Video: PBS News Hour Interview: Dr. Carla Hayden on Her Time as a Pioneering Librarian of Congress and Getting Fired by Trump

From PBS News Hour:

Dr. Carla Hayden, a trailblazing librarian of Congress, was fired by President Trump in May. Geoff Bennett recently spoke with her about being blindsided by the decision, the administration’s ongoing efforts to reshape key institutions and why she intends to keep speaking out.

From the Interview

Geoff Bennett (PBS NewsHour):
In this era of disinformation, this era of attacks on trusted institutions, what do you see as the essential role of libraries?

Dr. Carla Hayden:
Libraries are in so many communities, rural, urban. Anywhere you find a library, they’re trusted sources. They know that librarians might not be the jazziest, but they can trust them because they know that they will get information that has been vetted and that they can trust.

Geoff Bennett:
Are libraries and librarians, in your view, or are they properly equipped to push back against some of the political attacks?

Dr. Carla Hayden:
Librarians are prepared to defend their choices of materials and services that they provide.

What they really would appreciate is more public support, vocal public support, saying, we want to make sure that our children have access to these materials. And so that’s what we’re working with now in terms of our profession, to let the public know that we really need their help.

Complete Interview

Direct to Complete Text Transcript of the Interview

See Also: Video: Former Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden Speaks Out on Her Firing by Trump (CBS News; June 8, 2025)

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