Carla Hayden, 14th Librarian of Congress, on the State of Reading and Libraries Today

Thursday, November 13, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

$15.00 | Friedman Family Auditorium

Planet Word invites you to a special evening of inspired conversation with Carla Hayden, interviewed by Ron Charles of the Washington Post. Join us for this 2nd annual Patty Isacson Sabee Word Fellowship lecture on Thursday, November 13 in the Friedman Family Auditorium.

Dr. Hayden, currently Senior Fellow at the Mellon Foundation, has spent her career championing literacy, access, and the essential role of libraries in civic life. Drawing on her groundbreaking leadership as the 14th Librarian of Congress — the first woman and African American to hold the post — and as former CEO of Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library, Dr. Hayden will address urgent questions about the future of reading and books in our increasingly visual, digital culture.

Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation on literacy, the vital importance of reading, the role the Library of Congress plays in our government, and the enduring magic of libraries.

The Patty Isacson Sabee Fellowship, established in 2023, honors Planet Word’s inaugural executive director, who championed Planet Word’s core values to make the museum fun, playful, unexpected, meaningful, motivational, and inclusive. Patty’s dedication to amplifying all voices and empowering visitors to use their words for good guides the selection of each Fellow.

For questions or concerns regarding accessibility needs, please contact [email protected].