So often, when Baltimore is in the spotlight, it's because of something bad has happened - usually a terrible murder, or riots or even drug deals gone wrong. It's hardly ever for wonderful things. Don't get me wrong, wonderful things do happen here. They're just not as interesting to report I suppose. It's easier to have everyone think Baltimore is exactly like The Wire (I'm looking at you Bourdain!)
However, today something wonderful did happen and most stations chose to report it. Carla Hayden, the chief librarian at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore City became the Librarian of Congress. She's the very first woman and the very first person of color to hold what may very well be the coolest position in the entire world! Just imagine getting to spend your days with all those books! It sounds heavenly! But I digress...
She is an all around awesome human being and I'm super proud to say I'm from her State. When everyone else is saying that libraries are dying, and technology is the new king, she's found a way to bridge the divide. She's given technology a home among all the books and she's shown that libraries can still thrive in this new tech-heavy environment.
On top of her openness to new ideas, she also has a loving spirit which helped her decide to open the doors to the Enoch Pratt Library last April when the city was rioting. She thought the library could act as a safe haven for those trying to avoid the violence. She showed the children that came through those doors that they'd always have a home in the books and stacks of that library.
A hometown girl building a career around getting people to read and to love books? I mean really, how can you not like her!?
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