Carla Hayden
The Architect
Structured and legacy-driven; builds the systems and institutions that last.
Carla Hayden is The Architect because she took America's oldest federal cultural institution and systematically rebuilt its relationship with the public. The first woman and first African American to serve as Librarian of Congress, she digitised vast collections, opened the institution's physical and intellectual access, and designed governance structures meant to serve democratic participation for generations. Her legacy is not a moment but a framework, durable, inclusive, and built to outlast her tenure.
“Eighty-five to ninety percent of the library's operating budget is from an appropriation from Congress, taxpayer money. That's another reason why we're really devoted to making sure people know that this is their library too.”
“What President Obama asked me was what could you do with your background to open up the Library of Congress to everyone? And that's what I thought and said to him, I think I can do that.”
“In the world of misinformation, who can you trust? Libraries are still going to be places that people look to as trusted sources of information.”
The David Rubenstein Show: “Carla Hayden”
LISTEN AT THE SOURCE ↗THE RECORD IS CHECKABLE