▶ 0:07:39The committee on house administration will come to order. The title of today's hearing uh is oversight of the operations of the Library of Congress. I note that a quorum is present. Without objection, the chair may declare a recess at any time. Also, without objection, the hearing record will remain open for five legislative days. Uh so members may submit any materials they wish to be included therein. I thank the ranking member Mr. Morelli, members of the committee and our witness uh Dr. Carla Hayden for participating uh in today's hearing.
▶ 0:08:09Today the committee on house administration is continuing our oversight of the United States Library of Congress. The purpose of the hearing is to examine the operations and top management challenges of the Library of Congress. The library is the main research arm of the United States Congress and it's also the world's largest storehouse of information and data. As such, it's important that the library functions at the most effective level possible.
▶ 0:08:34The library's vast collection contains over 175 million items, including books, audio materials, manuscripts, photographs, and more. The library has an appropriation of over 850 million in fiscal year 2025 and is a fiscal 2026 budget request of $91 million. There's an increase of 49 million from fiscal year 2024 and 2025.
▶ 0:09:02Uh and I think we'll be discussing that increase later today. Um since 2019, the Library of Congress Inspector General's identified several key priorities. The list includes strategic planning and performance management, digital strategic planning and execution, financial management, and the visitor experience master plan. Additionally, the Library of Congress is home to two important entities, the Congressional Research Service and the US Copyright Office.
▶ 0:09:29The Library of Congress has been effective at improving its operation uh operations and processes in recent years, but I think we all believe there's more work to be done. Uh the library's visitor experience master plan or vamp uh is one of those priorities. The project was intended to cost 62 million but is now expected to cost nearly 94 million uh a 31.5 million budget increase. Um this increase is partially the result of inflated cost of construction materials and personnel.
▶ 0:09:58Uh, additionally, there's some unique challenges associated uh with modification of the library's historic Thomas Jefferson building which was completed in 1897. Uh, however, poor manage poor project management and coordination between the Library of Congress and Architect of the Capital uh are factors in as well uh in the co in the cost increase. Congress directed the project to be completed before the US semiquincential in July of 2026.
▶ 0:10:27Now, the project's not expected to be completed until March of 27. This year, the Library of Congress Inspector General issued an audit report on FEMP that details the numerous failings and challenges. I look forward to discussing these and other projects today. Separately, the Library of Congress houses the Copyright Royalty Board, which was established in 2005.
▶ 0:10:49The board is composed of three administrative law judges and sets statutory license rates for certain music services, aiming to create an efficient online marketplace. Due to court challenges to rate setting procedures, over $1 billion in royalties remain undistributed as of November of 2024. Meanwhile, content creators go unpaid for their work, sometimes for a decade or more.
▶ 0:11:13This committee hopes to hold the first ever hearing with the copyright royalty board judges soon to discuss the board's work. In closing, it's worth noting uh that the Library of Congress recently celebrated its 225th uh anniversary on April 24. Uh I look forward to our discussion today to ensure that the library operates as effectively as possible for the next 225 years while maintaining its greatest priority of serving the congressional community in a nonpartisan fashion. Thank you for being here today.
▶ 0:11:44Uh and I look forward uh to hearing from you, Dr. Carly Hayden, uh during our conversation and your remarks. Uh with that, I will yield to the ranking member, Mr. Morelli, uh for an opening statement. Thank you uh very much, Mr. Chairman, for uh uh giving me the opportunity and also for gathering us all together. And uh good afternoon, Dr. Hayden. Uh thank you for being here.
▶ 0:12:05It's hard to believe that um you're already nearing your 10th year as the uh librarian of the Library of Congress and to say the past decade has been turbulent politically would be an understatement. But you've consistently risen u above the fray and have performed your duties in my view with incredible professionalism and in a wholly nonpartisan manner. So I want to thank you for your continued service uh to the uh to the library and to the country. You know nearly a decade ago, Dr.
▶ 0:12:33Aiden appeared before the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration for her confirmation hearing. Uh there she outlined a bold set of goals for her term as Librarian of Congress, goals that she and her team have successfully met. And I want to just highlight some. One of those uh goals was to expand digital access so that all Americans uh could engage with the libraryies uh collections. And under uh uh your leadership, Dr. Aiden, the library released its first ever strategic plan for digitization.
▶ 0:13:02And last year alone, nearly 100 million unique visitors explored the library's digital content. Something that's I think a great success. And this achievement was one of the many made possible by modernizing library technology. Another goal uh that you Dr. Aiden emphasized at your confirmation hearing. And one of your earliest initiatives was to consolidate librarywide technology oper operations into a single central office.
▶ 0:13:29And as a result, excuse me, the library systems, including the copyright office's enterprise copyright system are now more cost-effective, innovative, and user focused. In fact, when you assumed office, the library had 31 open GAO recommendations related to it. As I understand it, 30 have been closed. Um, and the one um final recommendation um is uh currently in the implementation uh phase.
