[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 41 (Thursday, March 9, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS CARLA HAYDEN

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                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 9, 2017

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I want to 
recognize the historic appointment of Ms. Carla Hayden to the post of 
Librarian of Congress. This is so significant because although more 
than eighty percent of librarians nationwide are females, the position 
of Librarian of Congress has been held exclusively by men, until Carla 
Hayden was appointed by Barack Obama in 2016.
  Carla Hayden was enamored by books and reading from an early age, and 
began her career as a librarian in Chicago at the Museum of Science and 
Industry and the Chicago Public Library. It was during her time in 
Chicago that she met Barack and Michelle Obama.
  After her impressive time in Chicago, Ms. Hayden left the windy city 
to take the position of Director at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, the 
public library system in Baltimore, Maryland. It was here that Ms. 
Hayden showed her true leadership as she improved and maintained an 
enormous public library operation. After the death of Freddie Gray, Ms. 
Hayden made the difficult decision to keep the Baltimore public 
libraries open in order to encourage people to use safe spaces and 
avoid violence. It is strong leadership like this that made her an 
excellent choice to become Librarian of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday, we celebrated International Women's Day, and 
I cannot think of a better way to acknowledge this day than by 
recognizing Carla Hayden, a pioneering woman of color whose very job 
will allow stories like hers to be told forever.

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