NEW YORK (AP) — Almost a year after being abruptly fired by President Donald Trump from her position as Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, 73, addressed an audience of hundreds within the literary community at the Authors Guild's annual dinner-gala held at Cipriani Wall Street on Monday. During the event, she received the Champion of Writers Award, a recognition for her contributions to the literary world.
Hayden, who led the Library of Congress from 2016 to 2025, emphasized the role of libraries as crucial links between writers and the general public. “Libraries are where storytelling meets opportunity,” she proclaimed. She further explained that libraries serve as pivotal spaces where children find their favorite books, immigrants learn language and culture, and communities see their histories reflected within literature. “They connect people to ideas, to knowledge, and to one another,” she continued, stressing that storytelling should be accessible to all, not just to a privileged few.
Throughout her address, Hayden refrained from mentioning Trump or the circumstances surrounding her dismissal; however, her words served as a subtle counter to the former president’s derogatory remarks regarding “woke” culture, which have been aimed at her and various cultural institutions, including the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian Institution. She declared libraries to be “engines of accessibility and inclusion” and vital sanctuaries for free expression amidst a concerning trend of book bans across the country.
“In many places today, librarians are under attack for believing in the power of the written word,” Hayden stated. “Yet librarians remain steady and hopeful.” The gala not only celebrated literary achievements but also served as a platform for opposing censorship and supporting other causes important to the Authors Guild, which represents thousands of published writers.
Among the honorees alongside Hayden were Percival Everett, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, and Amy Tan, author of “The Joy Luck Club.” Everett, 69, known for his incisive and provocative exploration of issues like racism, humorously noted that receiving an award for activism felt akin to being labeled an athletic chess player. He voiced concerns about the future of the Library of Congress, suggesting it might become a space dominated solely by the works of conservative authors such as Ayn Rand. “That is where we are, and I can’t tell you how sad I am about this,” he remarked.
Amy Tan, 74, was recognized for her Distinguished Service to the Literary Community. Besides her acclaimed works like “The Joy Luck Club,” Tan has a strong legacy of supporting emerging writers and working towards providing financial assistance for young individuals undergoing treatment for Lyme disease, a health condition she has battled for years. During her speech, Tan shared a deeply personal narrative about her relationship with writing and how traumatic experiences led her to view herself and fellow writers as inherently “political.” Reflecting on her youth, she recounted being criticized by a minister for reading “The Catcher in the Rye” and the impact of that incident on her life and work.
“Books, by their nature, have far-reaching consequences regardless of our conscious intentions,” Tan articulated, presenting herself as a “writer, an American writer, an American who uses her freedom of expression.” The evening was a steadfast affirmation of the necessity for diversity in literature and the vital role libraries play in ensuring that expression remains a shared and treasured experience accessible to all.
