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20–359 2016

S. HRG. 114–285 

NOMINATION OF DR. CARLA D. HAYDEN, 

TO BE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS 

HEARING 

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON RULES AND 

ADMINISTRATION 

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES 

ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS 

SECOND SESSION 

APRIL 20, 2016 

Printed for the use of the Committee on Rules and Administration 

( 

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COMMITTEE ON RULES AND ADMINISTRATION 

SECOND SESSION 

ROY BLUNT, Missouri, Chairman 

LAMAR ALEXANDER, Tennessee 

MITCH MCCONNELL, Kentucky 

THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi 

PAT ROBERTS, Kansas 

RICHARD SHELBY, Alabama 

TED CRUZ, Texas 

SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia 

JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas 

ROGER WICKER, Mississippi 

CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York 

DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California 

RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois 

TOM UDALL, New Mexico 

MARK R. WARNER, Virginia 

PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont 

AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota 

ANGUS S. KING, JR., Maine 

STACY MCHATTON MCBRIDE, Staff Director 

KELLY L. FADO, Democratic Staff Director 

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C O N T E N T S 

OPENING STATEMENT OF: 

Hon. Roy Blunt, Chairman, a U.S. Senator from the State of Missouri ............. 1 

Hon. Barbara Mikulski, a U.S. Senator from the State of Maryland ................. 2 

Hon. Ben Cardin, a U.S. Senator from the State of Maryland ............................ 3 

Hon. Paul Sarbanes, a Former U.S. Senator from the State of Maryland ......... 5 

Hon. Charles E. Schumer, a U.S. Senator from the State of New York ............. 7 

TESTIMONY OF: 

Dr. Carla D. Hayden, Nominee to be Librarian of Congress ............................... 8 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF: 

Hon. Patrick Leahy, a U.S. Senator from the State of Vermont ......................... 24 

Dr. Carla D. Hayden, Nominee to be Librarian of Congress ............................... 26 

MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD: 

Statement Submitted by American Association of Law Libraries ....................... 30 

Statement Submitted by American Library Association ...................................... 32 

Statement Submitted by Congressional Data Coalition ....................................... 37 

Statement Submitted by Enoch Pratt Library ...................................................... 39 

Statement Submitted by Hawaii State Public Library System ........................... 40 

Statement Submitted by Internet Association ...................................................... 41 

Statement Submitted by Library Board of Rhode Island ..................................... 43 

Statement Submitted by Library Journal ............................................................. 44 

Statement Submitted by Medical Library Association ......................................... 46 

Statement Submitted by Mississippi Library Association ................................... 48 

Statement Submitted by Ohio State Library ........................................................ 49 

Statement Submitted by Rhode Island Coalition of Library Advocates .............. 50 

Statement Submitted by Texas State Library and Archives Commission .......... 52 

Statement Submitted by Urban Libraries Council ............................................... 53 

QUESTIONS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD: 

Hon. Roy Blunt, Chairman, a U.S. Senator from the State of Missouri to 

Dr. Carla D. Hayden, Nominee ........................................................................... 54 

Hon. Pat Roberts, a U.S. Senator from the State of Kansas to Dr. Carla 

D. Hayden, Nominee ............................................................................................ 58 

Hon. Ted Cruz, a U.S. Senator from the State of New York to Dr. Carla 

D. Hayden, Nominee ............................................................................................ 59 

Hon. Charles E. Schumer, a U.S. Senator from the State of New York to 

Dr. Carla D. Hayden, Nominee ........................................................................... 61 

Hon. Mark Warner, a U.S. Senator from the State of Virginia to Dr. Carla 

D. Hayden, Nominee ............................................................................................ 64 

Hon. Tom Udall, a U.S. Senator from the State of New Mexico to Dr. Carla 

D. Hayden, Nominee ............................................................................................ 67 

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NOMINATION OF DR. CARLA D. HAYDEN, 

TO BE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 

UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON RULES AND ADMINISTRATION

Washington, DC. 

The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:17 p.m., in Room 

301, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Roy Blunt, Chairman of 

the Committee, presiding. 

Present: Senators Blunt, Cochran, Capito, Boozman, Schumer, 

Udall, Klobuchar, and King. 

Staff present: Stacy McHatton McBride, Staff Director; Shaun 

Parkin, Deputy Staff Director; Paul Vinovich, Chief Counsel; David 

Adkins, Counsel; Trish Kent, Senior Professional Staff; Nichole 

Kotschwar, Professional Staff; Jeffrey Johnson, Chief Clerk; Matthew McGowan, Professional Staff; Hans Hansen, Staff Assistant; 

Brittany Donnellan, Staff Assistant; Kelly Fado, Staff Director; Jay 

McCarthy, Director of Operations Oversight; Stacy Ettinger, Chief 

Counsel; Ben Hovland, Senior Counsel; Abbie Sorrendino, Legislative Assistant; Dana Gansman, Special Assistant; and Leigh 

Schisler, Special Assistant. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF HONORABLE ROY BLUNT, 

CHAIRMAN, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI 

Chairman BLUNT. This afternoon, we are here to talk about 

something that does not get discussed very often, which is who 

should be the next Librarian of Congress. 

As we all know, the nominee, Dr. Carla Hayden, is the President’s nominee to be the 14th Librarian of Congress. Her successor, 

Dr. Billington, served ably for 28 years. 

Senator Schumer and I worked last year together to establish a 

term for this job, and so Dr. Hayden is the first person to be appointed for a specific term. That term would be 10 years. There is 

no reason to believe you could not be reappointed to that term, but 

10 years is enough time to get, we believe, lots of things done. 

This is an important job. It is an important office. I think Dr. 

Hayden has been a great representative of herself as she has met 

with members of the Senate. I know you are supported here today 

by your mother. It is always good to have your mother with you, 

and so I was glad to get to meet Dr. Hayden’s mother, Colleen Hayden, sitting right there behind her. I also know that members of 

your family are going to be watching this close to where I live in 

Missouri, as they are in Illinois and other places in the middle of 

the country. 

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We certainly are glad to be joined by our two colleagues from 

Maryland, by Senator Cardin and Senator Mikulski. If you would 

like to start, I would like you to be the first person to introduce 

Dr. Hayden to the Committee. 

STATEMENT OF HONORABLE BARBARA MIKULSKI, A U.S. 

SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND 

Senator MIKULSKI. Thank you very much, Senator Blunt, for organizing and holding this hearing, and to have done it in such an 

expeditious way. We know that the president has nominated Dr. 

Hayden just a few months ago, and after the appropriate and rigorous vetting process, you have moved on this, and we sincerely 

want to thank you for that courtesy, and Senator Schumer, you as 

well. 

We, in Maryland, are here to support the nomination of Dr. Hayden to be the chief librarian of the Library of Congress. We are so 

happy that her mother, Colleen, has joined her today. I feel a close 

relationship with both of them. Colleen is also a sister social worker. 

