Transcripts For CSPAN2 Librarian 20240706 : vimarsana.com

Confirmation but for talking about as you done in the past your work and theres just a lot of interest as you know from past hearings in this building about the library of congress especially now that people are going back in an entry of many visitors to the library again. Several senators, we had a dinner with bipartisan dinner last night and a number senators mentioned that they were fans of you and your work, including people from both sides of the aisle, so just putting that out there first. And i think ive mentioned this before. Maybe senator fischer doesnt know but my dream when i was growing up was to be a librarian. Yes, i actually had a duly system set up with the books that i read in a recipe box here but instead we are here. And we are here in fact, to discuss the Largest Library in the world and the oldest federal Cultural Institution in the united states, the library on congress. Two weeks ago the library celebrated its 223rd birthday, and as we know the library holds over 175 million books, manuscripts and other materials it has Worlds Largest collection of film, sheet music and sound recording. Something i was reminded of very memorably when Joni Mitchell got the gershwin award and Speaker Mccarthy and i were there and several others and was an incredible actually two evenings for the dinner and then for the major production afterward with so many great artists. And i want to thank you for having the wisdom to decide to honor Joni Mitchell. And it sure it was with the committee but in the end, dr. Hayden had a major role making that Decision Making that didnt work for so many people. Dr. Hayden, you and are dedicated staff play a Critical Role in collecting, preserving and making this vast collection in the library on congress accessible to the american people. And i learned that you have 370,000 people visit the library last year, and a 75 increase in events from the year before. While even more americans accessed your collections online, that is more than 150 million visits online. So i think im sure well hear about how the pandemic has a silver lining, a lot of good stuff but at least im sure more people started visiting the library online. I mentioned the Joni Mitchell event but your efforts also included celebrating our culture, including live so who lived in my state for many, many years. Thats where she kind of got her start lizzo. She played the crystal flute at the library last fall. And as we approach the end of the librarys fiveyear Strategic Plan and 2019 Digital Strategy youve also dedicated significant effort to modernize the Library Technology infrastructure. I know we want to hear about that. One topic i look forward to hearing more on is a libraries visitors experience master plan multi your proposal which Congress Approved on a significant bipartisan basis in 2019. To improve the Visitor Experience at the library. The plan includes an orientation gallery to guide visitors to the library, learning resources for younger visitors, and new displays. As the project moves forward it is essential that it is done as you and i have discussed in a way that respects and preserves the librarys historic building. I know that changes have been made to the plan for the main reading room, including removing the oculus winner from the design and youre working closely with the acting architect of the capitol on these efforts as you note in your testimony. The library also oversee something pretty significant all of us right now, soon to be even more significant i believe with the advent of artificial intelligence, and that is the u. S. Copyright office which safeguards the work of artists and creators across the country, critical to the vitality of our economy. According to a Study Released last year, businesses anarchis who rely on copyright can trigger more than 1. 8 trillion to our economy. That translates to 8 of total u. S. Gdp and 9. 6 million jobs. Modernizing the Copyright Office to keep pace with the latest technology and the content that support is a priority for our nation, and i appreciate the office is progress and updating the and reducing the average processing time for copyright registration. Another part of the library that will hear about is the nonpartisan support provided to members of congress and staff by the Congressional Research service, or crs, which responded to more than 73,000 requests in the last fiscal year from members of congress and its impact extends far beyond congress with thousands of crs reports them available to the public. Finally, the National Library service for the blind and print disabled is a primary provider of reading material for americans who cannot read. Print helps to ensure the librarys resources are available to everyone. Ensuring access to modern braille devices has always been one of my Top Priorities to the library when it early on got on committee, start work on that and look forward to working more on its ongoing work including providing braille ereaders and its growing library of nearly 164,000 downloadable braille and audible reading materials. In the end, the library i think we know has this incredible celebrated history and the work that you are doing, dr. Hayden, is vital for the success or generations to come. That obviously includes your team, some of whom are sitting behind you. I now recognize our Ranking Member senator fischer for opening statement. Thank you, senator fischer. Thank you, madam chair for calling this oversight hearing regarding the library of congress and thank thank. Hayden, for being with us this afternoon. I love visiting the library, and i want to tell you that my staff recently was able to take field trips and visit the library. They had a two were there and they told me about what a wonderful experience they had as well, so thank you for that. I am pleased to be here on the dais for my First Library of Congress Oversight hearing as Ranking