We, the undersigned, write to condemn the unjust firing of Dr. Carla Hayden, who has served as Librarian of Congress since 2016. Dr. Hayden's firing is an assault on our freedoms to access and pursue knowledge. This mirrors the recent attacks on the freedom to read books, the authors who create them, and our vast public network of public libraries and the cultural treasures they house. Together, we call on Congress to reinstate Dr. Hayden and investigate the circumstances of her firing.
Dr. Hayden has been a trailblazer, bringing new energy, joy, and perspective to the esteemed role. She was the first woman and the first African American to serve in the role. In the time she has served, she has been markedly respected for her impartial effectiveness and for opening the Library's resources to all Americans.
Now, Dr. Hayden becomes the first Librarian of Congress to be forced out since the 19th century for no other reason than to undermine the foundational principles of our democracy and erode public trust in our most robust institutions.
It is not normal to use politics and disinformation to suppress and dismantle the institutions that hold the true and honest history and experiences of all Americans, but it has become a disturbingly common tactic by this administration in recent months. In February, Dr. Colleen Shogan was dismissed as national archivist (she was also the first woman in that position). In March, President Trump issued an executive order attempting to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (it has been enjoined in Federal Court). In the week leading up to Dr. Hayden's dismissal, National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities grants that had already been awarded were withdrawn, throwing arts and humanities organizations nationwide into chaos.
Undercutting the Library of Congress will have direct impacts on all Americans. The Library of Congress oversees the Copyright Office, which is essential to the protection of intellectual property. (The head of the U.S. Copyright Office, Shira Perlmutter, was also fired not long after Dr. Hayden.) This office manages the Congressional Research Service, which provides impartial information to inform legislation and oversight. And it maintains the Law Library of Congress, a global legal resource for lawmakers and the judiciary. Weakening the Library of Congress weakens prosperity from American cultural production and the effectiveness of our laws.
As organizations representing thousands of concerned parents, students, and community members, as well as librarians, educators, authors, publishers, and booksellers, we demand that members of Congress stand up for their librarian. This is the Library of Congress, not the Library of the Executive. Use every available means to reinstate Dr. Hayden and hold to account those responsible for her firing.
Whether or not Dr. Hayden is reinstated, we demand congressional support for libraries and librarians, a professional librarian for Librarian of Congress, and full funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Library Services and Technology Act, and Innovative Approaches to Literacy.
Those who are united in our commitment to our libraries as beacons of our curiosity and knowledge can join us here.
Together, we the people will continue to demand that the federal government protect and respect the work of our public servants and our freedoms to read, learn, and thrive.
Sincerely,
- Abrams
- Aevitas Creative Management
- AFT: Education, Healthcare, Public Services
- American Atheists
- American Booksellers for Free Expression
- Annie's Foundation
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
- Association for Rural & Small Libraries
- Astra Books for Young Readers
- Atthis Arts
- Audio Publishers Association
- Authors Against Book Bans
- AUTHORS GUILD
- Banned Books Week Coalition
- Barefoot Books
- Candlewick Press
- Central Arkansas Library System
- Clearinghouse on Women's Issues
- EveryLibrary
- Feminist Majority Foundation
- Gibbs Smith
- Holiday House
- Independent Book Publishers Association
- Kidsbuzz/Deborah Sloan and Company
- KT Literary LLC
- Lafayette Citizens Against Censorship
- Libro.fm
- Live Oak Media
- Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship
- Mountaineers Books
- National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC)
- National Education Association
- National Women's Law Center
- Nosy Crow
- Peachtree Publishing
- PEN America
- Publisher Spotlight
- Publishing Professionals Against Book Bans
- Read Freely Alabama
- Red Comet Press LLC
- Rutherford County Library Alliance
- School Board Integrity Project
- Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
- Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT)
- Teaching for Change
- Texas FReadom Fighters
- Texas Freedom to Read Project
- We Need Diverse Books