Librarian of Congress

The librarian of Congress is the head of the Library of Congress, appointed by the president of the United States with the advice and consent of the United States Senate,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> for a term of ten years.<ref name="limit bill">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The librarian of Congress also appoints and oversees the Register of Copyrights of the U.S. Copyright Office and has broad responsibilities around copyright, extending to electronic resources and fair use provisions outlined in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The librarian determines whether particular works are subject to DMCA prohibitions regarding technological access protection.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In addition, the librarian appoints the U.S. poet laureate and awards the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

History

On April 24, 1800, the 6th United States Congress passed and President John Adams signed an appropriations bill that created the Library of Congress.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This statute provided "for the removal [from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.] and accommodation of the Government of the United States". The fifth section of the act created the Library of Congress and designated some of its early functions, including "the acquisition of books for congressional use, a suitable place in the Capitol in which to house them, a joint committee to make rules for their selection, acquisition, and circulation", as well as an appropriation of $5,000 for the new library.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1802, two years after the creation of the library, President Thomas Jefferson signed into law a bill that created the Office of the Librarian and granted the president power of appointment for the new office.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Shortly thereafter, Jefferson appointed his former campaign manager John J. Beckley to serve as the first librarian of Congress.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was paid $2 a day and was also required to serve as clerk to the House of Representatives.<ref>Template:Cite bookTemplate:Page needed</ref> It was not until 1897 that the Senate was given the power to confirm the president's nominee.<ref name="Librarians of Congress">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This same law gave the librarian the sole power for making the institution's rules and appointing the library's staff.<ref name="Librarians of Congress" />

Until the nomination of Herbert Putnam in 1899 under President McKinley, all previous librarians lacked any prior experience in the profession of librarianship; these librarians had held roles in journalism, law, writing, publishing, academia, and politics.<ref name="loc.gov">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Even to this day, only three librarians – four including acting librarian David S. Mao in 2015 – had previously been librarians.Template:Citation needed

Appointment, term length, and salary

From its creation until 2015, the post of the librarian was not subject to term limits and allowed incumbents to maintain a lifetime appointment once confirmed.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> Most librarians of Congress have served until death or retirement.<ref name="Librarians of Congress" /> There were only 13 librarians of Congress in the more than two centuries from 1802 to 2015, and the library "enjoyed a continuity of atmosphere and of policy that is rare in national institutions".<ref name="Librarians">Template:Cite book</ref> In 2015, Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed into law the "Librarian of Congress Succession Modernization Act of 2015",<ref>Template:USPL</ref> which put a 10-year term limit on the position with an option for reappointment.<ref>Congressional Bill; 114 Bill Profile S.2162- An Act To establish a 10-year term for the service of the Librarian of Congress. Sponsor: Roy Blunt and Charles Schumer. November 5, 2015. Public law 114-86.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The legislation was seen as a critique of Librarian James H. Billington's unwillingness to hire a permanent chief information officer to effectively manage and update the library's information technology.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

According to Section 136-1 of Title 2 of the U.S.C., the librarian of Congress shall be appointed to office by a nomination from the president and the advice and consent of the Senate. The librarian may then serve for a term of 10 years and be reappointed to the post with the same procedure. The librarian of Congress shall be compensated for his/her services with the equivalent of the rate of pay set by Level II of the Executive Schedule.

Qualifications

There are no laws or regulations delineating qualifications for the office holder.<ref name="Librarians of Congress" /> The position of librarian of Congress has been held by candidates of different backgrounds, interests, and talents, throughout its history. Politicians, businessmen, authors, poets, lawyers, and professional librarians have served as the librarian of Congress.<ref name="Librarians of Congress" /> However, at various times there have been proposals for requirements for the position. In 1945, Carl Vitz, then president of the American Library Association, wrote a letter to the president of the United States regarding the position of librarian of Congress, which had recently become vacant. Vitz felt it necessary to recommend potential librarians. Vitz stated the position "requires a top-flight administrator, a statesman-like leader in the world of knowledge, and an expert in bringing together the materials of scholarship and organizing them for use—in short, a distinguished librarian".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1989, Congressman Major Owens (D–NY) introduced a bill to set stricter requirements for who may be appointed. He argued appointed librarians need to have specialized training; the bill did not become law.<ref>Congressional Bill; 101 Bill Profile H.R. 1255- Appointment of the Librarian of Congress. Sponsor: Major Owens (D- NY). March 2, 1989, Congress Session 101-1.</ref>

List of librarians of Congress

The following persons have served as the librarian of Congress:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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Template:Abbr	Image	Librarian	Start	End	Notes	Nominated by
1	File:No image.svg	Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn	Template:Dts	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Sortname
2	File:Patrick Magruder.tif	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
3	File:George watterson.jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Sortname
4	File:Silva meehan.jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Sortname
5	File:John g stephenson (3x4 cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Sortname
6	File:Ainsworth Spofford, c. 1870s (3x4 cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
7	File:John Russell Young, half-length portrait, facing front; Librarian of Congress from 1897 to 1899 (3x4 cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Sortname
Acting	File:Ainsworth Spofford, c. 1870s (3x4 cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
8	File:Herbert Putnam (3x4 cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Sortname
9	File:Portrait of Archibald MacLeish, undated (3x4 cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Sortname
acting	File:Luther H. Evans (3x4 cropped).tif	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Sortname
10			Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Acting	File:Verner W. Clapp (3x4 cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
11	File:Lawrence Quincy Mumford (3x4 cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Sortname
Acting	File:No image.svg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
12	File:Daniel Boorstin.jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Sortname
13	File:James Billington 2000.jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Sortname
Acting	File:David S. Mao (3x4 cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
14	File:Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, 2020 Portrait Headshot (cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	Template:Sortname
Acting DisputedTemplate:Efn	File:Congressional Committees and Hearings 4070412.jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	present	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="cbs">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Disputed>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Acting DisputedTemplate:Efn	File:DAG DAG Todd Blanche Official Port.jpg	Template:Sortname	Template:Dts	present	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Disputed/>

See also

• List of librarians
• Parliamentary Librarian of Canada

Further reading

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