And by the way, the Maryland delegation is not trying to change 

the Constitution. There are only two senators elected at the moment, but former Senator Sarbanes, our emeritus, is also a very active member of the Enoch Pratt Board, and so he is here with us 

today to show support and solidarity. 

As you walk out in the audience, you see a unique group of people of all ages and diversity who are here to support Dr. Hayden 

as well. These are the people of the Board and the Executive Advisory Committee who, in their own time and their own dime, 

worked to make the Enoch Pratt Library one of the best and premiere library systems in America. And the fact that she has such 

broad support, I think, indicates what her leadership has been. 

Dr. Hayden has been the CEO of the Enoch Pratt Library for 

over 20 years. Her nomination is bittersweet. It will be a great, 

great gain for the nation, but it will be a loss for Baltimore. We 

will be very proud if Dr. Hayden is confirmed because she, once 

again, will be a first, the first African-American and the first 

woman to be the Librarian of Congress. 

But it is not about only breaking barriers. It is about all what 

she will bring. As I bring someone forward for support for confirmation, I look, do they have competence, do they have commitment to the mission of the agency, and do they have integrity? Dr. 

Hayden meets all three of those. She surpasses those high standards. Her track record is proof enough, but when you meet her, as 

you have, you will know that it is her character and commitment 

that really shines forth. 

Dr. Hayden was born in Florida, and by any metrics, to measure 

who should be the top librarian for the United States of America, 

is Dr. Hayden. Her academic career speaks for itself—Bachelor of 

Arts Roosevelt University, a master’s and a Ph.D. from the esteemed library school of the University of Chicago. She started her 

career as a library service coordinator at the Museum of Science 

and Industry in Chicago. She was an assistant professor at the 

University of Pittsburgh, went back to Chicago to work there. 

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There she rose through the ranks as one of the top children’s librarians in the United States of America. Then Baltimore called, 

and she came 20 years ago to what was really one of the early libraries in the United States. But the Enoch Pratt was not only a 

great repository, it had to be modernized. And that is where she 

showed not only that she was a great librarian, but that she was 

a superb manager. She guided through a fundraising effort to improve the annex. She made sure that what she did also was to 

digitize the library, and then find a way, in very tight budget conditions, to take the library throughout Baltimore and even throughout this state. 

Professionally, she has received the Librarian of the Year Award. 

She has been the past president of the American Library Association. She has received the American Library Association Esteemed 

Lippincott Award, given to those libraries for outstanding and distinguished service. Right now she is overseeing a $114 million renovation of the 

Enoch Pratt. She has worked with legislatures, with city councils, 

of which I serve, with the Maryland General Assembly, which Senator Cardin and Senator Sarbanes have served, so she knows how 

to work with the elected, but she knows how to work with people. 

If you saw where our library was, in leafy, prosperous neighborhoods and in harsh gravel neighborhoods, the library is there, open 

to all, serving all. And during the—last year, during our really 

tough challenges, when we were facing the uprising because of 

Freddie Gray’s death, the schools closed. Across the street from 

what they called Ground Zero, at a street called Pennsylvania Avenue and North, there was a burnt out CVS, because it had been 

raided for opioids, a scourge you are so familiar with. You have 

been an advocate on solving. 

But across the street from that was the Enoch Pratt Penn North 

Library. Dr. Hayden kept that library open and she kept libraries 

open during the entire period. Children had a place to go. The community had a place to gather. And when the feeding program 

stopped because there was fear of coming into the neighborhoods, 

they came to the library. And so literally, Dr. Hayden’s leadership 

and her grit, and the staff that she inspired, fed body, mind and 

spirit during those very tough days. 

I think this is someone who brings a distinguished academic career, a credentialed career, a strong fiscal manager, and really, a 

fantastic human being. And I am honored, honored, honored to 

present her to you. 

Chairman BLUNT. Thank you, Senator Mikulski. 

Senator Cardin. 

STATEMENT OF HONORABLE BEN CARDIN, A U.S. SENATOR 

FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND 

Senator CARDIN. Chairman Blunt, Senator Schumer, Senator 

Cochran, Senator Capito, thank you very much for being here, and 

thank you for allowing Maryland to have three United States Senators today. It is great to be here. 

Senator SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that be made permanent. 

[Laughter.] 

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Chairman BLUNT. Well, we are holding an objection here. 

Senator CARDIN. But I join with Senator Mikulski in strong support for Dr. Hayden. We are very proud of her leadership in Baltimore, and we know that she will do an incredible job at the Library 

of Congress. 

And it is great to be here with Senator Sarbanes, who has taken 

a great interest in the Pratt libraries in Baltimore and has been 

a great champion of these issues in our state, in our nation. 

We are here with a lot of people from our community that Dr. 

Hayden has worked with and has championed over her tenure at 

the Enoch Pratt Library. Today’s hearing is well timed. This Sunday marks the 216th anniversary of the creation of the library in 

1800. So Senator Mikulski and I were blessed to be Baltimoreans 

by birth. Other people, such as Dr. Hayden, had the good sense to 

move to Baltimore. 

For the last 23 years, she has directed the Enoch Pratt Free Library, which is not as quite as old as the Library of Congress, but 

it was established in 1882, a great tradition for our community, 

making it one of the oldest free public libraries in the nation. 

In 1994, Maryland was the first state in the nation to offer statewide internet service to its residents with the introduction of SAILOR, Maryland’s online public information network. The SAILOR 

operation centers house an Enoch Pratt Library State Resource 

Center. So Dr. Hayden does not just run the public library system 

for Baltimore City, she oversees the state library resource center, 

which provides all Marylanders with access to internet and other 

services. I think that skills will—be very well for her as she takes 

on the responsibilities of the Library of Congress, which as you 

know, not only throughout our country, is actually a world resource. 

During Dr. Hayden’s tenure, eight of the Enoch Pratt branches 

were either opened or reopened or renovated. I mention that because we have people here—Rachel Monroe is here, who runs the 

Weinberg Foundation—partnered with Pratt Library to be able to 

put libraries in schools that didn’t have libraries in Baltimore City. 

It was that type of creativity that Dr. Hayden encouraged, that is, 

leveraging private sector involvement with our schools to make 

sure that we had access to libraries for all children in Baltimore. 

As Senator Mikulski said, during disturbances in Baltimore, yes 

in Sandtown we had a library that was literally a place where people could go and knew that they were going to be safe. Right after 

the disturbances, I was in Sandtown. I was in that library. I did 

meet with people in that library, and it was a center where people 

gathered. And Dr. Hayden understands that. The libraries in Baltimore have been more than just the traditional libraries. It has 

been a place in which a community could grow and have confidence 

and children could go for peace and quiet. 

It is no surprise then that Dr. Hayden was named Library Journal Librarian of the Year in 1995, and was elected to serve as 

president of the American Library Association from 2003 to 2004. 

