Carla Hayden, First Woman and African American Librarian of Congress, Gains Bipartisan Support for Inclusivity and Digitization

Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress and former CEO of Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library for over 20 years, has received widespread support from political figures and public officials. Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, publicly endorsed her leadership. Representative Julie Johnson highlighted Hayden's efforts to make the Library of Congress more inclusive, accessible, and representative of all Americans, emphasizing her advocacy for digitization initiatives. Senator Ron Wyden condemned recent politicization attempts against Hayden, underscoring her reputation as a respected public servant across party lines and warning against the dangers of politicizing education. Notably, Hayden is the first woman and the first African American to hold the position of Librarian of Congress.