Add your voice here: bit.ly/EmailHayden
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National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities grants that had already been awarded were withdrawn, throwing arts and humanities organizations nationwide into chaos.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 at bit.ly/EmailHayden.
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,
The Undersigned
Abrams
Aevitas Creative Management
AFT: Education, Healthcare, Public Services
American Atheists
American Booksellers for Free Expression
Annie’s Foundation
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
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
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
Students Engaged in Advancing Texas Teaching for ChangeTexas FReadom Fighters
Texas Freedom to Read Project
The Quarto Group
We Need Diverse Books