Before Dr. Hayden moved to Baltimore, she was assistant professor 

for library and information science at my alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, from 1987 to 1991, further evidence of her excellent judgment. 

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She has an outstanding resume. She has experience. She has the 

integrity. She has the proven leadership, and she has delivered results. So in addition to being superbly qualified, Dr. Hayden will 

make history as the first African-American, the first female to be 

Librarian of Congress, bring a fresh new perspective to the job and 

its challenges. 

And I agree with Senator Mikulski, Dr. Hayden is the best qualified for this position, and she will bring the perspectives that I 

think are needed to take the Library of Congress to its next chapter in the history of our nation. What a great resource we have. We 

all know that. This is a world resource. Whenever there is a slow 

day here, I love to go over to the Library of Congress and just get 

inspired. I honestly and truly believe that Dr. Hayden will take 

that library to the next chapter, and a proud chapter, for the American people, and I strongly endorse her candidacy. 

Chairman BLUNT. Thank you, Senator Cardin. Senator Sarbanes, 

we would love to hear from you if you have a comment or two. 

STATEMENT OF HONORABLE PAUL SARBANES, A FORMER U.S. 

SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND 

Senator SARBANES. Chairman and Senator Schumer and members of the Committee, thank you very much for your generosity in 

letting me say just a few words. 

My wife served for many years on the Enoch Pratt Free Library 

Board. It was a very large part of her life and she was very committed. When she passed away, the library people were more than 

generous and placed me on the Board, and I have been on the 

Board now for the last six years. So I have had an opportunity to 

observe Carla Hayden at work very closely. I mean, I want to tell 

you, this is an extraordinarily abled, dedicated, committed person, 

and I cannot tell you how excited I am about her nomination to become the Librarian of Congress. 

The nation will be extremely well served by her. The Pratt Library had her leadership for 20 years, and we prospered and 

thrived under it. Enoch Pratt was a 19th Century merchant who 

established the library back in well, now two centuries ago, and 

had the foresight to say it was going to be open to all, to all. And 

Carla Hayden has carried that through, and the library has been 

an incredibly strong fundamental institution in our community. 

She will do an absolutely terrific job as a Librarian of Congress. 

Well, the three senators here have represented Maryland in the 

Senate over the last 30 years, so you have a strong recent endorsement of this point of view, and I strongly urge her confirmation by 

the Committee. Thank you very much. 

Chairman BLUNT. Well, thank you, Senator Sarbanes. Senator 

Mikulski has let me know recently that beginning next January, 

the Senate should particularly listen to former senators and the 

good advice they would have. And Dr. Hayden, to be joined by Senator Cardin and Senator Mikulski, two of the most highly respected 

members of the Senate, and all three of these people talking about 

your great leadership for two decades at the Enoch Pratt Library, 

means a lot to me, and I am sure the Committee. 

I had an additional recommendation for the record. I was at the 

Ferguson, Missouri Municipal Library just last week. That library 

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was named the Gale Library Journal Library of the Year for 2015, 

and I know that you and Mr. Bonner, the director of that library, 

Scott Bonner, have presented together on a couple of panels about 

how the library can fill its needs in times of unrest. Both of your 

libraries became safe havens when schools were closed, when local 

businesses were closed, when government offices were closed. Your 

library and that library stayed open. 

Mr. Bonner, who I had talked to earlier on the phone about you, 

told me that for him, you were a personal hero and he thought you 

were the most capable individual possible to run the Library of 

Congress, so that was a pretty good recommendation from a Missourian about what you have done. 

The role of the Librarian of Congress involves much more than 

the title would indicate. The Library of Congress is our country’s 

oldest cultural institution and was created by our founders, as Senator Cardin said, over 200 years ago, in 1800. And it was created 

to promote scholarship, to promote creativity, and really with the 

goal of becoming a world class repository for a vast collection of 

works. 

Leading the Library of Congress requires multi-tasking on a 

scale that is rarely necessary in almost any other government organization. The Library secures and preserves the world’s largest collection of books and other creative works, including the largest 

database anywhere of copyrighted works. The Librarian manages 

more than 3,000 people. The Librarian serves as an impartial and 

objective head of Congress’ research organization, and the Librarian oversees the Copyright Office. 

Sounds like a big job, and we are here to talk to you about it. 

The vital role that is played in cultural preservation and scholarship, has been run by individuals with lots of different backgrounds, and not that many of them. In the history of the country, 

going back to 1800, there have been only 13 previous librarians. 

One was a medical doctor. One was an editor. There was a journalist, a printer, a poet, a political scientist, and a historian. Two 

clerks of the House of Representatives were Librarians of Congress, 

two lawyers, and two individuals who were either a professional library administrator or had prior library experience. In fact, the 

longest serving Librarian of Congress who became librarian at the 

turn of the 20th Century and served right up until the beginning 

of World War II, serving for four decades, was a lifelong library administrator. 

It is fitting, I think, that the nominee comes here today with the 

background in her professional life as a librarian and a scholar in 

the library sciences. She is the CEO at the Enoch Pratt Library, 

but also has been the chief librarian of the Chicago Public Library, 

and an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School 

of Library and Information Services. 

Now, the next Librarian of Congress will lead an organization 

that has really had significant physical and technological limitations and is struggling to adapt to a new century. Due to the historic shortage of storage space, the library has millions of items 

stored improperly and needs to find a better way to store them. 

There is risk of degradation of some of the collection. 

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In addition, recent information technology management challenges have raised questions about the Library’s ability to serve future generations as more and more collections need to be digitally 

collected, preserved and made available to the public. I certainly 

look forward, Dr. Hayden, to hearing your testimony today on your 

vision as to how this job needs to be done. 

Before I turn to Senator Schumer, just a couple of housekeeping 

comments. The Committee will be accepting written testimony 

from outside parties until Wednesday, April the 27th. Information 

on how to submit written testimony can be found on the Rules 

Committee Web site. In addition, the Committee will keep the 

record open for members of the Committee to submit questions for 

the nominee until Wednesday, May the 4th. 

As already been mentioned, Senator Schumer and I worked last 

year to create the first defined term which set a term, but also sets 

a framework of opportunity, and we have been glad to work together on those and other issues, and I would like to turn to him 

now for his comments. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR CHARLES E. SCHUMER, A 

U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

Senator SCHUMER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have an opening 

statement, but if our colleagues—I know their schedules are busy— 

if you have to go, you can read my statement in the record, if you 

would prefer. 

Senator CARDIN. I will take you up on that. 

Senator SCHUMER. Thank you. And I want to thank all of my colleagues, my two present colleagues and my former colleague, Senator Sarbanes. To him, I would say ‘‘yasuo.’’ Because we saw each 

other at the Greek Independence Day Parade in New York a week 

or two ago. 