Member of this committee. Ive been a member of the committee since 2017, and in the intervening years the committee has made a point to regularly discuss the librarys modernization efforts during oversight hearings. In my view that is a clear testament to the importance of these efforts. The library of congress should strive to be a Global Leader in the management and preservation of information. While also providing free and open access to its collections for all. Keeping up with Technological Developments is the key to accomplishing these goals. Dr. Hayden, you have been serving as the nations librarian since 2016. Certainly you have been come as a Library Works to improve its services and increase access for its many customers, including the congress, copyright users, researchers, visitors, and the american public. At the forefront of these efforts is the librarys push to modernize its Enterprisewide Information Technology systems. Shortly before you arrived at the library in 2016 the Government Accountability Office Issued a critical report thats highlighted serious gaps in the librarys Information Technology infrastructure, and they provided a long list of 107 recommendations. I know that over the last six years the library has made Great Strides in centralizing its i. T. Systems and closing out nearly all of the gaos recommendations. Im also aware that the library has been leading an exciting project in the Thomas Jefferson building to improve visitor access to its priceless collections. I want to congratulate you, dr. Hayden, on recently hitting 20 million in private pledges for this Visitor Experience project. I look forward to hearing more about the details of this endeavor. My hope is that the library will be able to create a Visitor Experience that best serves its customers while also ensuring that the costs are controlled. Finally, i understand that the library has made significant efforts to increase Digital Access to its collection for members of the public. I look forward to hearing more about these efforts and about the librarys many other ongoing initiatives during this hearing today. Thank you, madam chair. Thank you very much, senator fischer, and thank you for your really good opening statement. Our witness today as i note is librarian of congress dr. Carla hayden. Dr. Hayden was sworn in as the 14th librarian of congress in september 2016. After being appointed by president obama and confirmed by the senate in a vote of 7418. Thats pretty good by todays standards. And she is the first woman and first africanamerican to lead our nations library. Dr. Hayden previously served as the ceo of Enoch Pratt Free Library in baltimore, maryland, beginning in 1993. 1993. Earlier in her career she helped with the museum of science industry in Chicago University of pittsburgh, and Chicago Public library. Dr. Hayden received her undergraduate degree from Roosevelt University and her master of arts and phd from the university of chicago. Where i also went for graduate school. So dr. Hayden, if you could please stand and raise your right hand. Do you swear that the testimony you will give before the Committee Shall be the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help you god . Thank you. You can be seated and we will proceed to your testimony and recognize you for a fiveminute Opening Statements for thank you, madam chairwoman and Ranking Member fischer for this opportunity to provide an update on the library of congress and its operations. The library on congress is a Largest Library in the world with a collection of more than 175 million items, and now in the fifth and final year of our current Strategic Plan the library is looking ahead to a new plan that will build upon our ongoing efforts to expand access, enhance services to congress and the public, and become more digitally enabled. In fiscal year 2022, the library responded to hundreds of thousands of reference requests from congress, the public and other federal agencies. The Congressional Research Service Published nearly 1,100 new products. The u. S. Copyright Office Issued more than 484,000 registrations, a 16 increases over fy2021 while bringing the average processing time down from 34 months to to about 3. 4 months to the about 2 months currently or as lit lit requiring no correspondence. And the National Library service for the blind and printdisabled circulated more than 22 the million copies of braille, audio and large print material to patrons throughout the country. Library returned to normal operations for the visiting public in fy0 to the 22, welcoming approximately 370,000 visitors to our buildings which are once again buzzing with researchers, visitors, School Groups and tourists. On site events are back at a very robust level, and weve launch a new public event series, live at the library, which extends our hours on thursday evenings to provide new opportunities for people to visit our exhibits and connect with our programming. In support of our goal to expand access, the library is moving forward in an exciting way to enhance our physical space. In partnership with the librarys authorization and appropriations committees of jurisdiction and the architects of the capitol, the library is creating an all new Visitor Experience that will invite visitors to discover more of our treasures, our programs and services. The Visitor Experience master plan, which was approved by congress in 2019, includes an orientation gallery that will feature the [inaudible] of Thomas Jeffersons library, a Youth Learning Center where young learners and families can interact with our collections and a treasures gallery to the display the wonder, scope and history contained within our special collection. The Library Remains committed to insuring this project is implemented for the america 250 celebrations in 2026. We are on or under budget in nearly all libraryspecific components. And in some instances, have had to make difficult decisions