▶ 0:13:57So that's again I think a great success and the progress extends well beyond technology. I think when you became librarian you pledged to throw open the library's treasure chest and last year as part of the visitor experience master plan the library opened its new treasures gallery which I will just say I'm partial to I think it's fabulous. Uh that gives the public access to uh precious collection items not previously available for public viewing.
▶ 0:14:24And I think again that brings the public in to appreciate all that the library has to offer. Uh and I know that um the project initially has faced some challenges. I understand coordination between uh the library and AOC has approved and that those issues have largely been addressed. I look forward to hearing more about the visitor experience master plan and its progress today. I also want to take this opportunity to commend two key library service units.
▶ 0:14:50the National Library Service for its continued innovation in serving readers with print disabilities as well as the Congressional Research Service for hosting an excellent uh bipartisan new member seminar and helping us adapt to the post Chevron environment we find ourselves in. Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't discuss the context in which this hearing is being held. Uh the current administration by virtually every measure has declared war on cultural institutions, libraries and museums chief among them.
▶ 0:15:20Through executive directives and budget cuts, the administration is actively working to dismantle the Institute of Library or Museum and Library Services, which helps fund libraries across the country. If this effort succeeds, libraries in virtually all our districts around the country will be forced to close their doors. Even the Smithsonian has come under fire. absurdly accused of promoting improper and corrosive ideology merely for presenting historical facts that the president finds inconvenient.
▶ 0:15:50It doesn't take much imagination to see the Library of Congress next in the crosshairs and I'm very concerned about it. Let's be clear, it's the Library of Congress as a legislative branch agency is wholly independent of the executive branch. Um, and uh, yet I find it mystifying or at least in congruous that the president, not Congress, appoints the librarian of Congress. So, several years ago, Chairman Style and I partnered on a bill that changed the architect of the capital from a presidential appointment to a congressional appointment.
▶ 0:16:20Uh, the bill was signed into law by President Biden, and last year, Congress, not the president, successfully appointed a new architect. I think it's long past time to make the same change for the librarian of Congress as well as other legislative branch agency heads like the director of the government publishing office. And to that end, I will be drafting legislation to achieve that goal and would certainly welcome bipartisan co-sponsorship and partnership. So, Dr. Hayden, once again, thank you for all the work you do.
▶ 0:16:48Uh, thank you for your partnership with this committee, support of the Congress, and service to our country. I look forward to our discussion. With that, I yield back. The gentleman yields back. We appreciate your comments. Uh without objection, all other members opening statements will be part of the hearing record if they're submitted to the committee clerk by 5:00 pm today. Uh today, our witness uh is Dr. Carla Hayden, the librarian of Congress. Uh we're excited for you to be with us today. Uh you're recognized for five minutes for an opening statement.
▶ 0:17:16Thank you, Chairman Steel, Ranking Member Morelli, and members of the committee for this invitation to appear before you to give you an update on the programs and activities of the Library Congress. Since I appeared before you last summer, the library has advanced key initiatives of importance to the Congress and others in furtherance of its mission.
▶ 0:17:38The library is fiercely committed to the goals of expanding access, enhancing services, strengthening capacity, and fostering innovation for the benefit of our users. Foremost are the members of Congress we serve every day as an agency of the legislative branch. With more than 181 million physical items and a growing digital collection, the library takes tremendous pride in its role as the steward of the national collection.
▶ 0:18:06We are providing more programs and services than ever before. While modernization automation has allowed us to expand productivity in some areas and to do more with less. Last week, the library did celebrate its 225th anniversary since its founding by Congress in 1800. Almost as old as the country itself, the library provides the Congress access to a collection of information that at present day is unparalleled anywhere in the world.
▶ 0:18:36In fiscal 2024, the library supported members of Congress and their staff in a variety of ways. The Congressional Research Service CRS handled over 75,000 congressional requests, published over 1,000 new products, and updated over 1,700 existing products. The law library staff responded to nearly 1,000 research and reference inquiries from Congress.
▶ 0:19:01The library's congressional relations office organized over 370 congressional events, displays, and tours, as well as delivered over 66,000 specialized outreach emails to members and staff. And library staff responded to 135,000 reference requests. About 60% of these requests came online or by email with 46,000 requests made in person.
▶ 0:19:30The library also serves its many public users through a variety of programs, services, exhibits, and virtual offerings. In fiscal 2024, the library welcomed more than 880 thou hund00,000 visitors to its historic Thomas Jefferson building, a 22% increase from fiscal 2023.
▶ 0:19:52For those who could not visit in person, our robust digital presence recorded over 98 million unique visitors to the library's websites with more than a half a million billion page views. And in addition, the National Library Service for the Pr Blind and Print Disabled circulated more than 22 million copies of Braille, audio, and large print material. We also ensure the public can register their works for copyright protection through the US Copyright Office.
▶ 0:20:22Processing times for the copyright office's core services of registration and recordation stand at historic lows. With the copyright office serving as the custodian of records related to registration and recordation, efforts continue to make those records available online, many going back more than a hundred years.
