Carl Vitz

Carl Peter Paul Vitz (June 3, 1883 – January 1, 1981) was an American librarian and author. He received a certificate from Western Reserve University Library School, a degree from Adelbert College and a bachelor's degree in library science from New York State Library School at New York State Normal College. He served as a library director for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library (1922–1937), the Minneapolis Public Library (1937–1945) and the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (1946–1955). He served as the president of the American Library Association from 1945–1946. During that time, Vitz wrote a letter to the President of the United States on behalf of the profession, addressing potential candidates for the vacant position of Librarian of Congress. In the letter, Vitz suggested that the position "requires a top-flight administrator, a statesman-like leader in the world of knowledge, and an expert in bringing together the materials of scholarship and organizing them for use—in short, a distinguished librarian". Over the course of his career, Vitz planned or consulted on more than sixty library projects involving construction, site selection and remodeling.