Topzle Topzle

Librarian of Congress

Updated: Wikipedia source

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, for a term of ten years. 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. In addition, the librarian appoints the U.S. poet laureate and awards the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Infobox

Appointer
President of the United Stateswith Senate advice and consent
Term length
Ten years
Inaugural holder
John J. Beckley
Formation
1800
Deputy
Disputed Vacant (since May 8, 2025) Brian Nieves (acting) (since May 12, 2025)
Salary
US$203,700Level II of the Executive Schedule
Website
loc.gov/librarianoffice/

Tables

· List of librarians of Congress
1
1
No.
1
Librarian
John Beckley
Start
January 26, 1802
End
April 8, 1807
Nominated by
Thomas Jefferson
2
2
No.
2
Librarian
Patrick Magruder
Start
November 6, 1807
End
January 28, 1815
3
3
No.
3
Librarian
George Watterston
Start
March 21, 1815
End
May 28, 1829
Nominated by
James Madison
4
4
No.
4
Librarian
John Meehan
Start
May 28, 1829
End
May 23, 1861
Nominated by
Andrew Jackson
5
5
No.
5
Librarian
John Stephenson
Start
May 24, 1861
End
December 31, 1864
Nominated by
Abraham Lincoln
6
6
No.
6
Librarian
Ainsworth Spofford
Start
December 31, 1864
End
June 30, 1897
7
7
No.
7
Librarian
John Young
Start
July 1, 1897
End
January 17, 1899
Nominated by
William McKinley
Acting
Acting
No.
Acting
Librarian
Ainsworth Spofford
Start
January 18, 1899
End
December 11, 1899
8
8
No.
8
Librarian
Herbert Putnam
Start
December 12, 1899
End
October 1, 1939
Nominated by
William McKinley
9
9
No.
9
Librarian
Archibald MacLeish
Start
October 2, 1939
End
December 19, 1944
Nominated by
Franklin D. Roosevelt
acting
acting
No.
acting
Librarian
Luther Evans
Start
December 19, 1944
End
June 29, 1945
Nominated by
Harry S. Truman
10
10
No.
10
Librarian
July 5, 1953
Acting
Acting
No.
Acting
Librarian
Verner Clapp
Start
July 6, 1953
End
August 30, 1954
11
11
No.
11
Librarian
Quincy Mumford
Start
September 1, 1954
End
December 31, 1974
Nominated by
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Acting
Acting
No.
Acting
Librarian
John Lorenz
Start
January 1, 1975
End
November 11, 1975
12
12
No.
12
Librarian
Daniel Boorstin
Start
November 12, 1975
End
June 15, 1987
Nominated by
Gerald Ford
13
13
No.
13
Librarian
James Billington
Start
September 14, 1987
End
September 30, 2015
Nominated by
Ronald Reagan
Acting
Acting
No.
Acting
Librarian
David Mao
Start
October 1, 2015
End
September 13, 2016
14
14
No.
14
Librarian
Carla Hayden
Start
September 14, 2016
End
May 8, 2025
Nominated by
Barack Obama
ActingDisputed
ActingDisputed
No.
ActingDisputed
Librarian
Robert Newlen
Start
May 8, 2025
End
present
ActingDisputed
ActingDisputed
No.
ActingDisputed
Librarian
Todd Blanche
Start
May 12, 2025
End
present
No.
Image
Librarian
Start
End
Notes
Nominated by
1
John Beckley
January 26, 1802
April 8, 1807
Thomas Jefferson
2
Patrick Magruder
November 6, 1807
January 28, 1815
3
George Watterston
March 21, 1815
May 28, 1829
James Madison
4
John Meehan
May 28, 1829
May 23, 1861
Andrew Jackson
5
John Stephenson
May 24, 1861
December 31, 1864
Abraham Lincoln
6
Ainsworth Spofford
December 31, 1864
June 30, 1897
7
John Young
July 1, 1897
January 17, 1899
William McKinley
Acting
Ainsworth Spofford
January 18, 1899
December 11, 1899
8
Herbert Putnam
December 12, 1899
October 1, 1939
William McKinley
9
Archibald MacLeish
October 2, 1939
December 19, 1944
Franklin D. Roosevelt
acting
Luther Evans
December 19, 1944
June 29, 1945
Harry S. Truman
10
June 30, 1945
July 5, 1953
Acting
Verner Clapp
July 6, 1953
August 30, 1954
11
Quincy Mumford
September 1, 1954
December 31, 1974
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Acting
John Lorenz
January 1, 1975
November 11, 1975
12
Daniel Boorstin
November 12, 1975
June 15, 1987
Gerald Ford
13
James Billington
September 14, 1987
September 30, 2015
Ronald Reagan
Acting
David Mao
October 1, 2015
September 13, 2016
14
Carla Hayden
September 14, 2016
May 8, 2025
Barack Obama
ActingDisputed
Robert Newlen
May 8, 2025
present
ActingDisputed
Todd Blanche
May 12, 2025
present