▶ 0:20:46And across the library, there's been great progress around technology modernization and continued IT development within CRS, the copyright office with the new registration system and the library more broadly. Our staff is working steadily to support a digitally enabled future innovation focused library where IT applications are constantly developed to remain upto-date.
▶ 0:21:12And finally, I'm grateful to this committee for its direct involvement with monthly briefings and bi-weekly reporting over the last two and a half years with the visitor experience initiative centered in the Thomas Jefferson building. This project is a top priority for the library and it is a testament to the partnership between the library with the Congress and the architect of the capitol that we are making steady progress.
▶ 0:21:40As I testified to last year, we opened the first components in June of 2024 with the Treasures Gallery as the new shop and next will be the Youth Center, name the source. So, in closing, the Library of Congress takes great pride in serving Congress and the American people. And with Congress's support, the collection and the services will continue to be an unmatched resource both within the legislative branch and throughout the country.
▶ 0:22:07So, I thank the committee for your interest in the library and look forward to remaining closely engaged with you. Thank you very much. Um, I'll begin our questions followed by the ranking member and I'll recognize myself for five minutes. Um, Library of Congress recently experienced a a cyber breach that compromised the content of several emails from uh members of Congress and their staff in the immediate aftermath.
▶ 0:22:32uh Library of Congress worked with law enforcement partners and its IT vendors uh to mitigate vulnerabilities. Um Dr. Are there any highlevel uh takeaways and lessons learned um that we should walk away from that experience? Yes, and I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank the committee for your support during the cyber breach last year. We have a close working relationship with Microsoft and other legislative branch agencies.
▶ 0:23:00So we were able to uncover this extremely sophisticated cyber breach and we worked quickly to m mitigate the vulnerability and has been publicly reported that we were able to stop the threat actor and we have followed up and this is something that we want to continue to do.
▶ 0:23:25We had a separate cyber security investigation, the second one that we think we need to make sure that we do annually and we're looking into that not just when there's a breach but a continual uh addition to our cyber security efforts. Thank you very much. Um let me shift gears.
▶ 0:23:48Library of Congress has appropriated 725 million um and under the current in 2020 it was 725 million under the current CR 852 million over 100 million more than 5 years ago. uh and now the the upcoming 26 budget request 900 million obviously a lot of money um but Library of Congress can also provide a lot of value and so trying to dig in um as to what you're looking to accomplish uh with the increase in funds the library's budget and
▶ 0:24:18that increase uh is actually uh including a mandatory pay related uh request and also price level in uh increase.
▶ 0:24:32And so when you look at the fact that the library is trying to continue the IT investment, the the actual progress that we've been able to make with the IT investment that Congress has made, our requests this year basically uh focus on continuing that. their modest requests, three new requests, and re-requests in our budget. Thank Thank you. Um let me jump gears one more time.
▶ 0:25:02Uh visitors experience master plan. Yes. Um we noted uh that it's likely to not be completed um in 2026 by the semiquincentennial celebration. Is that That's the latest estimate for the architect of the capital and I was very um we're excited about the project and the progress that we've made especially in the last 18 months and 12 months with the new architect of the capital Mr.
▶ 0:25:32Austin and we have made quite a bit of progress with that. So we are hoping that the construction aspect of completing the third part of it, the treasures gallery was the first. The youth center will open December of this year and there might be opportunities uh for that orientation date to accelerate. So we're we're hoping that's that's positive.
▶ 0:26:01Disappointed when we got that latest uh estimate on construction. Are are you finding an improved working relationship with the the new architect of the capitol? Yes. I testified with Mr. Austin um this morning and um several weeks ago. We meet regularly our chiefs of staff. And is that a shift from uh from the previous architect of the capital's management style? Yes. Yes. I I you don't need to go further.
▶ 0:26:30They had a whole hearing on the previous architect of the capital prior to his uh ultimate termination. Um I with the the limited time that we have left um there's been big changes uh over the past eight years in your tenure uh as librarian of Congress.
▶ 0:26:46Um briefly, what's your top priority for the next 12 the next 12 months, the library as a whole wants to continue to build on the progress that we've made with our information technology because we've been able to, for instance, in the copyright system. We're at the point now where we're looking at the largest part of that, the registration.
▶ 0:27:1280% of the registrations that come in will be benefit from this new enterprise. We're also looking at how CRS can use new technologies to serve Congress. We've had experiments with AI and we're testing that and seeing if that would be helpful and also making sure that our collections are preserved digitally, but also available digitally.
▶ 0:27:38So, we really will be looking at making sure that this momentum that has been pretty phenomenal when you think of where the library was when it got a GAO report in 2015 before I started that had 135 recommendations and that we're down to one. Well, thank thank you very much. I know we're we focus in on a couple areas where we think there's broad room for improvement, but let me tell you um I know you and many people on your team work really hard.
