Dr. Carla Hayden, a prominent leader of color, was dismissed as Librarian of Congress by the Trump administration, highlighting ongoing conflicts regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion in cultural institutions. Appointed by Barack Obama in 2016, she aimed to modernize the Library of Congress. The administration claimed her DEI efforts did not align with the needs of Americans, leading to her unexpected firing, which sparked outrage among Congressional Democrats and raised concerns over ongoing attacks on libraries and the profession itself, emphasizing the importance of equal access to information.
When Hayden first got the job in 2016, appointed by then-President Barack Obama, her main task was bringing the Library of Congress into the 21st century and digitizing the collection.
We felt she did not fit the needs of the American people. There were quite concerning things that she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI... and the president is well within his rights to do that.
There is not a shred of evidence that Dr. Hayden deserves to be fired. The Librarian's termination is yet another example of President Trump's cruel attack on the American people's world-class cultural institutions.
We are here to help everyone have equal access to information and resources, despite the challenges that administration changes may bring.
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