Okay. Well, I want to thank you, Mr. Chairman, for moving forward with this nomination. And Dr. Hayden, I would like to welcome you here today. I congratulate you on your nomination as the 

14th Librarian of Congress. My colleagues, Senator Mikulski and 

Cardin, my former colleague, Senator Sarbanes, have been effusive 

in their praise. I share their enthusiasm for your nomination. 

Under your leadership, the Enoch Pratt Free Library has flourished and serves as an indispensable beacon of higher learning and 

civic engagement for the City of Baltimore and the entire State of 

Maryland, and it is no surprise, given your four-decade career of 

success and exemplary work in the library sciences. 

I have no doubt about your qualifications or your ability to lead 

the Library of Congress. 

So I would just like to take a moment to talk about the job you 

have ahead of you, as I see it. 

The nomination of a new Librarian comes at a crucial juncture. 

We need to ensure that the Library has the resources to fulfill its 

mission—to make its vast collection available and useful to the 

American people, and to sustain and preserve this unique collection 

of knowledge and creativity for future generations. 

In addition, maintaining an effective national copyright system is 

an integral part of that mission. Content creators and businesses 

must be able to promptly register and record their copyright interDeShaun on LAP51NQ082 with DISTILLER

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ests. Individuals and businesses must be able to readily obtain 

copyright information that enables them to license copyright works. 

For that to happen, the Copyright Office must be innovative and 

efficient. A critical first step is to bring the Copyright Office IT system up to date. In the digital age, issues related to copyrightable 

content and protection of that content are constantly evolving. So 

a big priority, it seems to me, for the new Librarian, should be the 

implementation of IT investment and planning practices that focus 

on the Copyright Office. 

There is a lot of hard work ahead for the new Librarian, balancing competing pressures, budgetary restraints. That work is 

usually important. Thankfully, in nominating Dr. Hayden, who 

Fortune magazine recently called one of the world’s 50 greatest 

leaders, I believe the President has put forward a candidate capable of meeting the Library’s many challenges, and extending its 

reach beyond its marble halls to further enrich the lives of all 

Americans. 

Dr. Hayden, I believe you’re the right person to pursue a bold vision of the Library’s future. It is my hope you will be swiftly confirmed, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to make 

that happen shortly. 

Chairman BLUNT. Thank you, Senator Schumer. We are going to 

go to questions after your opening statement, so we look forward 

to that. 

STATEMENT OF DR. CARLA D. HAYDEN, NOMINEE TO BE 

LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS 

Dr. HAYDEN. Well, good afternoon, Chairman Blunt, Ranking 

Member Schumer, and distinguished members of the Committee. It 

is truly, truly a great honor to be here today as you consider my 

nomination as the 14th Librarian of Congress. Of all the titles I 

have had in my professional career, I am most proud to be called 

a librarian, and it would be my honor to have the opportunity to 

be the librarian of the oldest cultural institution in the nation, the 

Library of Congress. 

It is especially fitting that this testimony is being given in the 

week following National Library Week, a time when libraries of all 

types and sizes are celebrated and recognized for their work, and 

I am very pleased that my colleagues—many of them are here 

today. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the senators 

from Maryland, all three, Senator Mikulski, Senator Cardin, and of 

course, Senator Sarbanes, for being here today. 

Now, this nomination at this time provides an opportunity for me 

to combine and build on various aspects of my personal and professional life. And my love and passion for reading books started at 

a very early age when my mother, who is here today, helped me 

check out a book, Bright April, the story of an African-American 

girl with pigtails, from a storefront branch in Queens. And I spent 

summers across from PS 96. I spent summers in Springfield, Illinois, accompanying my grandfather, a retired postal worker, to the 

capitol and the state library, where a fellow church member kept 

a small collection of books by and about African Americans. 

These experiences and more were the start of my love of books 

and my steps into libraries. But it wasn’t until I met a lady, Judy 

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Zucker, at another storefront, this time in Chicago, where my vocation began. She was on the floor during story time for children with 

autism, demonstrating the power of a librarian’s work, and all of 

my subsequent professional experiences were vital to my directorship of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, for years a leader in public 

and reference service, and it also is the state library for Maryland. 

I had the honor of being president of the American Library Association, ALA, with over 63,000 members. And I led the organization 

at a time when libraries across the country started to experience 

severe economic challenges. It was a time of increasing public demand for computer accessibility and also the need to protect the 

user’s privacy. 

And now I have the distinct honor to be nominated to be the Librarian of Congress with various mandates and responsibilities. As 

you know, the staff members of the Congressional Research Service 

are what we call the special forces who support Congress and perhaps are the Library’s most important constituency. The Library of 

Congress celebrates the works of authorship, and by way of the 

Copyright Office, provides services and support to creators of content. And I must say, that coming from a family of musicians and 

artists, I understand the blood, sweat and soul that goes into the 

creative process, and I look forward to working with Congress to 

ensure a fully functional Copyright Office that supports the community it serves. 

As I envision the future of this wonderful institution, I see it 

growing in its stature, not only in librarianship, but in how people 

view libraries in general. As more of its resources are readily available for more people online, users will not have to be in Washington, D.C. Everyone will have a sense of ownership and pride in 

this national treasure. 

A child on a reservation in New Mexico will have the same access as a high school student in St. Louis, Missouri. A fifth grader 

in Bowling Green, Kentucky, would be able to view Abraham Lincoln’s papers from his home computer, and a shy tenth grader from 

Meridian, Mississippi, with dreams of performing, would be able to 

view the Library’s Leonard Bernstein collection. A student from a 

community college in Kansas could look at and even download revolutionary war maps for a class assignment. 

And this would help libraries across the country. A small library 

in Arkansas with a modest budget will be able to help patrons assess primary studies of George Washington’s papers, and a rural library in Alabama will be able to connect through a live feed to the 

National Book Festival and see and hear their favorite authors. I 

envision a Library of Congress that can balance its various roles 

and important roles in a digital age at a time when libraries 

throughout the world face many of the same challenges, when their 

very existence is being questioned. The Library of Congress should 

continue to be a leader. 

I would be honored to be part of a legacy and accomplishments 

of my predecessors in this position, to be part of a continuing movement to open the treasure chest that is the Library of Congress. 

This can be done without threatening the Library’s core responsibilities to support and advise Congress, to serve users of the 

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Copyright Office and assist researchers who benefit from its exhaustive collection. 

If confirmed, it would be my privilege to join the dedicated staff 

and supporters of the Library to ensure that its treasures are secured and shared for many years to come. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to answering your questions. 

[The prepared statement of Dr. Hayden was submitted for the 

record:] 

Chairman BLUNT. Well, thank you, Dr. Hayden. We are going to 

start with a five-minute round of questions, and there will be a 

time for a second round, so we are going to stay pretty close to five 

minutes on that first round, and people can ask other questions 

later if they have time to stay. 

