Rhett Grant (right), director of the Ada Public Library meets with Congressman Bob Latta and Carla Hayden, Library of Congress librarian.

The trio met Friday in Perrysburg where Ms. Hayden spoke of her efforts to make the “library of the people” more accessible to all Americans. She runs a facility with 3,000 employees and an annual budget of $618 million.

The 214-year-old venerable institution houses 162 million items. Appointed by President Obama, she is the first woman and first African-American to head the Library of Congress.

Republican Bob Latta has served in the House of ARepresentatives since 2007. He was born in nearby Bluffton 61 years ago. Moving from Atlanta, Ada Library Director Rhett Grant began to call Ada home last June when he assumed the position here. Since then he has overseen a major addition and renovation to the local library.