▶ 0:28:05I can see some of them uh sitting behind you, but there's many more who may be watching online uh who dedicate a lot of time and service uh to the country and the Library of Congress and their work uh should be commended. I hope you can share those remarks uh with many of your colleagues. Thank you for that. I now recognize the ranking member for five minutes for purpose of asking Thank you uh Mr. Chairman. Um and a number of the topics that um you would ask questions about were on my mind. So, thank you for getting through half of my list here.
▶ 0:28:34that's uh makes it easier. I did want to u talk if I can uh Dr. Hayden about uh AI integration which has the potential to significantly enhance uh internal efficiency and I'm can you just discuss some of the libraries modernization efforts and tell us whether um AI will be an element of future library modernizations and whether you see AI as supplementing positions replacing positions or or potentially both.
▶ 0:29:04You've definitely characterized uh AI in terms of the promise of AI and the library has used u in AI in several ways in different aspects from our library services to cataloging to really doing those experiments with CRS in terms of something like uh bill summaries.
▶ 0:29:30To date, most of the uh AI pilots have not yielded uh satisfactory results because we have to have as our CIO reminds us all the time humans in the loop and we have to maintain the accuracy of the information and our responses and that's number one is particularly with CRS and so we are doing the the
▶ 0:30:00experiments. We're looking at how we can use it, but we are not rushing to try to replace staff or do anything like that. We know that our staff really are our biggest resource. Yeah, just to follow up and I I uh see uh uh our new uh CRS director, Dr. Don here, and and we had a brief conversation last week about this as it relates to CRS.
▶ 0:30:26Could you just talk about the value of AI datadriven tools in the CRS analysis and how this might enhance the quality of support provided to members of Congress? The potential of CRS using AI lies basically in freeing up staff who are very knowledgeable from and I have to characterize it as lower level uh tasks and that's why the promise of for
▶ 0:30:56instance the bill subaries if you could do that using AI and programming that would save more time for the analysts to be able to do more in depth analytics and use other tools and they're looking at data analytics and that's been a a another pilot they've been doing.
▶ 0:31:15Uh I I appreciate that and I I I note that you know while AI is clearly continuing to get better and it's an extraordinary tool but there are moments still when you get information back that you know is not right. So, it does take a fair amount of human oversight.
▶ 0:31:31And to that end, do you have you budgeted or started thinking about um training um for staff so that they can, you know, appropriately use the tool to advance the mission at CRS or at the library? Just more broadly, the library more broadly and CRS in particular. And we already have uh digital labs and experimentation that's going on.
▶ 0:31:56So that's budgeted in with that and we are hopeful that some of the tools will develop but at this point they're not ready. Yeah. Um I want to shift just briefly in the last minute or so that I have uh the libraryies 2024 to 2028 strategic plan anchored by the theme of library for all.
▶ 0:32:20And I know that reflects your commitment in the library's commitment to ensuring that all individuals regardless of geography, background, age, ability can benefit from the resources. Can you describe some of the recent work the library has done to expand digital collections and how this is helping uh reach broader audiences? The strategic plan covers 2024 to 2028.
▶ 0:32:43And so in our first year, we have had many performance goals that we've really accomplished about 65% but they're focused on enhancing access to our collections and our services. And so the digital tools that we've been able to uh utilize have helped in terms of our unique collections.
▶ 0:33:09It may not be something that people realize that when when the library makes the collections available, we're talking about our unique collections, the diaries of Teddy Roosevelt, things that people would only have been able to see in person. And so at this point, that's been a major part of what we've been doing as well as in our strategic plan is the training of the staff and cross trainining as well.
▶ 0:33:37and that's been very exciting for a lot of staff members. Well, I um thank you uh Madame Chair um and I have to unfortunately leave for a um uh House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee in just a few minutes. So, I want to again thank you. I do one last question. I asked you last year to help decide whether we use the term comic books or graphic novels because there's a big dispute in my family. Do you want to help us solve this?
▶ 0:34:02Comic books are a distinct format and graphic novels are I think that's the same answer you gave me last year. So at least you're consistent if nothing else changed. So and both are very good gateways to reading. Very good. Which is the most important thing. Thank you very much for being here and your service and I yield back. Thank you and welcome Dr. Hayden. We are pleased to have you here with us today uh to testify about our Library of Congress.
▶ 0:34:31With more than 178 million items in its collection, including millions of books, audio materials, manuscripts, and photographs, the Library of Congress is the largest library in the world. The library was established in 1800 to provide research materials and support for Congress and continues today to be an invaluable resource in informing Congress and the legislative process, including serving as the home is the Congressional Research Service.
▶ 0:34:57Since its creation, the library has also evolved to become the home of the US Copyright Office as well as a national cultural institution welcoming nearly 2 million visitors a year. And Dr. Dr. Hayden, I would like to return to a subject you touched on just a moment ago, which is the library's role in preserving and sharing data with the public.
▶ 0:35:20Would you describe for us further what is the library's role in preserving data and information and making it accessible to Americans? The Library of Congress's role is to make its collections foremost available to the general public.
