The Library of Congress today

In the late afternoon of May 8, 2025, Carla Hayden—the 14th Librarian of Congress and a 2016 appointee of President Barack Obama—received an email from the Trump administration terminating her appointment. Hayden had served nine years of her 10-year term. The American Accountability Foundation, a right-wing conservative organization, had urged her removal, labeling her “woke” and “anti-Trump.”

From congressional tool to national institution

Like the Librarians of Congress before her, Hayden focused on expanding access to the Library’s collections and services. From its earliest days, the Library of Congress has evolved alongside the nation it serves.

Before Congress had its own library, lawmakers relied on institutions such as the New York Society Library and the Library Company of Philadelphia. When the federal government moved to Washington and no comparable libraries were nearby, Congress established a small reference library within the Capitol Building.

During the War of 1812, British troops burned much of Washington, destroying most of the congressional library despite efforts to remove important materials. In response, Congress rebuilt the collection with help from former President Thomas Jefferson, who sold his personal library to the government—an acquisition that reshaped the institution’s scope and ambition.

Reinvention through leadership

Each Librarian of Congress has left a distinct imprint on the institution. The sixth Librarian, Ainsworth Rand Spofford, fundamentally reshaped the Library by transforming it from a congressional reference service into a national library. He established the Copyright Office—still part of the Library today—and introduced the sale of printed catalog cards to libraries nationwide, helping standardize cataloging practices across the country.

Concerned about overcrowding, Spofford advocated for a separate building. The result was the Thomas Jefferson Building, completed in 1897.

Each Librarian of Congress has reshaped the institution to meet the needs of a changing nation.

Adapting to new media

As technology evolved, so did the Library’s collections. Early motion pictures were copyrighted by submitting books of still frames. By 1942, film itself was formally recognized as an art form, and the Library began collecting reels. Television programming was added to copyright law in 1949.

Sound recordings entered the collection unevenly. While early cylinder recordings—including one of Kaiser Wilhelm—were acquired, systematic collection did not begin until 1925. Today, the Library holds more than two and a half million sound recordings.

From Card Catalogs to Code

Under Librarian Lawrence Quincy Mumford (1954–1974), the Library began transitioning to a machine-readable catalog in 1964. For decades, the card catalog and computerized systems coexisted. No new cards have been added since 1980, though the physical catalog remains a valuable historical artifact.

Although no longer updated, the card catalog preserves original descriptive practices and annotations that sometimes differ from later digital records, making it a valuable resource for provenance and bibliographic research.

Carla Hayden’s tenure emphasized making the Library relevant to contemporary culture and accessible far beyond its walls. The first woman and the first African American to serve as Librarian of Congress, she expanded outreach through podcasts, a YouTube channel, social media platforms, and public programming.

These efforts included high-profile cultural events, such as a flute recital by artist Lizzo using James Madison’s crystal flute—symbolizing Hayden’s effort to bridge history and popular culture.

Hayden emphasized access—bringing the Library to the public rather than waiting for the public to come to it.

A Leadership Standoff

Following Hayden’s dismissal, President Trump attempted to appoint Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as Acting Librarian of Congress. That move was challenged by Principal Deputy Librarian Robert Newlen, who asserted his authority under existing succession rules and assumed the role.

A brief standoff followed, with Justice Department officials initially claiming control of the Library before backing down. As of this writing, Newlen remains Acting Librarian.

The Librarian of Congress is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, but internal succession rules govern interim leadership. The episode highlighted unresolved tensions between executive authority and institutional independence.

The Copyright Office Controversy

Days later, President Trump fired Shira Perlmutter, the Register of Copyrights and a Hayden appointee. The dismissal followed the release of a Copyright Office report questioning the use of copyrighted material in training artificial intelligence systems.

Perlmutter challenged her removal, arguing that the president lacked authority to fire her. A lower court agreed, and the Supreme Court declined immediate intervention. As of this writing, Perlmutter remains head of the Copyright Office.

The dispute over the Copyright Office placed intellectual property law at the center of a political power struggle.

An Institution That Endures

Despite leadership upheaval and legal uncertainty, the Library of Congress continues its daily operations. Reading rooms remain open, collections are accessible, and public programs proceed as scheduled.

For more than two centuries, the Library has survived fire, war, technological revolutions, and political conflict. Its current turmoil appears unlikely to disrupt its fundamental mission: preserving knowledge and making it accessible to the public