You mentioned your predecessor. Of course, Dr. Billington’s 28 

years in the Library saw lots of growth in the Library, lots of 

growth in the collection. His leadership doubled the traditional 

analog collection that transformed the first independent building 

for the Library, the Jefferson Building, into a national exhibit 

venue that has hosted over a hundred exhibits and established a 

host of new programs. He also launched a new field of outside 

fundraising, which librarians had not done in the past, and any 

comments you have about continuing that would be helpful. 

And then I would also like to know what new perspective you 

bring to this, understanding the mission of the Library, and how 

you think you are going to be able to build on that Billington foundation. 

Dr. HAYDEN. Well, thank you, Senator, for mentioning the legacy 

that I would be honored to help continue. At each time each of the 

Librarians of Congress have contributed greatly to the progress of 

this institution, and most recently—and Dr. Billington reached out 

to me and he has offered assistance, and I would love to take him 

up on it, to build on the private fundraising and the efforts that 

he has made. He established the James Madison Council that has 

garnered so much support, and actually helps fund the National 

Book Festival, provides many special programs that would not be 

possible without that public/private partnership. 

And so in terms of continuing, it would be very much, I think, 

advantageous to build on the preservation of the collection, as well 

as the efforts to use technology to modernize access to the collections. 

Chairman BLUNT. Thank you. Let’s go ahead to questions. We’ll 

go to Senator Schumer, and then in the order of attendance, members were Capito, Klobuchar, Cochran, King, Boozman and Udall. 

So it will be Schumer, Capito, and then we will see who is here 

after Senator Capito. 

Senator SCHUMER. Well, thank you. My first question is just out 

of historical curiosity. Could you tell us a little about Enoch Pratt? 

His name is everywhere, the Enoch Pratt Library, and they said 

he was a merchant. 

Dr. HAYDEN. He did quite well at being a merchant. 

Senator SCHUMER. He sure did. 

Dr. HAYDEN. And I am smiling because Enoch Pratt came from 

Middleborough, Massachusetts, to make his fortune in Baltimore 

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11 

right after the Civil War, and he did quite well. He developed into 

a banker, and when Andrew Carnegie, who is widely—— 

Senator SCHUMER. Yes. 

Dr. HAYDEN [continuing]. Credited with, and rightfully so, establishing public libraries throughout the country, was not having 

such a good time at first. He heard about Mr. Pratt in Baltimore 

and came and visited Baltimore, and Mr. Carnegie said later in his 

book, The Gospel of Philanthropy, he knew of no other public/private partnership that was better established than Mr. Pratt’s. He 

said he wanted his library free of politics and religion, and also free 

to all without distinction of race or color in 1886. 

Senator SCHUMER. That is pretty good. 

Dr. HAYDEN. And gave a million dollars. 

Senator SCHUMER. Wow. 

Dr. HAYDEN. 1886. 

Senator SCHUMER. Wow. That is great. Well, it is good to just 

know that little bit of historical—— 

Dr. HAYDEN. Thank you. 

Senator SCHUMER [continuing]. Knowledge. Okay. My first question, as you know, the Library’s responsibilities include the acquisition, maintenance and preservation of millions of items and the 

wide range of traditional and new media; the administration of 

copyright laws; and national programs to provide reading material 

to the blind and handicapped. 

But could you just give us a short list of some of your priorities? 

Dr. HAYDEN. It has been mentioned, and thank you for bringing 

up the list of responsibilities, and also referring to one of the biggest challenges, but I am very pleased to know that this part has 

been advanced, making sure that the Library has the technology 

infrastructure—— 

Senator SCHUMER. Yes. 

Dr. HAYDEN [continuing]. To accomplish its many roles, particularly with the Copyright Office, and modernizing all of its operations. The expansion of the technological capacity will help in not 

only preserving and making the materials and the extensive collection available, but also stabilizing and making the Copyright Office 

secure. 

I mentioned that I have a number of artists and creators in my 

family, and I know the importance of copyright and making sure 

that people enjoy the content, but also respect the people who create it. 

Senator SCHUMER. Great. Thank you. Second, the National Library Service provides important services to blind and print-disabled readers so that, ‘‘All may read.’’ NLS regional libraries work 

to make content available to eligible users in accessible formats. 

This service is critical to the blind and print-disabled readers of 

New York. 

So tell me a little bit about your vision for NLS. How do you see 

the NLS adapting to meet the evolving needs of the nation’s readers? 

Dr. HAYDEN. Again, I am very pleased that you mentioned that 

aspect of the Library of Congress’ responsibilities. It does not always receive as much attention, but it is vitally important. In my 

experience in Illinois, and also in Maryland in the state role, I have 

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had the opportunity to work with the libraries for the blind and 

physically handicapped, and one thing that would be very helpful 

would be to make sure that materials that are digitized are available in formats that would allow people with challenges to read in 

various ways. 

And so I would be very—if confirmed, very interested and very 

supportive of expanding that role. 

Senator SCHUMER. Great. And final question, in nominating you 

to be Librarian of Congress, President Obama cited your technological accomplishments at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. How do 

you see both the Library of Congress and the Copyright Office 

using upgraded IT systems to advance their respective missions? 

Dr. HAYDEN. I mentioned that I have been very heartened to actually have discussions with the new chief information officer at 

the Library of Congress. He was appointed in September as a result of a lot of the concern of the technological needs of the Library 

of Congress, Mr. Bernard Barton. And he has, in that time, accomplished quite a bit in terms of addressing everything in the Government Accountability Office report in terms of assessing the needs 

of the Library of Congress and also making sure that the basic infrastructure can support a fully functional and efficient Copyright 

Office. 

He has assured me—and I am glad that we are on the record, 

and I will quote him—that if I am nominated—well, I am nominated—but if confirmed, technology will not be a problem. And he 

is very competent. He comes from the Department of Defense. 

Senator SCHUMER. Great. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Chairman BLUNT. Thanks, Senator Schumer. 

Senator Capito, and then after that Senator Klobuchar. 

Senator CAPITO. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Ms. 

Hayden, for not just your service, but the visit to, I am sure, a lot 

of our offices for a chance for us to get to know you preceding this 

hearing. I appreciate that. 

And I think in that conversation you and I talked that I am the 

subcommittee chair of the Legislative Branch on the Appropriations Committee, and so my purview is with the Library of Congress. So if everything goes according to plan, I think we are going 

to get to know each other very well. 

So I want to ask, first of all, you mentioned the new chief information officer, which I understand is working well, but there is 

also another new division called the National and International 

Outreach. You and I talked about this just sort of briefly in the office. I did not know—I know it is early—but how much time you 

have had to really look at this. You said that your library has 

availed yourself many times of the services of the Library of Congress. I did not know if you had any initial thoughts on that particular part. 

Dr. HAYDEN. Thank you, and I smiled because I had another 

wonderful session with the head of the newly formed National and 

International Office. It is six months old at the Library of Congress, and its mandate is to expand the outreach of the Library’s 

programs and even exhibits throughout the country and the world. 