▶ 0:35:40The Library of Congress holds the papers of 23 presidents, 38 Supreme Court justices, notable organizations and individuals from Clara Barton to Rosa Parks number one. So making those unique collections accessible in as many ways possible as we can.
▶ 0:36:02Also there are collections of books you mentioned uh prints and photographs other formats that are also unique in some instances but definitely not available on local and state levels. And so as the national library, our role is to provide all of those materials for Congress to do its work in many ways. And we have many requests for materials and collections as well as the American public.
▶ 0:36:33And you also touched on the concept of making some of those materials available for digital visits for those who cannot physically come to our nation's capital. Would you elaborate please on the types of things the Library of Congress has done to make collections and special exhibits available digitally for those who wish to see them?
▶ 0:36:57At this point, the Library of Congress has digitized approximately and C CIO is right behind me so she might indicate something. uh but approximately 61 million items and that includes every page of Teddy Roosevelt's diary that includes the papers of those 23 presidents that we just put on and the new exhibit that we just opened
▶ 0:37:27the two Georgees where a lot of those documents were are on exhibit now as part of our America 250 uh celebration. And so when you look at the fact that you could have Rosa Parks's peanut butter pancake recipe available online for anyone to look at and try to uh replicate.
▶ 0:37:52It's it's a wonderful opportunity for people to connect to the Library of Congress in a way that they couldn't. exhibits of course uh or in-person things, but we also have a digital component even for exhibits. So, you can go online and look at past exhibits. One of my favorites, baseball, uh all of those exhibits, we have a digital component. And that's really the way that we can touch every American.
▶ 0:38:22And as we've touched on already in the hearing, you're in the midst of a very large IT modernization project. Uh, one of the things that I would like to go back to related to the IT modernization. Uh, you mentioned that the copyright registration process you anticipated would specifically benefit substantially from the IT modernization. tell us more if you would about how you anticipate that process being affected or any other major impacts uh of that IT modernization for the public.
▶ 0:38:52When I started my tenure librarian of Congress, that the modernization of the copyright was one that was of great concern to a number of stakeholders from individuals to groups all wanted an more technologically advanced copyright registration system.
▶ 0:39:19So we have worked to do things like change a process that recordation that is now automated.
▶ 0:39:34Uh there are and then the historic records that I mentioned that go back over a hundred years that was a card catalog a physical card catalog of records if you wanted to look at historic records.
▶ 0:39:50Those have been digitized and we're working on making sure that there's u metadata that you can then search like another online catalog but at least you could look by year at the records online and the last part is that being able to register online.
▶ 0:40:12So we have developed and maintained a stakeholder group that is advising us and there is a pilot on that registration now and so far the reviews have been good and so that's really the future once we get online registration that's it. Right. Well Dr. Hayden I am out of time so at this time I'll recognize uh rank member Su for five minutes. Thank you. I want to thank uh Dr.
▶ 0:40:41Hayden for uh her testimony today. Um my mom uh Nancy Gardner Su, my beloved mom, was a uh librarian for 42 years at uh Selma High School. And she really instilled in me a great love of uh learning, especially um all the wonderful tools and interactive tools that the libraries have have installed.
▶ 0:41:06And so I have a life lifelong I'm a lifelong learner and love the fact that uh the Library of Congress um helps members of Congress uh get to know each other through your dialogue, congressional dialogue uh dinners. And I have to say that um the opportunity to not only um sit next to uh fellow members of Congress and senators, but the opportunity to hear directly from some of our nation's amazing authors has been a real u a real plus for that.
▶ 0:41:35And I know that I speak for a lot of members of Congress that is probably one of the experiences they'll they'll remember most. Um, you know, recently public libraries across the nation have been under attack by extremists who are trying to ban books that do not align with their ideology. We're seeing daily attempts to erase black history and strip funding from critical entities like the Institute of Museums and Library Services that help rural and underserved communities access information and tell their stories.
▶ 0:42:03Just last year, the American Library Association reported 821 attempts to censor library books and other materials. These egregious efforts to censor uh information and defund libraries undermines public access to knowledge and essential community pro programs and they should serve as a wake-up call for all Americans. As members of Congress, I uh we should be working overtime to protect and expand access to information.
▶ 0:42:30That's why I have been so impressed by the work that you've done, Dr. Hayden. You have always made it a priority to ensure that the Library of Congress fulfills its mission to inspire and inform all Americans. I wanted to uh touch uh wanted you to elaborate on how the digital and IT infrastructure uh project has really helped to expand access to to the Library of Congress.
▶ 0:42:55What and thank you for your comments because as a national library with these unique collections, I often think of what it would have been like in Baltimore, Maryland where I worked when there was a disturbance and there were young people in that branch library that I could have pulled up Rosa Parks own in her own hand what she felt like at the time and make that connection.
