisa. "Hayden, Marx in Conversation at NYPL." Library Journal 8 Nov. 2016. Web. 14 Nov. 2016. ; Davenport, Anne Azzi. "The New Librarian-in-Chief Picks Her Favorite Children's Book." PBS NewsHour: Art Beat 20 Sept. 2016. Web. 14 Nov. 2016. ; Gross, Daniel A. "Carla Hayden Takes Charge of the World's Largest Library." The New Yorker 20 Sept. 2016. Web. 14 Nov. 2016. ; Begley, Sarah. "10 Questions with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden." Time 15 Sept. 2016. Web. 14 Nov. 2016. ; "Around the Library." Library of Congress Magazine 5.6 (Nov./Dec. 2016): 24. PDF File. ; "Around the Library." Library of Congress Magazine 6.1 (Jan./Feb. 2017): 24. PDF File. ; Maughan, Shannon. "PW Talks with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden." Publishers Weekly 16 Dec. 2016. Web. 14 Jan. 2017. ; Cox, Ana Marie. "Carla Hayden Thinks Libraries Are a Key to Freedom." New York Times Magazine 22 Jan. 2016: MM66. Print. ; Joiner, Lottie L. "The Accidental Librarian: Carla Hayden is the First Woman and First African American to Head the Library of Congress." Crisis 123.4 (Fall 2016): 22-25. Print. ; "Obama to Nominate Hayden as Librarian of Congress." American Libraries 47.5 (May 2016): 10. Print. ; Larson, Sarah. "The Librarian Congress and the Greatness of Humility: The Values of Dr. Carla Hayden, the First Woman and the First of Color in the Position, Can Be Seen in Every Aspect of the Institution She Runs." The New Yorker 19 Feb. 2017. Web. 23. Feb. 2017. ; "Dr. Carla Hayden to Kick Off Spectrum 20th Anniversary Celebration at ALA Annual Conference." ALA News 20 Mar. 2017. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.

Mary Louise Lambert Pickett and the Milwaukee Public Library (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

Mary Louise Lambert Pickett (1919-1979) was the first African American librarian hired by the Milwaukee Public Library. Ms. Pickett began her tenure at the Milwaukee Public Library on July 1, 1946. Previously, Ms. Pickett worked at the Chicago Public Library (1945-1946) and at Dillard University (1942-1943). She received her Master of Library Science (MLS) from the University of Chicago in 1944. Ms. Pickett was a member of Delta Sigma Theta, the Wisconsin Library Association, the NAACP, and the Young Adult Services Division of the American Library Association. She passed away in 1979.

*Note: The Young Adult Services Division (YASD) of the American Library Association is now the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).

Sources: Milwaukee Public Library ; Grant, George, comp. "Pickett, Mary Louise Lambert." The Directory of Ethnic Professionals in LIS. Winter Park: Four-G Publishers, 1991. 179-180. Print. ; "Mary L. Pickett." Wisconsin Death Index, 1959-1997. FamilySearch.org., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2014.

Charlemae Hill Rollins and the Chicago Public Library (Chicago, Illinois)

Charlemae Hill Rollins (1897-1979), the first African American to serve as president of the Children’s Services Division of the American Library Association (1957-1958), was an author and a noted children’s librarian at the Chicago Public Library.

Ms. Rollins, a native of Yazoo City, Mississippi, was the daughter of Allen G. and Birdie Tucker Hill. She attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. Ms. Rollins worked as a school teacher before entering the field of librarianship. In 1918, she married Joseph Walter Rollins.

Ms. Rollins began her library career at the Harding Square Branch of the Chicago Public Library in 1927. She received her library science education at University of Chicago and at Simmons College. She later became the Children’s Department Head at the George Cleveland Hall Branch of the Chicago Public Library where Vivian Gordon Harsh was branch manager. Built in 1932, this branch was the first one located in an African American neighborhood. Ms. Rollins passed away in 1979.

*Note: The Children's Services Division of the American Library Association is now Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC).

*Update 6/05/2013:

Ms. Rollins was the first African American female to receive an honorary membership from the American Library Association. The award was given to her in 1972.

Sources: Rude, Dan. "ALSC Charlemae Rollins President's Program presents Think with Your Eyes!" ALAnews 31 May 2013:n. pag. Web. 3 June 2013. ; "Rollins, Charlemae." American Library Association Honorary Member Listing. American Library Association, n.d. Web. 5 June 2013.

See related post: Vivian Gordon Harsh and the Chicago Public Library.