to simplify Design Elements to insure a judicious product schedule. While the timeline in the significant aoc construction budget recently identify are impacted by a number of factors including general construction escalation costs, the committees direct involvement and unwavering support of the project and that of the acting architect of the capitol will continue to the insure critical milestones are reached and that we are able to open these wonderful offerings to the public for the 250th anniversary of the united states. In addition to our inperson offerings, we have a robust and expanding online presence. Virtual programming and Live Streaming at the librarys signature events like the National Book festival admit that we can reach more people in their homes even as we return to to hosting large scale inperson programs. Our Web Properties recorded over 151 million visits in fy2022. One of our most popular programs, the veterans history project, now has more than 114,000 individual collections accessible online through a new, modern web site. And our by the people Transcription Program increased its outreach footprint, enrisking members enlisting members of the public to complete over 500,000 transcriptions since 2018. And all of this sevens to make items in the serves to make items in the collection more discoverable online. Yes, modern i. T. Initiatives are underway in several key library services. This includes efforts to upgrade the technology in crs and to develop a Modern Library collections platform to manage our holdings. And im pleased to report that we have launched two key components of the New Enterprise copyright system, a new copyright public records system and the first ever Electronic System to record and update information about copyright ownership. Theyre all alive to the public, and were receiving positive feedback. Developments for the next generation copyright system has begun, and we have also released a major upgrade of the braille and audio reading download bard system for the blind and disabled roadwayers. So to conclude, the library is excited about the progress thats been made, and were moving steadily ahead with the work that remains to be done. And as always, we remain committed to providing you, congress, with excellent service. So i thank you for your continued interest and support, and id be pleased to talk any questions you may have. To take any questions you may have. Thank you very much, dr. Hayden, weve been joined by senator wells whos moved up from his new guy slot. Since he has been in congress as long as i have, were pleased that hes here for his first oversight hearing of the librarian of congress. So with why dont we start with Visitor Experience master plan, which i noted has bipartisan support in congress. This new exhibit space, we were excited to hear about some of the new projects you mentioned. Can you talk about the goals of the plan, if its progressing on time. And in your written testimony, you said that the projects expect plan will not impact the historic hall reading room nor the librarys support of onsite research. What steps is the library taking to insure that any changes are consistent with Historic Preservation standards, and are you committed to insuring that any concerns in this area are fully considered . As you know my own husband asked me about the historic circulation desk. He doesnt usually inquire about matters of oversight in the rules committee. I felt that i should ask that question. And you know he is a big user of the library as a law professor and author. So anyway, mostly just hows the plan going and talk a little bit about that historic standard. Oh, we continue to be very excited about the project because it will transform the constituents experience in visiting the library, at the same time, preserving the Thomas Jefferson building. The project has three parts. The current gift shop will be converted into an education center. Back of house space thats no longer needed for its original purpose will be converted to the an orientation gallery. And both of these spaces are designated by the aoc as renovation zones rather than Largest Library<\/a> in the world and the oldest federal Cultural Institution<\/a> in the united states, the library on congress. Two weeks ago the library celebrated its 223rd birthday, and as we know the library holds over 175 million books, manuscripts and other materials it has Worlds Largest<\/a> collection of film, sheet music and sound recording. Something i was reminded of very memorably when Joni Mitchell<\/a> got the gershwin award and Speaker Mccarthy<\/a> and i were there and several others and was an incredible actually two evenings for the dinner and then for the major production afterward with so many great artists. And i want to thank you for having the wisdom to decide to honor Joni Mitchell<\/a>. And it sure it was with the committee but in the end, dr. Hayden had a major role making that Decision Making<\/a> that didnt work for so many people. Dr. Hayden, you and are dedicated staff play a Critical Role<\/a> in collecting, preserving and making this vast collection in the library on congress accessible to the american people. And i learned that you have 370,000 people visit the library last year, and a 75 increase in events from the year before. While even more americans accessed your collections online, that is more than 150 million visits online. So i think im sure well hear about how the pandemic has a silver lining, a lot of good stuff but at least im sure more people started visiting the library online. I mentioned the Joni Mitchell<\/a> event but your efforts also included celebrating our culture, including live so who lived in my state for many, many years. Thats where she kind of got her start lizzo. She played the crystal flute at the library last fall. And as we approach the end of the librarys fiveyear Strategic Plan<\/a> and 2019 Digital Strategy<\/a> youve also dedicated