▶ 0:43:25So by making these materials available online, we are providing that access for everyone anywhere that they can see the draft of the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson with footnotes or side notes with BF Ben Franklin and JA John Adams that they can see the the primary sources and That's been the Walt Whittmann
▶ 0:43:56during the um pandemic. We really had educational uh virtual packets for not only educators but caregivers who were suddenly educators. Exactly. You could take a nature. Well, I can speak personally of about Rosa Park's own handwriting and how inspirational it was.
▶ 0:44:16As you know, I represent the Civil Rights District of Alabama, and you and your staff were so nice to pull some of the materials that dealt specifically with my district and gave my um staff members uh an opportunity to see it. And I I heard from everyone from everyone how important and how personal that became for them. So, I can speak personally how the digital has really as well as the physically looking at some of the documents can really help.
▶ 0:44:43you know, uh, in 2024, the library's, uh, national service for the blind and print disabil disabled, uh, NI NLS, sorry, also expanded production to streamline the distribution of braille and talking books. Um, however, in March, the Trump administration placed the staff that supports libraries in over 50 in all 50 states on administrative leave and suspended grant programming.
▶ 0:45:09Can you talk about h how access to braille books and information across um rural and urban communities throughout help to act to to bring access to the disabled and the print uh disabled and with the Americas treaty uh foreign language materials but also there was an extension of the mandate for NLS to include people with dyslexia and that opened up a definitely a broader
▶ 0:45:40reach and a younger uh reach as well and uh seniors with macular degeneration and things like that. the the motto of NLS is that all may read. And so looking at electronic digital braille readers that refresh, being able to loan those materials also that people can and especially some of the younger could download and some of the more digitally uh mature uh could download
▶ 0:46:11uh the talking books and all of those things. really makes materials accessible to people that would have been shut off. So it's it's again congratulations on 225 year anniversary of the Library of Congress and long may may we uh have the Library of Congress have access. Thanks. Now recognize the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Griffith for five minutes.
▶ 0:46:41Thank you, Madam Chair. In a recent letter, I and several of my colleagues raised serious concerns that the copyright office proposal proposed rule on access to electronic works 37 CFR 202.18 goes far beyond the office's statutory authority and risks significant harm to authors and other copyright owners.
▶ 0:47:05After subsequent discussions with my team and with uh other friends uh and with the library and copyright office, my concerns have not been allayed and I have more questions than answers. I intend to follow up with a detailed set of written questions to better understand how the library and copyright office need to shift their plans to comply with the law and address our concerns.
▶ 0:47:30We agree to keep the deadline for this final rule suspended and continue to pause any movement on this rule until these concerns have been resolved or at least we've come to an understanding. Well, thank you for that because the rule making that you're asking about would allow the Library of Congress to select other types of works in digital formats for our collections.
▶ 0:47:58but with the same strict access limitations that the works that are allowed now have. And those works are newspapers at this point. And they are deposits only. On only two researchers at a time can use them.
▶ 0:48:22And only on secure on-site workstations that are in a called a lockdown state that prevents copying and transmitting by the public and they're not connected to the internet.
▶ 0:48:37And also something that you sometimes forget about with these types of things, there are security cameras and library staff who are physically present and the worksts are I mentioned just two strategically placed so that the screen visible by the staff as well and their time limit.
▶ 0:49:05So, we use a combination of the high-tech to present to make sure that they can't do certain things with the things that they're looking at, but also regular surveillance. And so, this rule making is to say that we would be able to make access for other formats with those same types of restrictions.
▶ 0:49:31So it's not to we would not be doing anything as we don't do now with inter library loan like we are able to do with some print materials uh to other libraries when we do inter library loan it's only to an institution the person who's using the book that we send to St. Louis for instance St.
▶ 0:49:55Louis public library or uh Milikin College in uh Illinois would only be used in the library. The person could not take it out physically from the library. So even with the print materials when we let other libraries not individuals use them their security. So this is what the rule making is about.
▶ 0:50:20So, we'd like to definitely work with you and other members on just clarifying what this is. It's more access, but it's still limited, very limited. I appreciate that and and thank you for your response. I didn't come today to get into a censorship argument. I would just say I think there's significant differences between uh access for adults and access for children. And I'll leave it at that. And I'll agree with you, sir. I started as a children's librarian, so I'm very aware.
▶ 0:50:50Yes, ma'am. Of of that. I appreciate it very much. And yield back, Madam Chair. I now recognize the gentleoman from Texas, Representative Johnson. Thank you. Five minutes. Yes. Thank you so much, Madam Chair, and thank you so much, Dr. Hayden, for joining us. You know, I've been in this job now just a few months, and I have to say the Library of Congress is my favorite place in DC. It's beautiful.
▶ 0:51:18It's makes us our country proud. Um it's a critical cultural and knowledge institution in this country. It's a place where people can engage in research. They develop. They have creativity. They innovate for our scholars of today and develop and create our scholars of tomorrow.
▶ 0:51:40And I applaud your digitization effort and appreciate the vastness by which that effort is due to the incredible depth of the collection of the Library of Congress because at the end of the day, the library is one of the few institutions in this country that has survived every president regardless of party, civil war, world wars.
