April 2, 2004, was a memorable day for the Department of Library and
Information Science. We were honored with a visit from Dr. Carla Hayden, the
President of the American Library Association and the Executive Director of the
Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland. She also served as an Assistant
Professor here at the School of Information Sciences from 1987 to 1991. Dr.
Hayden became president of the ALA on June 24, 2003, and she has focused her
term on equity of access. This theme was also the focus of the talk she gave in
the English Room of the Cathedral of Learning, entitled "Equality and Liberty in
Libraries." Specifically, she posed this question to audience members: "On the
occasion of the 50th anniversary of the historic Brown v. the Board of Education
decision, are citizens able to receive equity in their information seeking,
particularly in library settings?"
Dr. Hayden warmed up the audience by reminiscing about her time at Pitt, calling
her experiences here "the best of my career." That is a tremendous compliment to
our department from a woman whose career has been so distinguished. She went on
to discuss her work at Pratt, a library in an urban setting with an illiteracy
rate of 38%. What is the library's role in the community when four out of ten
community members can't read? How can you argue to keep branches open when
circulation numbers are low? The crux of the issue is equity of access; a
community is not less deserving of access to texts and electronic resources
because illiteracy rates are high. Truly, this population needs these resources
most desperately.
Enoch Pratt, a Yankee philanthropist, founded his Baltimore library in 1882 and
specified the library be "open to all." Though the doors are open to all,
roadblocks to equity remain. Hayden expressed her dismay that avenues for
advancement, such as libraries and education, are suffering from crippling
budget cuts. Free Internet access is available in roughly 95% of public
libraries, and though a digital divide still exists, studies show that the three
populations who use public library computers the most are minorities, those in
rural communities, and those with low-income. But the investment in resources
for these groups is shrinking when it is most needed. With this situation in
mind, Hayden hand-selected a Frederick Douglass quote to appear on the newly
renovated Pratt building: "Once you learn to read, you'll be forever free."
The issue of equity harkens back to the Brown case, which Hayden considers to be
the most significant Supreme Court case in the history of our country. But the
case does not stand alone in history; a team of lawyers from Howard University
strategized the "Road to Brown" throughout the 1930s and 1940s, with the
objective of overturning Plessy v. Ferguson (the case that established the
"separate but equal doctrine" in 1896). Hayden quoted her grandmother as saying,
"The problem was that separate never was equal!" The Supreme Court decided the
Brown case in 1954, ruling that "separate but equal" must be dismantled with
"all deliberate speed," hardly a strict deadline. It was, Dr. Hayden noted, "a
great day, but not the end ... it's a wonderful year to celebrate, but there's
still a lot to do."
Hayden went on to discuss the two moments in her ALA Presidency that she
initially thought were a hoax: a phone call from Attorney General John Ashcroft,
and her selection by Ms. Magazine as one of the "Ten Women of the Year." First,
the infamous phone call...Hayden received a message that Ashcroft would be
calling her at 1:48 p.m. She knew that the call would be in reference to the
protests from librarians about Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act, which makes
library patron records open to government investigation. When Ashcroft called,
he opened the conversation by saying, "I want you people to know I respect
people who defend liberty." Though the controversy surrounding the PATRIOT Act
is far from over, Hayden said with confidence that she is proud to be part of a
group that stood up for access, equity, and privacy for library patrons.
As for the Ms. Magazine honor, Hayden indicated that the editorial board of the
publication selected her as a representative of the community of librarians who
responded so strongly and professionally to the PATRIOT Act. The standing
ovation that Hayden received at the awards ceremony is one that she feels she
shares with all "Hysteric Librarians for Freedom" (a phrase borrowed from ALA
buttons worn by librarians to protest the PATRIOT Act). Though our profession
suffers from a stereotype, Hayden feels that in this case the stereotype
actually helped
ensure that our concerns were taken seriously. "There was a real concern when we
stepped up and spoke out."
Few librarians can pass up an opportunity to recommend a title or two, and
Hayden is no exception. She encouraged all of us to read Alberto Manguel's A
History of Reading, particularly the chapter entitled "Forbidden Reading." This
chapter chronicles censorship, book-burning, and restricted access throughout
the years, particularly as it affected slaves in America.
Dr. Hayden took a few moments for a "Question & Answer" period at the close of
her talk. One student asked, "What and who inspired you to become a librarian?"
Hayden responded that after she graduated from college with a degree in history
and political science, she had little luck landing a job. She frequented Chicago's Central Library in between interviews, and overheard that the library
would "hire anybody!" And an aspiring librarian was born... As for the "who,"
Hayden met with Penny Sullivan, the dean at the University of Chicago Graduate
Library School, prior to entering their Ph.D. program. Sullivan told Hayden that
she didn't have what it takes. Hayden got angry, and wondered, "How hard could
it be... it's library school!" When she met with Sullivan again, prepared to
argue her case, she was told, "Now that's the passion that I wanted to see."
Hayden was also asked what advice she would give to new librarians. She
responded, "Don't get discouraged or intimidated. Network, and seek out
professional development." The discussion closed as SCALA presenting Dr. Hayden
with a gift of chocolate and Starbucks coffee, thanking her for being an
inspiration to us all. SCALA President Leigh Anne Vrabel promised, "We won't let
you down!"
A reception in the Croghan-Schenley Room of the Cathedral of Learning followed
Dr. Hayden's talk. Everyone in attendance had an opportunity to speak with her.
One student commented, "She was gracious and kind, and very interested in what
the students had to say. I felt like she was really listening when people talked
about their future plans."