Carla Hayden was sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress on September 14, 2016, becoming the first woman and African American to lead the institution. Nominated by President Barack Obama, she has worked to modernize the Library's mission, making its vast collections more accessible to all Americans. Through social media and outreach, she has highlighted treasures like Frederick Douglass’ papers and Lincoln’s possessions. Under her leadership, the Library has expanded digitization efforts, allowing more people to explore its resources remotely. In 2021, she launched the Of the People initiative with a $15 million Mellon Foundation grant, fostering engagement from historically underrepresented communities. Before her current role, Hayden led the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore and held various positions in Chicago and Pittsburgh libraries. A past president of the American Library Association, she earned degrees from Roosevelt University and the University of Chicago.