By: Laurel Stokes, Immediate Past President
In 2017, the Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) honored Dr.
Carla Hayden with its CentennialWNBA Award, recognizing her exceptional
contributions to libraries, literacy, and the book world. Presented at the Pen +
Brush gallery in New York, the award celebrated Hayden’s leadership as the 14th
Librarian of Congress, her service as President of the American Library
Association, and her transformative work as CEO of Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free
Library, where she expanded access and community engagement. The award
inscription praised her dedication to equity, privacy, and making libraries vital,
inclusive spaces. During the ceremony, Hayden credited her mother for nurturing
her early love of reading, sharing a childhood story that underscored the lifelong
impact of literacy.
I had the honor of being present at the WNBA Award ceremony in 2017 and
was reminded of it with the recent news of Dr. Carla Hayden’s
controversial dismissal from the Library of Congress. Since being appointed to the
role of Librarian of Congress in 2016 Hayden expanded the Library’s digital reach
through online exhibits, searchable archives, and crowdsourced projects.
And made the Library’s treasures more accessible through social media, public
events and creative exhibitions she has introduced new audiences to historic
collections – fromFrederick Douglass’s papers to Abraham Lincoln’s pocket
contents the night of his assassination. Hayden also prioritized Diversity and
Inclusion programs including supporting Americans from Black, Indigenous,
Hispanic/Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander and other underrepresented communities to
contribute to the Library’s collections through the “Of the People” fund ensuring
that all histories are preserved.
Dr. Carla Hayden’s dismissal marks what is likely the end of a
transformative chapter in the history of the Library of Congress—one defined by
accessibility, innovation, and inclusion. Her visionary leadership not only
modernized the institution but also reaffirmed its role as a democratic cornerstone,
where all voices and histories have a place. As debates unfold around her
departure, Hayden’s legacy endures in the expanded digital collections, the
communities she uplifted, and the belief that libraries are not just repositories of
knowledge, but engines of equity, empowerment, and civic engagement.
For more information about WNBA Award Recipients pleasego here.
About the Author
Laurel Stokes has been a member of the Women’s National Book Association New York City Chapter since 2014 and on the board since 2015 holding positions As VP of Programming and Chapter President. Laurel is a Strategic Project Manager at Sourcebooks and resides in NYC.