And it is being led by former president of Bryn Mawr College, and 

also most recently, the Kluge Center at the Library of Congress, 

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and that office is looking at all of the ways that it can help, and 

with Mr. Barton, with the technology infrastructure, it is an exciting time. 

So six months in, but it seems like it is going to be quite an effective way to get the resources out. 

Senator CAPITO. Well, I look forward to that. Now, you mentioned in your opening statement that the CRS, or the special 

forces—and all of us, I’m certain, here have availed ourselves of the 

well-respected research reports that they generate for legislative 

debate, but this is a bit of a—the question I am going to ask is 

maybe a little bit of a sticky wicket here, but members of the public 

generally do not get access to these reports unless it is through a 

congressional office or through private databases. 

And you probably know that there is a discussion and some legislation actually as to whether or not these CRS reports should be 

made available to the public. So without asking you directly if you 

want to weigh in on that, I would be happy to hear, but I did not 

know if you had—I would encourage you, or if you had already put 

some previous thought into ways that the CRS reports could—and 

CRS itself could sort of modernize maybe some kind of a phone app 

or something of that nature where there is more accessibility to 

these very valuable reports. 

Dr. HAYDEN. I think that—what has been interesting, I have 

heard different views on the amount of accessibility of the reports 

that are very extensive. There is so much research that goes into 

them. There is confidentiality in terms of being able to provide the 

information, and I would really look forward to the opportunity to 

study and work with Congress on the cost, staffing, and other aspects of making parts of the reports available, how you make them 

available, without stepping over the line though in terms of making—stepping over the line in terms of how much public—— 

Senator CAPITO. Access. 

Dr. HAYDEN [continuing]. Service you provide. This is the special 

forces and research arm for Congress, and so as a public librarian, 

I know that you do have to balance those two. 

Senator CAPITO. Right, and I do think that will probably be a discussion that will be occurring over the next several years. I just 

wanted to kind of jump in on the IT issue. And when we are looking at the funding issues, there have been broad requests for more 

IT funding. The Library has made some pretty systemic changes in 

terms of trying to address that issue. 

I would just say that, you know, as a member of the Senate, as 

this valuable resource that we have at the Library of Congress, I 

think you will find a lot of support for the biggest and broadest information technology programs that you may need that kind of 

jump us into the next trunch. I know you pretty much addressed 

the issue with Senator Schumer, so I would just kind of associate 

myself with his remarks. 

Dr. HAYDEN. Thank you. It is a challenge, but I have been assured that they are well on their way. 

Senator CAPITO. Thank you very much. 

Chairman BLUNT. Senator Klobuchar. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Congratulations, Doctor, on your nomination. I enjoyed the discussion 

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we had on the phone. A lot of people have been focusing on the 

copyright issues, technological issues, which I think are really important. 

But there is one thing I will mention. Senator Leahy and Senator 

McCain have a bill, and I have joined with them on this bill. And 

it is about the subject just raised on the—Senator Capito raised on 

CRS. As you know, the Library oversees the CRS, and although 

CRS does not make its reports public, paid Web sites often obtain 

copies of many of the CRS reports and then charge their clients for 

them. 

Those same reports are not available to Americans, yet their 

taxes fund the CRS. If lobbyists can buy the report, Senator Leahy, 

Senator McCain and I believe that they should be available to all 

Americans, given that the Americans are paying for those reports. 

And that is why I am co-sponsoring this bill. It is called Equal Access to Congressional Research Service Reports Act, and it would 

ensure that taxpayers have equal access to the reports on a free 

and public Web site. 

And you may or may not want to comment about this bill, but 

in your view, what is the role of the Library of Congress in promoting transparency of government and making information more 

accessible to Americans? 

Dr. HAYDEN. Well, thank you for that, because it shines a light 

on the excellent resources and reference services of the Congressional Research Service and what it does for Congress. And I have 

heard different views on—and I alluded to that—on how to make 

the reports and what portions of the reports, when in the process 

of reference information is made available, and I look forward to 

investigating that even more if confirmed, to study how and when 

public access could benefit. 

A lot of research goes into those reports. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. Yeah, of course, and I am looking forward 

to looking into this more myself. I am a co-sponsor, because to me, 

it just made no sense at all that these are government reports and 

that they should be available to all the public, and then they are 

being—lobbyists are charging their clients to see the work that the 

government performed at the taxpayers’ expense. So I think it is 

going to be interesting to look at that more, and I appreciate going 

on this journey together after hopefully you get confirmed for this 

position. 

You have also held the position of president of the American Library Association. How do you see that position helping you? You 

must get to know a lot of the librarians all over the country. I 

know we were talking about the—at the anniversary of women’s 

right to vote, and some of the things I am hoping we can do with 

that, and could you talk about how knowing some of these librarians and working with them all across the country will be helpful 

in your current job that you are seeking? 

Dr. HAYDEN. Well, thank you for acknowledging my colleagues, 

and many of them are here today, including a strong contingent 

from Maryland. And having the support of the broader library community, even getting support from 56 graduate library schools that 

are preparing librarians for the future, academic libraries, colleges 

and universities, special librarians who especially—I work with 

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companies and businesses, and also K–12 librarians in schools all 

over the country, really helps define what a lead library, like the 

Library of Congress, can be. 

And to be able to network together helps all libraries, especially 

the ones that are, as I mentioned in the opening, having their very 

existence challenged in the age of technology, so grouping together, 

showing people that there is a continuum from their local library 

in a small town. I will mention Sparta, Illinois, a coal mine— 

former coal town, and then having the resources of the America’s 

library being able to be put right there will strengthen the network, and I think help create what libraries have always done, and 

informed electorate and citizen. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. Very good. Well, thank you. As I told you 

on the phone, when I was little, my dream was to be a librarian, 

and I started my own book catalog with the Dewey Decimal System 

in a recipe box, but then I got—— 

Dr. HAYDEN. You were very good. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR [continuing]. This job, so it is what it is. 

Anyway, thank you very much, and good luck. 

Dr. HAYDEN. Thank you. 

Chairman BLUNT. Talk about blatant appeal to the crowd, having your own Dewey Decimal System. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. In a card box? 

Chairman BLUNT. Exactly. Exactly. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. Thank you. Thank you, Senator. I will consider that a compliment. 

Chairman BLUNT. It was a compliment. Just shows your total capacity to get to the right point at the right time. 

Senator Cochran, and then Senator King. 

Senator COCHRAN. Mr. Chairman, I am honored to be able to be 

here today serving as a member of the Committee to congratulate 

our newest nominee for this important job as Librarian of the Congress. Rather than to delay the questions that others might have, 

let me just say that I think this is a great day for the Library of 

Congress. It is a great day for the United States Senate, and many 

of those expressions of support and appreciation and admiration 

came through during the delightful event last night that I was 

pleased to join. 

