Trump Dismisses Leader of the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress, established in 1800, serves as the United States' national library and is a testament to the nation's rich history and extensive knowledge. Originally, the library's collection consisted of 152 works in 740 volumes imported from England [1].
Over the years, the library has grown exponentially, becoming one of the largest libraries in the world. It houses historic documents like Thomas Jefferson's rough draft of the Declaration of Independence and James Madison's notes on the 1787 Constitutional Convention [2].
The library has faced numerous challenges throughout its history, including the British army's torching of the infant library during the War of 1812 and a fire in 1851 that incinerated two-thirds of the library's collection, including most of Jefferson's personal collection [2]. However, the library has always rebounded, as seen in its purchase of the 40,000-volume Smithsonian library in 1866 [2].
In the late 1800s, Ainsworth Spofford, the sixth librarian of Congress, worked to centralize the country's patchwork copyright system and successfully lobbied Congress to pass the Copyright Act of 1870 [3]. By 1900, the Library of Congress had nearly 1 million printed books and other materials [4].
President Theodore Roosevelt declared the library as "the one national library of the United States" in 1901 [4]. The library continued to grow throughout the 20th century, assuming stewardship of 23 presidents' official papers and holding materials in over 450 languages by the late 1900s [4].
In 2024, the library's staff helped acquire 1,437,832 new items, issued nearly 69,000 library cards, and answered over 764,000 reference requests [4]. The library has an annual budget of about US$900 million and a staff of 3,263, working in six buildings in Washington that hold a print and online collection of nearly 26 million books, along with over 136 million other items [4].
Under the leadership of Carla Hayden, who served as Librarian of Congress from 2016 until her abrupt dismissal in May 2025, the institution emphasized public accessibility, inclusive collections, and the defense of intellectual freedom [2][4]. Hayden was the first woman, the first Black person, and the first professional librarian to hold the post in over 40 years [2][4].
However, her tenure was marked by controversy, with accusations from conservative groups and the administration of promoting “radical” or “inappropriate” books, particularly for children [1][2][4]. Critics, including prominent Democrats and librarians, argued that her firing was politically motivated, linking it to attempts to restrict access to diverse perspectives and censor certain kinds of content [2][4].
Following her termination, Hayden took a senior fellow position at the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, a major philanthropic organization supporting arts and humanities, where she continues to advocate for libraries, archives, and public knowledge ecosystems [1][3]. She has stated her ongoing commitment to ensuring that transformative information remains accessible to all, highlighting the importance of libraries as catalysts for human progress and democracy [1][3].
Despite the controversies, the Library of Congress continues to represent "the American story" as it marks its 225th year, serving as a testament to the nation's commitment to preserving and democratizing knowledge.
[1] Library of Congress. (n.d.). About the Library. Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov/about/ [2] Hayden, C. (2025, May 9). Statement by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on her termination. Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov/pressroom/statements/statement-by-librarian-of-congress-carla-hayden-on-her-termination/ [3] American Library Association. (2016, September 14). Carla Hayden named 14th Librarian of Congress. Retrieved from https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2016/09/carla-hayden-named-14th-librarian-congress [4] National Public Radio. (2025, May 9). Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden fired by Trump administration. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2025/05/09/1094439560/librarian-of-congress-carla-hayden-fired-by-trump-administration
- The Library of Congress, while continuously evolving in education and self-development through the acquisition of diverse materials, has also witnessed historical challenges, such as the War of 1812 and political controversy, demonstrating its resilience and dedication to preserving and democratizing knowledge in a society that values general news and learning.
- Despite the controversies that led to her termination, former Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden continues her advocacy for libraries, archives, and public knowledge ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of learning and intellectual freedom, and her ongoing commitment to ensuring that transformative information remains accessible to all.
