Hello – I'm Carla Hayden, the 14th Librarian of Congress, and I'm happy to celebrate Douglass Day with all of you. 
The Library of Congress is proud to collaborate with Douglass Day and volunteers around the world today. 
By bringing our collective expertise and enthusiasm to this special initiative, we’re able to expand access to Black history for everybody.  
And today is a celebration! Not only are we celebrating Frederick Douglass's chosen birthday, we are also celebrating a day of service. 
When Mary Church Terrell founded Douglass Day in 1897, she described it as a way "to honor the memory of one of the greatest men this country has ever produced." 
This year, to honor that memory, both Douglass Day and my colleagues here at the Library invite you to transcribe parts of the African American Perspectives Collection. 
This unique collection from our Rare Book and Special Collection Division features sermons on political activism, congressional speeches, letters advocating for abolition, and even materials about Frederick Douglass and his legacy.  
Our overarching vision here at the Library of Congress is that all Americans feel connected to us. 
Nothing could embody this spirit more than collaborating with both the Douglass Day organizers and the thousands of volunteers who make this day of celebration possible.
Happy Birthday, Frederick Douglass. And Happy Douglass Day to all of you!