So we look forward to working with you as a member of the 

Oversight Committee, and wish for you all of the successes that 

you can imagine. 

Dr. HAYDEN. Thank you, Senator. 

Chairman BLUNT. Thank you, Senator Cochran. 

Senator King and then Senator Boozman. 

Senator KING. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Hayden, welcome 

to the Committee. Appreciate your testimony and appreciate your 

willingness to undertake this important job. 

I want to talk for a few minutes about copyright. It seems to me 

that is one of the most important jobs before you in terms of organization, IT, policy. Copyright, I try to explain copyright to my children, and their eyes glaze over. They do not know it even exists. 

We have a lot of work to do and copyright is very complex. 

And I guess one of my questions, it is untoward, I suppose, to 

ask someone at their confirmation hearing about the idea of divestDeShaun on LAP51NQ082 with DISTILLER

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ing part of their responsibility, but what are your thoughts on the 

possibility of spinning out the Copyright Office, having its own 

presidentially appointed director? It seems to me that the fact that 

it is lodged in the Library as a kind of historic artifact, should it— 

given its importance in our society of intellectual property, should 

it have its own separate existence? 

Dr. HAYDEN. Well, thank you for mentioning young people as 

well. I would like to address that and how we could work to make 

the new digital generation, that they are digital natives, to be 

aware of what the ‘‘C’’ means. It should mean caution, and they 

should respect the fact that they are looking at something. Whenever they see that ‘‘C,’’ that should be almost a red or a yellow light 

for them. And they should be taught as early as second or third 

grade. 

They should have—one of my favorite examples is to have a 

project that they worked two or three hours on and they really are 

proud of it and then you turn to them and say, Johnny, I am going 

to put Ed’s name on it. And that is the most graphic way to let 

them know that art and creativity should be protected. They should 

get credit for it and they should do that. 

In terms of the independence of the office itself, I have heard 

quite a few proposals, and they all get back to the core concern, 

and one that I share, that the Copyright Office should be fully 

functional and should have its independence to carry out its mandates the creators of content. I have mentioned my own personal 

history, a father who was a recording artist and going into a mall 

and hearing snippets of his music, and also knowing that it is vital 

that artists and creators of content get to register their works and 

even challenge the use of their works in a timely and efficient fashion. 

And so I, if confirmed, would take special interest in making sure 

that that office is able to perform its functions in a way that will 

protect the people that it serves, and that is the creator of the creations of—creators of content. 

Senator KING. You think it would assist in that project if it had 

its own separate presidentially appointed director, was an office 

unto itself? 

Dr. HAYDEN. I am not able to at this point say that that would 

be the only way to accomplish what we all want. And I have heard 

so many, not only congressional advocates and the creative community, we all want, and I am including myself in that community, 

want to make sure that that office has everything it needs. And so 

if confirmed, I would like to work with Congress and to examine 

how we could really make sure that that happens. 

Senator KING. Moving on to your discussion, there’s been a lot 

of discussion about the IT and the need for upgrading. We need to 

digitize the collection. We need to make it accessible, which you 

have clearly stated as a goal. You talked about your new CIO. I do 

not know him. I am sure he is terrific, but I have one piece of advice dealing with IT on a large scale. Number one, trust but verify. 

Do not always go on what the IT people tell you. You sit down at 

the computer and make the Web site work, and if you cannot make 

it work, ask them why. 

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As governor, I used to have fun calling the 800 numbers in my 

state to see what you get for an answer and how long it takes them 

to answer. I am serious about this. 

Dr. HAYDEN. I know. 

Senator KING. Because quite often—I once was setting up a hearing here as a staff member. I called someone and said, who is going 

to be the witness? They said it was Deputy Undersecretary, and I 

said, I do not know titles. Who is this guy? And the fellow gave an 

answer, which if I ever write a book about this place, this will be 

the title, he said, he is at the highest level where they still know 

anything. 

You and I are now above that level. So I really think it is important that you be the ultimate judge of whether things are working. 

Dr. HAYDEN. I can assure you, Senator, at this point, that in my 

discussions with Mr. Barton, who is the new CIO and a permanent 

appointment—that had been part of the difficulty, that they had 

had several different chief information officers—that in our discussions, he was able to explain things to me from petabytes to the 

security needs to the storage and everything in a way that I could 

repeat it and actually knew what he was saying. And that gave 

me—and I have worked with IT professionals for a number of years 

on very difficult projects, and you are right, that is the test. If they 

can explain it and also make you understand and if I can get on 

the Web site or whatever function that is being presented and do 

well, that is a good sign. 

Senator KING. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. I would 

also mention that—and you touched on it—security is going to be 

more—— 

Dr. HAYDEN. Important. 

Senator KING [continuing]. More and more important going forward, and copyrights as well as the digitization of the collection. 

Dr. HAYDEN. Right. 

Chairman BLUNT. Senator Boozman. 

Senator KING. Thank you for your testimony. 

Senator BOOZMAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And Dr. Hayden, 

I appreciate your coming by the office not too long ago and having 

a good visit. You are a very distinguished, accomplished lady, and 

I also want to give a shout out to your mom, since she has strong 

Arkansas ties, I think through Helena—— 

Dr. HAYDEN. Helena. 

Senator BOOZMAN [continuing]. If I remember right. So that 

makes her very special. Like I say, you are special, but she is very 

special. 

We touched on a few of these things. You know, there has been 

a lot of talk about the copyright and the challenges there. But besides the copyright, what would be your biggest priorities? What do 

you see as the biggest challenges with the job as you come in? 

Dr. HAYDEN. With the—thank you, and especially for the shout 

out for Helena. I must say, my mom was very thrilled when I put 

the pin on the Arkansas state for her. 

Senator BOOZMAN. No, I was thrilled too. 

Dr. HAYDEN. With Lexier and everything. One of the biggest 

challenges now that the technology infrastructure and securing 

that base for all operations, including the special operations, copyDeShaun on LAP51NQ082 with DISTILLER

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right—and the Congressional Research Service has special IT 

needs as well, will be to bring the leadership team and the wonderful staff members at the Library of Congress together with a 

shared vision and to work as a team together to advance. Sometimes, as you probably know, with larger organizations that have 

these specialized aspects, it is hard to get out of the silo effect. 

And so the challenge, but also, I think, the one that has one of 

the greatest rewards of any management—let’s see, how do I put 

it—I said challenge, but a management opportunity is to get everyone rowing in the same direction. And I think that that, just meeting with the senior staff members, I am assured that they all have 

the same goal in mind—— 

Senator BOOZMAN. Sure. 

Dr. HAYDEN [continuing]. To make the Library of Congress and 

all of its functions and mandates the best. 

Senator BOOZMAN. We do a lot of things in Congress, or there is 

a feeling, you know, that perhaps, you know, that we do things 

that you could argue whether or not we should be doing. The Library of Congress is special, and I would argue that I cannot do 

that as an individual. Their function—states cannot do it. It is a 

very special institution. 

