it's led by carla hayden, the librarian of congress, unique because she's the first woman to to be librarian of congress, and the first black woman to be librarian of congress. i sat down with her recently to hear about how she's trying to open up the library of congress to all americans. so why does congress need a library? can't they use the regular library people have? why do they need their own library? dr. hayden: congress, think about this, in 1800, a new nation, a new legislative body, there was the thought they needed some reference books and they were mainly law books, the first books that were purchased, about 600 books, and that's how the library of congress started. think of the name, the library of congress. so it is a reference and research tool for congress, and they knew that. because they have parliamentary libraries and they knew about those types of things. so they knew as legislators, they might have to refer. david: now in 2024, the library of congress is much bigger than it was when it was first started in 1800, but is it properly named the library of congress now? it i

it's led by carla hayden, the librarian of congress. she is unique because she's the first woman to be librarian of congress, the first african-american, and also one of the first librarians to be librarian of congress. i had a chance to sit down with her and hear her story and how she's trying to open up the library of congress to all americans area so why does congress need a library? can't they just use the regular library that other people have? >> congress -- think about this. in 1800, a new nation, a new legislative body. there was the sought that they needed some reference books. they were mainly law books. the first books that were purchased. about 600 books. that's how the library of congress really started. think of the name. the library of congress. it is a reference and research tool for congress. they knew that. because they have parliamentary libraries and they knew about those type of things. they knew as legislators, they might have to refer. >> now in 2024, the library of congress is much bigger than it was when it firs