In her second year as director of Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library, Carla D. Hayden has been named "Librarian of the Year" by the Library Journal, the nation's premier publication for library news.
The award, which Dr. Hayden says is as much a tribute to the Pratt staff as it is to her, was given to her last week at the American Library Association's midwinter conference in San Antonio.
"This puts the Pratt back on the map in terms of librarianship," said Dr. Hayden, who was lured to Baltimore in July 1993 from the Chicago Public Library.
"In our industry, this is as big as it gets. This really helps the visibility of the library."
In honoring Dr. Hayden -- the first African-American to win the award -- the Library Journal said that she had created "a new model for libraries in the old Eastern cities."
They cited her for working to revitalize neighborhood branches, streamlining the book ordering process and bringing more computer services to the library, particularly in landing a state contract to serve as the electronic data-base for libraries throughout Maryland.
The award, Dr. Hayden said, will be particularly useful in aiding Robert Hillman, president of the Pratt trustees, in getting more funding for the library from the General Assembly and private foundations.
"This is going to help all of our efforts and staff morale," Dr. Hayden said.
