“I embrace, as a librarian, being part of a profession that has strong beliefs and is willing to stand up for those beliefs.”

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Dr. Carla Hayden was sworn in as the United States’ 14^th Librarian of Congress on Wednesday September 14. Her oath marks an important piece of American history: unlike her 13 predecessors to the role, Hayden is an African American woman. All 13 predecessors have been white men. She is also only the third Librarian to have actual librarian training.

“There have been lawyers and politicians, historians, scholars, librarians, and I think at this time it’s not a detriment to have a librarian be librarian of Congress,” she said.

Dr. Hayden was born in Florida and has served as the CEO of Baltimore’s Pratt Library since 1993. She was nominated by President Barack Obama back in February to fill the position of James Billington after he resigned last September. With his nomination, he said that the appointment of an African American person and a woman was “long overdue.” The Senate voted 72-14 in July to confirm her in the position.

“Even though librarianship is one of the four what they call feminized professions – social work, education nursing, and librarianship – where 85% of the workforce is female, there haven’t been an equal amount of women in the leadership positions,” Dr. Hayden said in an interview.

The Librarian of Congress supervises the largest library system in the world. The Library of Congress was founded in 1800 to serve lawmakers in their research needs. It houses 162 million items within hundreds of miles of bookshelves in addition to their digital collection online. The Library assists Congress in providing the necessary information and research to pass bills, oversees the US copyright system, names the poet laureate, and preserves historical documents.

Dr. Hayden has said that she is hoping to digitize as many items as possible during her time as the Librarian of Congress, especially the rare collections housed in the Library.

This would provide people the opportunity to view Library of Congress-held documents and information from wherever they are – without having to travel to Washington DC. It would provide access to information for those who are unable to travel, and is a large part of the modernization of libraries. She has spent the majority of her career modernizing libraries to allow everyone access in information and digital culture.

“It’s critical that the Library of Congress regain its leadership in showing how a library can digitize collections, make things available online, and also preserve the items as well… Some of the items from the Library of Congress are already available, but to be a full partner [with the Digital Public Library of America] would be a significant step and I can’t wait to be the librarian that signs that paper,” said Dr. Hayden in her interview with USA Today.

Dr. Hayden is no stranger to libraries as a place of solace and importance, and she has quite the track record of public service and community outreach – during the wake of the 2015 Baltimore riots after the death of Freddie Gray, the city was in a state of distress and emergency. She let people in from the streets running to a safe place, locked the doors, and led everyone into the children’s section to get everyone away from the glass windows. She protected her city.

The next day, when most businesses had their doors closed, she decided to keep the doors open as she knew people would need a safe space to exist, do work, and collect information. She provided patrons basic needs: water, napkins, food. The library became a place of refuge under her leadership.

With quite the journey ahead of her, Dr. Hayden will be a force of change and strong leadership. Her appointment marks an important point in US history, and her term will be one of great innovation and momentous occasion.

“As the descendant of people who were denied the right to read, to now have the opportunity to serve and lead in the institution that is the national symbol of knowledge is a historic moment.”