Carla Hayden, former CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, was confirmed as the 14th Librarian of Congress by the Senate Wednesday.
Hayden is the first woman and first African-American to hold the position.
President Obama nominated Hayden for the appointment in late February. She began leading the library system in Baltimore in 1993.
Congratulations to Dr. Carla Hayden on her confirmation as the first African American & first woman Librarian of Congress! #BlackGirlMagic
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) July 13, 2016
"This is truly a great honor to be nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the nation’s library, the Library of Congress,” Hayden said in a statement. "It has been my privilege to serve the citizens of Baltimore for 23 years and help restore the Enoch Pratt Free Library as a world-renowned institution. I look forward to working with the dedicated staff of the Library of Congress."
Elected officials in Maryland praised Hayden's confirmation.
"She is a skilled manager of large, complex projects, handling large budgets while avoiding techno-boondoggles and producing tangible results," Sen. Barbara Mikulski said in an emailed statement. "From moving the Enoch Pratt into the digital age to managing rare collections, Dr. Hayden has shown she understands the transformative nature of what a library is. With Dr. Hayden at the helm, America’s library will have an extremely qualified leader.”
Sen. Ben Cardin said that Hayden's time in Baltimore prepared her to serve in "the world's greatest library."
Library of Congress officials said Hayden would be sworn in on a yet-to-be-determined date and that she would begin assuming her duties soon.
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