Obama nominates first Black, woman to Librarian of Congress post
buzzz worthy. . .
President Obama
said in an announcement about the decision,
“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. . . ”
President Barack Obama has nominated Dr. Carla Hayden of Maryland as the first African American and female Librarian of Congress. On February 24, her nomination for a term of ten years was sent to the Senate for confirmation. James H. Billington is the vice nominee.
President Obama
said in an announcement about the decision,
“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. . . ”
He added having a woman or Black person in the position is "long overdue."
About Carla D. Hayden, Nominee for Librarian of Congress, Library of Congress:
Dr.
Carla D. Hayden is CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore,
Maryland, a position she has held since 1993. 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. 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 Library Services Coordinator for the Museum of Science and Industry
in Chicago from 1982 to 1987. She began her career
with the Chicago Public Library as the Young Adult Services Coordinator
from 1979 to 1982 and as a Library Associate and Children’s Librarian
from 1973 to 1979. Dr. Hayden was President of the American Library
Association from 2003 to 2004. In 1995, she
was the first African American to receive Library Journal’s Librarian
of the Year Award in recognition of her outreach services at the Pratt
Library, which included an afterschool center for Baltimore teens
offering homework assistance and college and career
counseling. Dr. Hayden received a B.A. from Roosevelt University and
an M.A. and Ph.D. from the Graduate Library School of the University of
Chicago.