significant effort to modernize the Library Technology<\/a> infrastructure. I know we want to hear about that. One topic i look forward to hearing more on is a libraries visitors experience master plan multi your proposal which Congress Approved<\/a> on a significant bipartisan basis in 2019. To improve the Visitor Experience<\/a> at the library. The plan includes an orientation gallery to guide visitors to the library, learning resources for younger visitors, and new displays. As the project moves forward it is essential that it is done as you and i have discussed in a way that respects and preserves the librarys historic building. I know that changes have been made to the plan for the main reading room, including removing the oculus winner from the design and youre working closely with the acting architect of the capitol on these efforts as you note in your testimony. The library also oversee something pretty significant all of us right now, soon to be even more significant i believe with the advent of artificial intelligence, and that is the u. S. Copyright office which safeguards the work of artists and creators across the country, critical to the vitality of our economy. According to a Study Released<\/a> last year, businesses anarchis who rely on copyright can trigger more than 1. 8 trillion to our economy. That translates to 8 of total u. S. Gdp and 9. 6 million jobs. Modernizing the Copyright Office<\/a> to keep pace with the latest technology and the content that support is a priority for our nation, and i appreciate the office is progress and updating the and reducing the average processing time for copyright registration. Another part of the library that will hear about is the nonpartisan support provided to members of congress and staff by the Congressional Research<\/a> service, or crs, which responded to more than 73,000 requests in the last fiscal year from members of congress and its impact extends far beyond congress with thousands of crs reports them available to the public. Finally, the National Library<\/a> service for the blind and print disabled is a primary provider of reading material for americans who cannot read. Print helps to ensure the librarys resources are available to everyone. Ensuring access to modern braille devices has always been one of my Top Priorities<\/a> to the library when it early on got on committee, start work on that and look forward to working more on its ongoing work including providing braille ereaders and its growing library of nearly 164,000 downloadable braille and audible reading materials. In the end, the library i think we know has this incredible celebrated history and the work that you are doing, dr. Hayden, is vital for the success or generations to come. That obviously includes your team, some of whom are sitting behind you. I now recognize our Ranking Member<\/a> senator fischer for opening statement. Thank you, senator fischer. Thank you, madam chair for calling this oversight hearing regarding the library of congress and thank thank. Hayden, for being with us this afternoon. I love visiting the library, and i want to tell you that my staff recently was able to take field trips and visit the library. They had a two were there and they told me about what a wonderful experience they had as well, so thank you for that. I am pleased to be here on the dais for my First Library<\/a> of Congress Oversight<\/a> hearing as Ranking Member<\/a> of this committee. Ive been a member of the committee since 2017, and in the intervening years the committee has made a point to regularly discuss the librarys modernization efforts during oversight hearings. In my view that is a clear testament to the importance of these efforts. The library of congress should strive to be a Global Leader<\/a> in the management and preservation of information. While also providing free and open access to its collections for all. Keeping up with Technological Developments<\/a> is the key to accomplishing these goals. Dr. Hayden, you have been serving as the nations librarian since 2016. Certainly you have been come as a Library Works<\/a> to improve its services and increase access for its many customers, including the congress, copyright users, researchers, visitors, and the american public. At the forefront of these efforts is the librarys push to modernize its Enterprisewide Information Technology<\/a> systems. Shortly before you arrived at the library in 2016 the Government Accountability<\/a> Office Issued<\/a> a critical report thats highlighted serious gaps in the librarys Information Technology<\/a> infrastructure, and they provided a long list of 107 recommendations. I know that over the last six years the library has made Great Strides<\/a> in centralizing its i. T. Systems and closing out nearly all of the gaos recommendations. Im also aware that the library has been leading an exciting project in the Thomas Jefferson<\/a> building to improve visitor access to its priceless collections. I want to congratulate you, dr. Hayden, on recently hitting 20 million in private pledges for this Visitor Experience<\/a> project. I look forward to hearing more about the details of this endeavor. My hope is that the library will be able to create a Visitor Experience<\/a> that best serves its customers while also ensuring that the costs are controlled. Finally, i understand that the library has made significant efforts to increase Digital Access<\/a> to its collection for members of the public. I look forward to hearing more about these efforts and about the librarys many other ongoing initiatives during this hearing today. Thank you, madam chair. Thank you very much, senator fischer, and thank you for your really good opening statement. Our witness today as i note is librarian of congress dr. Carla hayden. Dr. Hayden was sworn in as the 14th librarian of congress in september 2016. After being appointed by president obama and confirmed by the senate in a vote of 7418. Thats pretty good by todays standards. And she is the first woman and first africanamerican to lead our nations library. Dr. Hayden previously served as the ceo of Enoch Pratt Free Library<\/a> in baltimore, maryland, beginning in 1993. 