Sources: Willet, Holly G. "We Build Together: Charlemae Rollins and African American Children's Literature." American Education History Journal 31.1 (2004): 51-57. Print. ; "Charlemae Rollins, 80, Noted Librarian, Dies." Jet 55.23 (1979): 53. Print. ; "Charlemae Hill Rollins, Noted Children's Librarian and Editor, Remembered in Chicago." Jet 91.6 (1996): 12-13. Print. ; "Rollins Foundation Set Up to Help Change Portrayal of Blacks in Literacy." Jet 81.3 (1991): 23. Print. ; "Society World." Jet 53.13 (1977): 36. Print. ; Lensinski, Jeanne M. "Charlemae Hill Rollins." Answers.com. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. ; Dawson, Alma. "Celebrating African American Librarians and Librarianship." Library Trends 49.1 (2000): 60. Print. ; Shaw, Spencer G. "Not Whay You Get, But What You Give." The Black Librarian in America. Ed. E.J. Josey. Metuchen: Scarecrow, 1970. 153. Print. ; "Black History Prophets and Custodians: Handful of Men and Women Created Foundations of Saga of Persistence and Creativity." Ebony 50.4 (1995): 90. Print. ; Des Jardins, Julie. "Black Librarians and the Search for Women's Biography during the New Negro History Movement." OAH Magazine of History 20.1 (2006): 16. Print. ; Tolson, Nancy. "Making Books Available: The Role of Early Libraries, Librarians, and Booksellers in the Promotion of African American Children's Literature." African American Review 32.1 (1998): 9-16. Print. ; Wright, Joyce. "Black Librarians as Creative Writers." Handbook of Black Librarianship. Ed. E.J. Josey and Marva DeLoach. 2nd. ed. Lanham: Scarecrow, 2000. 656-657. Print. ; O'Connor, Sean. "The George Cleveland Hall Branch Library." Examiner.com. 23 May 2010. Web. 23 June 2012. ; "George Cleveland Hall Branch- Chicago Public Library." In Honor of: Libraries Named for African Americans. Ed. George L. Grant. Jonesboro: GrantHouse Publishers, 2011. 80. Print. ; "Charley May Hill [Charlemae]." United States Census, 1900. FamilySearch.org, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. ; "Charlemae Rollins." United States Census, 1930. FamilySearch.org, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. ; "Charlemae Hill Rollins, 1897-1979." School Library Journal Mar. 1979: 78. Print. ; "Charlemae Hill Rollins Dies." American Libraries 10 (1979): 105. Print. ; Rude, Dan. "ALSC Charlemae Rollins President's Program presents Think with Your Eyes!" ALAnews 31 May 2013:n. pag. Web. 3 June 2013. ; "Rollins, Charlemae." American Library Association Honorary Member Listing. American Library Association, n.d. Web. 5 June 2013.

Vivian Gordon Harsh and the Chicago Public Library

Vivian Gordon Harsh (1890-1960), a native of Chicago, Illinois, was the first African American librarian to work at the Chicago Public Library. Ms. Harsh began her career at the Chicago Public Library in 1909 as a clerk, and in 1924, began working at the library as a librarian. She studied library science at Simmons College and the University of Chicago. 

In 1932, the Chicago Public Library built the George Cleveland Hall Branch. This was the first branch in the system that was located in an African American neighborhood. Harsh served as the branch's manager. Charlemae Hill Rollins, another African American librarian, served as the head of the branch's children's department. Ms. Harsh remained at the Chicago Public Library until her retirement in 1958. Ms. Harsh passed away in 1960.

See related post: Charlemae Hill Rollins and the Chicago Public Library.

Sources: Joyce, Donald Franklin. "Vivian Gordon Harsh Collection of Afro-American History and Literature, Chicago Public Library." Library Quarterly 58.1 (1988): 67-74. Print. ; "Black History Prophets and Custodians: Handful of Men and Women Created Foundations of Saga of Persistence and Creativity." Ebony 50.4 (1995): 90. Print. ; Harris, Kathryn M. "Generations of Pride: African American Timeline: A Selected Chronology." Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2010. ; Shaw, Spencer G. "Not What You Get, But What You Give." The Black Librarian in America. Ed. E.J. Josey. Metuchen: Scarecrow, 1970. 153. Print. ; Garner, Carla W. "Harsh, Vivian Gordon (1890-1960)." BlackPast.org. BlackPast.org, n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. ; Bobinski, George S. Libraries and Librarianship: Sixty Years of Challenge and Change, 1945-2005. Lanham: Scarecrow, 2007. 99. Print.