▶ 0:52:10It has endured the test of time and because of the incredible value that it places on the intellectual development of our country. Um, and I think that the digitization effort to reach in the far corners of the rural districts across this land um, and the urban districts of people who can't get to DC to see these amazing collections in person are wonderful.
▶ 0:52:37And I want to uh echo um Representative Su's comments on the bipartisanship by which the library dinners create us and afford an opportunity for collegiality. In my experience here, there's not enough opportunity for people to spend time and it has added to the acrimony of this building and I think we need more spaces like what the library provides us. I'd like to visit with you about the visitor center.
▶ 0:53:07Um that seems to be something that has been of concern and if if I understand properly you had a very extensive plan for a visitor engagement center and this visitor center experience and it was in three phases and the phase one and two are complete. We're now just waiting on phase three. Is that correct?
▶ 0:53:29Phase one was the first ever permanent treasures gallery and that opened last June and to great reviews and lot of success. It's wonderful. We can rotate. So, for instance, we're we're getting ready for the America 250 materials. So, we could have some things that will stay the contents of Abraham Lincoln's pockets the night he was assassinated.
▶ 0:53:55something that we bring out but also whatever's commemoration is going on. the second part and it's a threepart uh project all in the Thomas Jefferson building which is our front door that's the iconic building um and where most people visit physically because there is also a tunnel from the Capitol visitor center where we get quite a few groups coming in as
▶ 0:54:25well. So people is that youth center uh should open in December of this year. And then the last part is an orientation center that will let people know about the history of the Library of Congress, but also what the Library of Congress can do for them. The Veterans History Project.
▶ 0:54:47There'll be uh views into the different services, the NLS, but also the number one question that people ask going into that building is where are the books? And so they will get a chance and we'll make sure in that orientation center that they will get a chance to look at just one stack of the 836 miles of shelving that the Library of Congress has. But we'll talk about those 836.
▶ 0:55:17So we want people to come away with that last part with an understanding about what the Library of Congress does and its history. What do you need from Congress to best fulfill your mission there?
▶ 0:55:33One aspect that's been very helpful and we hope will continue, especially with appropriations, is the support to allow the library to continue on the digital path that we are It's one thing to have that 836 miles of shelving, but it's also very important that we continue to be something that
▶ 0:56:04is relevant, easy to use, all of the devices that we can keep up with technology. And that has been wonderful in terms of what we've been able to do. But to keep supporting those efforts would be very helpful. Well, thank you, Dr. Hayden. I'm out of time. Thank you, Madam Chair. I now recognize the gentleoman from Oklahoma, Representative Bice, for five minutes. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Dr.
▶ 0:56:32Hayden, for being with us this afternoon and for the conversation that you and I had yesterday. I want to first start by uh mentioning it was referenced earlier by the ranking member Morelli talked a little bit about AI and how we're utilizing AI and as the chairwoman of the modernization and in innovation subcommittee that's been a big focus for my subcommittee. Uh there will be training actually uh in utilization of AI tools that is currently being discussed within the house.
▶ 0:57:01So I wanted to make sure that that was addressed. And the other thing that I think is uh of note is the flash reports that our subcommittee drafted and posted. You can find them on the CHA website that really talks about um AI and and integration within the house at large. And so I encourage anyone that wants a little more information about what the house is doing on an AI front um to look at those.
▶ 0:57:26Um, as has been mentioned, the library is home to one of the most important congressional support agencies, the Congressional Research Service. And I see um the director, current director, Don Frieden, former director Allener here this afternoon. So, thank you for your service and the great work that you are doing.
▶ 0:57:46um this in this organization has faithfully served Congress for over 110 years and the staff provides critical support and our subject matter experts that help inform uh members and certainly our staff. So we appreciate the work that is happening within uh CRS and appreciate the opportunity as members of the House Administration committee um to continue that great work together.
▶ 0:58:12I want to start um you mentioned just briefly in the last line of questioning money and and funding um making sure that you have continued funding. I want to talk a little bit about um the visitor experience funding. We spoke briefly about this yesterday. Um the initial funds that were uh appropriated were totaling uh 42 million for the federal side and it looks like that's increased to 72 million. So it's a pretty hefty increase.
▶ 0:58:42Can you talk a little bit about that? The cost estimates uh from the architect of capital in terms of design and construction.
▶ 0:59:00uh we understand um were and over time those estimates uh when were those estimates originally given to Congress.
▶ 0:59:14Do you remember there were several iterations and they continue to uh be given to Congress and I mentioned those uh meetings that happen every two weeks now and it's the library and the uh architect of the capital and in fact I brought some visuals 100 uh 1,00 and how many pages?
▶ 0:59:44of notes over the last uh since three or four years uh in terms of working on this project. Of course, there was uh the pandemic that delayed actual physical construction. So, the project is on track.
