From the University Library and School of Information Sciences
On May 8, 2025, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden was dismissed from office. On May 10, 2025, Shira Perlmutter, the Register of Copyrights and director of the Copyright Office, which is part of the Library of Congress, was also terminated. These unexpected decisions raise grave concerns for research libraries, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library, and for the national infrastructure that supports scholarship, access to knowledge, and preservation of cultural heritage.
As the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution, the Library of Congress (LC) is not only a symbol of democratic access to information, it is a critical partner in the research and teaching mission of academic libraries across the country. The loss of leadership at the highest level places at risk the programs, partnerships, and technical leadership that have long made the Library of Congress an essential institution for the nation and the world. LC houses exceptional and unique collections, including many that Library faculty at Illinois utilize and refer our researchers to. But LC is much more than a collection.
“The Library of Congress is an indispensable partner in our work,” said Claire Stewart, Juanita J. and Robert E. Simpson Dean of Libraries and University Librarian. “From digitization and preservation to cataloging and international acquisitions, LC enables us to support our scholars, preserve access to rare and important collections, and deliver high-quality research services. Its leadership is crucial not just to our institution, but to every citizen who relies on its services, and to the professional pipeline that ensures libraries will continue to serve the public well into the future.”
A National and Global Partner in Research and Access
The Library of Congress underpins much of the infrastructure that allows libraries to serve their communities. Its work in cataloging and classification, copyright records, and standards development helps ensure consistency and interoperability across library systems nationally. Through open data, digital preservation leadership (including the formats registry and Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative or FADGI digitization standards), and collaborative web archiving, LC shapes best practices that affect every level of library service and scholarship.
For international and area studies collections, LC is a unique asset. Its overseas field offices, in places like Islamabad, Cairo, and Nairobi, make possible the acquisition of rare materials that would otherwise be inaccessible. Our Global Studies librarians work closely with these offices and the LC’s Area Studies divisions to enhance our collections and support student and faculty research. LC’s collaborations with national libraries and copyright offices abroad have also helped open up access to materials critical for cross-border scholarship.
Digitization, Preservation, and Access
The Library of Congress is a driving force behind major national initiatives that make history publicly accessible. Its leadership in preservation, dating back to projects like the Slow Fires: On the Preservation of the Human Record film and continuing through today’s digital preservation efforts, has shaped how libraries care for their collections and ensure their longevity. Its partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities, for example, led to the Chronicling America project, an open-access trove of digitized historic American newspapers that has long supported our own digital newspaper work. Without LC’s leadership, much of this work—and public access to it—would not exist.
Support for the Profession and the Public
The LC has long served as an incubator for library and information professionals, offering internships, fellowships, and professional development opportunities that shape the next generation of librarians, archivists, and preservationists. Programs like the Veterans Oral History Project and the American Folklife Center exemplify LC’s commitment to documenting diverse American experiences and ensuring broad public engagement with cultural heritage.
We also rely on LC’s support in data and analytics. Our work in copyright research, discovery systems, and bibliographic data has been strengthened by collaboration with LC’s technical staff. Their willingness to share expertise and work through technical challenges has helped us meet the evolving needs of scholars and users.
Advancing Policy Research and The Pursuit of Knowledge
One of LC’s most critical functions is the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS is a nonpartisan research service available to all members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, and robustly supports members’ policy research objectives through a rigorous and unbiased process. CRS’ librarians and analysts work closely with congressional staff to conduct research across five major divisions, and many of the reports are published for free online, extending this knowledge support service to all citizens.
The Library of Congress is home to the U.S. Copyright Office, a key agency supporting authors, publishers, and the public through copyright registration, rulemaking, and research. The Office plays a vital role in balancing protections for creators with fair use rights for educators and researchers—a foundational function in any democratic society.
Sustaining and Supporting the Library of Congress
In an era when public access to information, trustworthy data, and reliable infrastructure is more important than ever, the leadership of the Library of Congress must be protected and strengthened. The dismissal of the Librarian of Congress without a clear transition or roadmap undermines the institution’s stability and risks the erosion of services on which scholars, educators, and communities rely.
We stand in solidarity with colleagues across the country in urging continued, transparent, and nonpartisan support for the Library of Congress and its mission. The Library is more than a repository—it is a pillar of American democracy and global scholarship.