1993. Earlier in her career she helped with the museum of science industry in Chicago University<\/a> of pittsburgh, and Chicago Public<\/a> library. Dr. Hayden received her undergraduate degree from Roosevelt University<\/a> and her master of arts and phd from the university of chicago. Where i also went for graduate school. So dr. Hayden, if you could please stand and raise your right hand. Do you swear that the testimony you will give before the Committee Shall<\/a> be the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help you god . Thank you. You can be seated and we will proceed to your testimony and recognize you for a fiveminute Opening Statements<\/a> for thank you, madam chairwoman and Ranking Member<\/a> fischer for this opportunity to provide an update on the library of congress and its operations. The library on congress is a Largest Library<\/a> in the world with a collection of more than 175 million items, and now in the fifth and final year of our current Strategic Plan<\/a> the library is looking ahead to a new plan that will build upon our ongoing efforts to expand access, enhance services to congress and the public, and become more digitally enabled. In fiscal year 2022, the library responded to hundreds of thousands of reference requests from congress, the public and other federal agencies. The Congressional Research<\/a> Service Published<\/a> nearly 1,100 new products. The u. S. Copyright Office Issued<\/a> more than 484,000 registrations, a 16 increases over fy2021 while bringing the average processing time down from 34 months to to about 3. 4 months to the about 2 months currently or as lit lit requiring no correspondence. And the National Library<\/a> service for the blind and printdisabled circulated more than 22 the million copies of braille, audio and large print material to patrons throughout the country. Library returned to normal operations for the visiting public in fy0 to the 22, welcoming approximately 370,000 visitors to our buildings which are once again buzzing with researchers, visitors, School Groups<\/a> and tourists. On site events are back at a very robust level, and weve launch a new public event series, live at the library, which extends our hours on thursday evenings to provide new opportunities for people to visit our exhibits and connect with our programming. In support of our goal to expand access, the library is moving forward in an exciting way to enhance our physical space. In partnership with the librarys authorization and appropriations committees of jurisdiction and the architects of the capitol, the library is creating an all new Visitor Experience<\/a> that will invite visitors to discover more of our treasures, our programs and services. The Visitor Experience<\/a> master plan, which was approved by congress in 2019, includes an orientation gallery that will feature the [inaudible] of Thomas Jefferson<\/a>s library, a Youth Learning Center<\/a> where young learners and families can interact with our collections and a treasures gallery to the display the wonder, scope and history contained within our special collection. The Library Remains<\/a> committed to insuring this project is implemented for the america 250 celebrations in 2026. We are on or under budget in nearly all libraryspecific components. And in some instances, have had to make difficult decisions to simplify Design Elements<\/a> to insure a judicious product schedule. While the timeline in the significant aoc construction budget recently identify are impacted by a number of factors including general construction escalation costs, the committees direct involvement and unwavering support of the project and that of the acting architect of the capitol will continue to the insure critical milestones are reached and that we are able to open these wonderful offerings to the public for the 250th anniversary of the united states. In addition to our inperson offerings, we have a robust and expanding online presence. Virtual programming and Live Streaming<\/a> at the librarys signature events like the National Book<\/a> festival admit that we can reach more people in their homes even as we return to to hosting large scale inperson programs. Our Web Properties<\/a> recorded over 151 million visits in fy2022. One of our most popular programs, the veterans history project, now has more than 114,000 individual collections accessible online through a new, modern web site. And our by the people Transcription Program<\/a> increased its outreach footprint, enrisking members enlisting members of the public to complete over 500,000 transcriptions since 2018. And all of this sevens to make items in the serves to make items in the collection more discoverable online. Yes, modern i. T. Initiatives are underway in several key library services. This includes efforts to upgrade the technology in crs and to develop a Modern Library<\/a> collections platform to manage our holdings. And im pleased to report that we have launched two key components of the New Enterprise<\/a> copyright system, a new copyright public records system and the first ever Electronic System<\/a> to record and update information about copyright ownership. Theyre all alive to the public, and were receiving positive feedback. Developments for the next generation copyright system has begun, and we have also released a major upgrade of the braille and audio reading download bard system for the blind and disabled roadwayers. So to conclude, the library is excited about the progress thats been made, and were moving steadily ahead with the work that remains to be done. And as always, we remain committed to providing you, congress, with excellent service. So i thank you for your continued interest and support, and id be pleased