▶ 1:00:11Will we be revisiting the estimates that you were given for phase three or are they already built into the original process? There's a healthy contingency that the AOC has and I mentioned that I testified with Mr. Austin this morning.
▶ 1:00:26uh we are not anticipating any of course with and as he mentioned also though with historic buildings 1897 uh there might be things that are discovered but they're well um along definitely with construction site preparation there have been a few things but the contingency is very uh healthy and on the library side we met and stayed within the budget of private fundraising
▶ 1:00:56for the 20 million and even somewhat beyond. Um, and so there should be no design changes. Great. Nothing that would This is we're we're when the inspector general report that came out in uh February 2024 came out, we were all in the planning stages. Now we're in the implementation a year later. And so there should not be any significant.
▶ 1:01:27You mentioned um in earlier testimony that you have a great working relationship with the new architect of the capital and that you all have been able to coordinate accordingly and I very much appreciate that. I think there were challenges as was mentioned by the chairman uh with the previous uh architect to be able to make sure that there was dialogue and and agreement on how to move forward. And so, um, I thank you and the architect for making sure that we continue to use taxpayer dollars wisely.
▶ 1:01:53We are appropriating those dollars to you and we expect you all to be able to do, um, the most that you possibly can um, to make sure that we're achieving our goal. So, with that, Madam Chair, I yield. Now recognize the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Kerry, for five minutes. Thank you, Madam Chair, and I want to thank you, doctor, um, for appearing here before this committee today. I I'm a big fan of uh history and one of my favorite authors is John Milton.
▶ 1:02:20Most people know him from his work in Paradise Lost, but one of his lesserk known works was Aropagitica, which I'm sure you're aware. And in it, he wrote the importance of individual freedom is to seek knowledge. And I truly believe that he believed that truth inherently is strong and that would that given the ability of debate would obviously persevere.
▶ 1:02:47That's why I feel that uh the library and your mission are so important to this nation. And so I want to thank you for your service and all your years of service. Last time you testified before this committee, um we touched on some of the libraries field offices and I believe there are six six or seven something like that. Six.
▶ 1:03:11So these six field offices um have you and your team I'm I'm sure they've visited all of them. Yes. and members of the staff from the field offices come to Washington DC to interact with their colleagues and I meet with them and that um and so the field offices have been very successful in terms of making sure
▶ 1:03:42that in those six offices that we are able to get materials that would be very difficult uh to order and to even know about uh especially legal materials and we are part of a consortium of other research libraries including colleges and universities.
▶ 1:04:04So we are actually uh helping with that network and they pay to have those materials uh purchased for them as well. Would do you feel that I mean they they are very effective at at what they do as far as the overall mission of the library?
▶ 1:04:19Yes, because what the library does as a national library is just like we digitize things that so people don't have to always be in um in person, we also know that Congress needs to have materials from other countries, especially legal. I'm going back to legal again.
▶ 1:04:43and um that it started with Thomas Jefferson uh and also it we talked about challenges I we didn't mention fires so we've had three uh but when Thomas Jefferson uh sold his collection the largest personal collection in the United States at that time for the first fire in uh he sold it in 1814 he said there is no topic to which a member of Congress should not have occasion to refer
▶ 1:05:14and it's a universal collection. I I I would agree with that, Dr. So that's that's been part of the library's mission as well to make sure that this government has a collection that and I think it's second to none. Second to none.
▶ 1:05:31Let me let me just this library is thinks let me just just point out a few facts for my colleagues and those that are listening um you had a total of 883,000 visitors in 2024. Yes. That is up 22%. That's very impressive. I think the other thing that uh I was really interested in is what you're doing for young people.
▶ 1:05:59And uh one of the bills that I'm currently working on is I do believe that the Smithsonian has a very big important role and it needs to stay very big and important here in Washington DC. But I would like to see a National Children's Museum. But having said that, one of the things that I I noticed was your focus on the youth and I thought that that was very very important. The other thing on a lesser note, um you know, I had the opportunity ways and means uh some some of my colleagues and I have been meeting over in the Library of Congress for quite a few times.
▶ 1:06:29We have a little bill going on right now. But I'll tell you, I was very impressed and I had time to walk around the gift shop. Um, and in my house during holiday season, because we all tend to spend a lot of time here in and in the Canon, Longworth, and Raburn building, my family has a phrase that says nothing says holiday cheer like Longworth gift shop gear. So, I was really happy to see that there might be some other place that I might be able to buy a few things.
▶ 1:06:59and and to my colleague to the left's um discussion on on cost and everything. Listen, I gutted and redid a house trying to do it historically accurate to an 1875. There's always going to be changes. And with that, Madam Chair, I yield back. Thank you, doctor. I'd like to thank our witness for appearing before us today. Members of the committee may have some additional questions for you, and we ask you to please respond to those questions in writing.
▶ 1:07:25Without objection, each member will have five legislative days to insert additional material into the record or to revise and extend their remarks. If there is no further business, I thank the members for their participation. And without objection, the committee stands adjourned.