Video: RLUK 2026 Keynote by Dr. Carla Hayden

From RLUK (via YouTube):

Dr Carla Hayden in conversation with Jane Harvell, Director of Library Culture and Heritage and University Librarian at the University of Sussex and RLUK Chair.

Carla Hayden was sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress on September 14, 2016. Dr. Hayden, the first woman and the first African American to lead the national library, was nominated to the position by President Barack Obama on February 24, 2016, and her nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate later that year on July 13.

Her vision for America’s national library, connecting all Americans to the Library of Congress, redefined and modernised the Library’s mission: to engage, inspire and inform Congress and the American people with a universal and enduring source of knowledge and creativity.

During her tenure, Dr. Hayden prioritised efforts to make the Library and its unparalleled collections more accessible to the public. Through her social media presence, events and activities, she introduced new audiences to many of the Library’s treasures – from Frederick Douglass’ papers, to the contents of President Abraham Lincoln’s pockets on the night of his assassination, to James Madison’s crystal flute made famous by Lizzo.

By investing in information technology infrastructure and digitization efforts, she enabled the American people to explore, discover and engage with more with this treasure trove of America’s stories maintained by the Library of Congress, even if they never visit the Library’s buildings in and around Washington, D.C.

Complete RLUK 2026 Conference Video Playlist (Keynotes, Roundtable, etc) is available here.

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