to talk any questions you may have. To take any questions you may have. Thank you very much, dr. Hayden, weve been joined by senator wells whos moved up from his new guy slot. Since he has been in congress as long as i have, were pleased that hes here for his first oversight hearing of the librarian of congress. So with why dont we start with Visitor Experience<\/a> master plan, which i noted has bipartisan support in congress. This new exhibit space, we were excited to hear about some of the new projects you mentioned. Can you talk about the goals of the plan, if its progressing on time. And in your written testimony, you said that the projects expect plan will not impact the historic hall reading room nor the librarys support of onsite research. What steps is the library taking to insure that any changes are consistent with Historic Preservation<\/a> standards, and are you committed to insuring that any concerns in this area are fully considered . As you know my own husband asked me about the historic circulation desk. He doesnt usually inquire about matters of oversight in the rules committee. I felt that i should ask that question. And you know he is a big user of the library as a law professor and author. So anyway, mostly just hows the plan going and talk a little bit about that historic standard. Oh, we continue to be very excited about the project because it will transform the constituents experience in visiting the library, at the same time, preserving the Thomas Jefferson<\/a> building. The project has three parts. The current gift shop will be converted into an education center. Back of house space thats no longer needed for its original purpose will be converted to the an orientation gallery. And both of these spaces are designated by the aoc as renovation zones rather than Historic Restoration<\/a> or preservation zones unlike the great hall or the main reading so the orientation space is for, like, thats going to be for groups that are coming many . Groups, individuals. This will be, there will be a welcome area uhhuh. Also a gateway from the capitol visitors center. Okay. Oh. Because we receive thousands of visitors coming directly from the capitol visitors center, and weve been seeing them recently with the roping of the capitol visitors center. So you have groups, individuals people coming from the gift shop, not that id ever care ah, the gift shop. Just, you know, for the record. The gift shop will actually be on two sides of the great hall. And that will be, the structures will be the same, glass. Weve been working and have worked with the architect of the capitol, they sit on the floor of the room. So theyre not attached to anything on the walls or anything like that. So the gift shop will move, and where that gift shop is currently will be converted into the education center. And then the third space and the third part is a treasures gallery which uses existing exhibit space. Its directly across from where we put in exhibits that are temporary, like the current exhibit join in about voluntary art associations. So the treasures gallery, a Learning Center<\/a> the and whats the time a table for all of it . The timetable, the treasures gallery is scheduled to be one of the first of the three elements to open in to 2024. Uhhuh. And exhibit fabrication has begun. The gift shop will also open in 2024. On both wings of the first floor of the great hall. The youth center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2025 the, and we have been working very closely with focus groups of young people including a number of congressional kids and grandkids, and they have been directly involved in this project. And very candid about their thoughts. And they have selected the a name for the center to be source. Uhhuh, thats good. Resource like it. Theyre good. Its targeted for, basically, ages 711 in particular. The orientation space is scheduled to open in 2026 in tandem with the celebration of america 250. And that will include Thomas Jefferson<\/a>s library, a look into the specs for the visitors who often say where are the books when they come this to the library. So they will get a chance to see one of, one section of the 836 miles of shelving that the library of congress has. And so theyll be okay. And new space to tell the story the of the library of congress. And those are the main come appropriates. Okay. Very good components. Okay, i have some copyright questions that are a little less fun than this, but i will save those and allow my colleagues to go forward. Senator fischer. Thanks, madam chair. Dr. Haden, the visitor appearance master plan, it requires a Crucial Partnership<\/a> with the architect of the capitol as the architect is responsible for the maintenance of all Library Buildings<\/a> and grounds as well as major projects. Can you speak to the librarys working relationship with the architect at the capitol and the aoc staff on the Visitor Experience<\/a> project . And what does your Partnership Look<\/a> like . You are correct that we have worked very closely with the aoc on this project from the very beginning. And i am in regular contact personally with the acting architect of the capitol. The two and a half months that shes been in the position shes opened lines of communication that we really needed to have. Were very concerned about project ised cost and projected cost and schedule overruns. As i was giving the projections of when things were open would open, were very concerned because we feel weve given the architect of the capitol needed information to start some of their preconstruction and construction work. And we havent increased the the scope or complexity of any of the designs in any way. And so when we were given, for instance, cost estimate on the aoc side last month and its changed significantly this in one month, were really looking forward to working even more closely to find out what the details are. 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