And I always encourage people that are up here visiting to be 

sure and go to the Library of Congress. It is probably the most 

beautiful building inside of any that we have. And it really is a national treasure. 

And you have touched on this before, but I want to touch on it 

again because I think it is so, so very important. Not everybody 

gets to come up here, you know, and experience that. Tell me again 

about some of your plans, how to get the Library out to the hinterlands, particularly rural areas, places like Helena and this and 

that? How do we do that? How do we do a better job? 

Dr. HAYDEN. Thank you for that, because the rural areas sometimes are not given the attention that they deserve in bringing culture and bringing information beyond just the basics of making 

sure they have the broadband capacity to take advantage of the online resources. 

I mentioned earlier in a small town having access to Abraham 

Lincoln’s papers, or popular play now, Hamilton, and the fact that 

the papers of Alexander Hamilton are available online. It would be 

important also to be able to have exhibits that travel, low-cost exhibits that could take advantage of reproductions that could be in 

church halls. They could be anywhere in a town. 

And coming from a background that my dad was born in a town 

of 10,000—I mentioned my grandfather, he was the postman 

there—it means so much to have access to special types of things. 

So not only would the exhibits possibly be able to be put into different places in a town, but possibly some of the artifacts themselves, primary sources if they could travel. It has been done with 

the Smithsonian and other institutions, and they could do it with 

the Library of Congress. 

Senator BOOZMAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Chairman BLUNT. Thank you, Senator Boozman. I have a couple 

of other questions. Being the president of the American Library Association is, I am sure, a great honor, but maybe not an unmixed 

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blessing, because suddenly you are responsible for everything that 

is being talked about as part of the association. 

There are a couple of areas of criticism that you and I have 

talked about and I would like to get your response to those on the 

record today. One was when the Congress passed the Children’s 

Internet Protection Act, the American Library Association challenged the constitutionality of that, arguing that it violated the 

First Amendment. And I know, beginning then as a leader of the 

national organization through really up until now, you have commented on this several times, but you want to talk about that 

whole issue of what kind of violation that would have been, and 

then the issue of what kinds of things need to happen in a library 

to be sure that children do not have access to material that we 

would not want children to have access to, and then how often you 

have to revisit that whole concept? 

Dr. HAYDEN. I really appreciate that question, Senator, because 

there has been quite a bit of just misinterpretation of the Library 

Association’s position during that time. That was in 2003–2004, 

and at that time, the filters that would have been required for libraries to install were found to prohibit access to very important 

health information, and the most notable at that time was breast 

cancer. 

And since that time, the technology has improved and the filters 

that are installed to receive federal funding—and my library, the 

Pratt Library, in its state role, has installed filters—have improved, and the need to be vigilant is also something that libraries 

are doing in not only the technological aspect, but just plain physical arrangements of computers, making sure that there are faceout positioning of computer monitors, as well as very few, if any, 

cubicles that contain computers as well, and education and making 

sure that people know that pornography is illegal and we do not 

support that in any shape or form. 

Chairman BLUNT. You do not think that pornography, illegal, as 

you described it, has a place in the library? 

Dr. HAYDEN. Not online, no. 

Chairman BLUNT. And there are, at the same time, things in the 

library that are not appropriate for everybody that visits the library to see. 

Dr. HAYDEN. Right, and Senator, the way you described it is exactly the way that libraries even design their buildings and the furniture, and making sure there is even signage that unaccompanied 

adults in children’s sections are going to be questioned. There are 

so many safety measures that are put in public libraries, and even 

college and university libraries, to make sure that minors are safe 

and that they are not exposed to objectionable material as far as 

we can prevent. 

Chairman BLUNT. And while your final degree was a Ph.D. from 

the University of Chicago, a very highly respected institution, a lot 

of your early work was as a children’s librarian. A lot of your early 

focus was that, so these are issues that you have always cared 

about? 

Dr. HAYDEN. Yes, and it has been interesting to see how—and I 

mentioned earlier with the ‘‘C’’ for caution with copyright, that if 

you pay attention in the front end, that it sometimes really helps 

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in terms of later and working with young people and seeing what 

imagination can be sparked. 3–D printers now are in libraries, and 

that is a perfect time to let young people know that all of this information that you can now get on your device is not free for you to 

use and just put your name on it. So I have been very involved in 

youth issues for quite a while. 

Chairman BLUNT. I thought just the example you gave of how 

you early on expressed to somebody the importance of their own 

creative work was an indication of the way you would approach a 

number of these issues. 

On another thing from the American Library Association, when 

the Patriot Act was passed, librarians objected to a particular part 

of that, and in fact, the law was changed, I think, from what was 

called the Librarian’s Provision. Do you want to talk about that a 

little bit? 

Dr. HAYDEN. Yes. That was quite a time. That was also in 2003– 

2004. And the entire nation was concerned about security and it 

was a time of great apprehension, and people were going into libraries to find information about all of the different aspects of what 

was going on. And the library community was just very concerned 

that in the quest for security and making sure that we were all 

safe that the public’s rights were also considered as well. 

And since that time, there have been a number of reforms to the 

Patriot Act, with the approval of Congress, which have helped to 

alleviate the library community’s concerns. And I think I can also 

say that the American Library Association is very pleased at the 

progress that has been made to balance security and personal 

rights. 

Chairman BLUNT. And so would an example of that, Dr. Hayden, 

would an example of that under the original discussion be that 

there was some thought that law enforcement might be able to 

come in and just say, we would like to look through your records 

and see who has been looking at certain books, looking up certain 

things, or even we would like to look at a certain person’s library 

record without a court saying that that was necessary. Was that 

the concern? 

Dr. HAYDEN. That was the basis of it, and especially the bulk collection of information about who was interested in a subject. What 

we were concerned about, and especially that time, 2003–2004, that 

interest in a subject would be, or could be misinterpreted as intent 

to do something. So interest and intent were not equal, we were 

saying. 

Chairman BLUNT. I think that is a position I believe the country 

has generally come to, and I think your explanation of 2002 and 

2003 was also a good one, that everybody is trying to figure out 

what can we do to stop this from happening again, and sometimes 

that requires a lengthy discussion as to the right way to do that. 

Any follow-up questions, Senator Cochran? Senator Boozman? 

Well, we will have the record open until the time I announced earlier, for additional questions. 

Anything you want to add, Dr. Hayden, which you wish had been 

asked that wasn’t, any topic you want to cover? 

Dr. HAYDEN. Well, I had a few. I just wanted to thank everyone 

for their support and for your consideration, Mr. Chairman, and I 

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really appreciate this opportunity. And to be nominated as a librarian, if you’re a career librarian, I must tell you, this is one of the 

highest honors, and I thank you for this opportunity. 

Chairman BLUNT. Thank you. This hearing is adjourned. 

[Whereupon, at 3:27 p.m., the Committee was adjourned.] 

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