References

  1. Since Hayden's dismissal by Donald Trump, the role of acting librarian has been disputed between the principal deputy, N
  2. Was also the clerk of the House.
  3. Died in office
  4. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/us/politics/trump-library-of-congress.html
  5. Cornell University: Legal Information Institute
    https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/136a-2
  6. Cornell University: Legal Information Institute
    https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/136-1
  7. congress.gov
    https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2162
  8. Cornell University: Legal Information Institute
    https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/1201
  9. U.S. Copyright Office
    https://www.copyright.gov/1201/
  10. loc.gov
    https://www.loc.gov/about/history-of-the-library/
  11. Librarians of Congress, 1802-1974
    https://archive.org/details/librariansofcong00libr
  12. academic.lexisnexis.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160329044424/https://academic.lexisnexis.com/documents/upa_cis/3458_LibraryCongressDocHist.pdf
  13. American Libraries Magazine
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150705003003/http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/librarians-of-congress/
  14. The Library: An Illustrated History
  15. Jefferson's Legacy: A Brief History of the Library of Congress
    https://www.loc.gov/loc/legacy/librs.html
  16. Library of Congress
    https://www.loc.gov/loc/legacy/librs.html
  17. McClatchy DC
    http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article41942157.html
  18. Librarians of Congress: 1802-1974
  19. Pub. L. 114–86 (text) (PDF)
    https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/114/public/86?link-type=html
  20. Congressional Bill; 114 Bill Profile S.2162- An Act To establish a 10-year term for the service of the Librarian of Con
  21. Congress.gov
    https://www.congress.gov/114/plaws/publ86/PLAW-114publ86.pdf
  22. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/americas-national-library-is-behind-the-digital-curve-a-new-report-finds/2015/03/31/fad54c3a-d3fd-11e4-a62f-ee745911a4ff_story.html
  23. ALA Bulletin
  24. Congressional Bill; 101 Bill Profile H.R. 1255- Appointment of the Librarian of Congress. Sponsor: Major Owens (D- NY).
  25. "Previous Librarians of Congress"
    https://www.loc.gov/about/about-the-librarian/previous-librarians-of-congress/
  26. "John James Beckley (1757-1807)"
    https://www.loc.gov/item/n84136150/john-james-beckley-1757-1807/
  27. "Patrick Magruder (1768-1819)"
    https://www.loc.gov/item/nr2001008606/patrick-magruder-1768-1819/
  28. "George Watterston (1783-1854)"
    https://www.loc.gov/item/n83041676/george-watterston-1783-1854/
  29. "John Silva Meehan (1790-1863)"
    https://www.loc.gov/item/n86070561/john-silva-meehan-1790-1863/
  30. "John G. Stephenson (1828-1883)"
    https://www.loc.gov/item/n96035157/john-g-stephenson-1828-1883/
  31. "Ainsworth Rand Spofford (1825-1908)"
    https://www.loc.gov/item/n90613873/ainsworth-rand-spofford-1825-1908/
  32. "John Russell Young (1840-1899)"
    https://www.loc.gov/item/n83202815/john-russell-young-1840-1899/
  33. "John Russell Young and Herbert Putnam: 1897-1939"
    https://guides.loc.gov/librarians-of-congress/young-putnam
  34. "Herbert Putnam (1861-1955)"
    https://www.loc.gov/item/n85185518/herbert-putnam-1861-1955/
  35. "Archibald MacLeish (1892-1982)"
    https://www.loc.gov/item/n80015459/archibald-macleish-1892-1982-2/
  36. "Luther Evans (1902-1981)"
    https://www.loc.gov/item/n82099611/luther-evans-1902-1981/
  37. "Freedom's Fortress: The Library of Congress, 1939 to 1953"
    https://www.loc.gov/collections/freedoms-fortress/articles-and-essays/biographical-sketches/librarians-of-congress/
  38. Library of Congress Information Bulletin
    https://original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu/AA00008458/00022/4j
  39. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1954/09/02/archives/mumford-sworn-in-as-librarys-head.html
  40. "Lawrence Quincy Mumford (1903-1982)"
    https://www.loc.gov/item/n88127776/lawrence-quincy-mumford-1903-1982/
  41. My Father Was a Tailor
    https://pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu/my-father-was-a-tailor/chapter/chapter-28-i-become-a-virginian-a-beltway-commuter-and-special-assistant-in-the-reference-department-of-the-library-of-congress/
  42. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1986/12/11/boorstin-to-leave-library/32422e89-cd4c-42a4-ae37-baa5b55827b0/
  43. "Daniel J. Boorstin (1914-2004)"
    https://www.loc.gov/item/n79065337/daniel-j-boorstin-1914-2004/
  44. "James H. Billington (1929-2018)"
    https://www.loc.gov/item/n80020417/james-h-billington-1929/
  45. "Billington to Retire September 30"
    https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-15-174/billington-to-retire-september-30/2015-09-25/
  46. American Libraries
    https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2015/10/13/an-interview-with-david-mao/
  47. All Things Considered
    https://www.npr.org/2016/09/14/493965815/first-woman-and-african-american-sworn-in-as-librarian-of-congress
  48. "President Trump fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden"
    https://www.npr.org/2025/05/09/g-s1-65271/librarian-of-congress-fired
  49. Politico
    https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/05/12/congress/doj-no-2-is-now-locs-no-1-00341700
  50. "Deputy attorney general who defended Trump in hush money trial is named acting librarian of Congress"
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-library-congress-todd-blanche-carla-hayden-cc2154fa8644a5c29d196e505e4faa51
  51. "Justice Department's Todd Blanche appointed acting Librarian of Congress"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/todd-blanche-trump-attorney-librarian-of-congress/
  52. "The President has named a new Acting Librarian of Congress. It's his former defense lawyer"
    https://www.npr.org/2025/05/12/nx-s1-5395879/trump-todd-blanche-librarian-congress
  53. AP News
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-library-congress-todd-blanche-carla-hayden-cc2154fa8644a5c29d196e505e4faa51
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.