Carla Hayden was sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress, becoming the first woman and first African American to lead the institution.
On September 14, 2016, Carla D. Hayden was sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress in a formal ceremony held at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The moment marked a historic milestone: Hayden became the first woman and the first African American to lead the institution since its founding in 1800.
She was also the first professional librarian to hold the post in more than four decades, a fact celebrated widely within the library and archival professions, which had long called for a Librarian of Congress with direct experience in library science and public service rather than a purely political or academic background.
The Library of Congress serves as the research arm of the U.S. Congress and is the largest library in the world, housing hundreds of millions of books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, and recordings. As its leader, Hayden assumed responsibility for the institution's vast collections, its role in copyright administration through the U.S. Copyright Office, and its mission to make knowledge and creativity accessible to the public and policymakers alike.
Hayden's swearing-in was widely covered by national media as a landmark event in both library history and the broader arc of American civil rights progress, symbolizing expanding opportunities for Black women in the highest levels of federal government and cultural leadership. Her tenure would go on to emphasize digital modernization, public engagement, and expanded access to the Library's collections.