James H. Billington to Retire as Librarian of Congress Effective Jan. 1, 2016

James H. Billington, the 13th Librarian of Congress and renowned scholar of Russia, announced that he will retire from the position of Librarian effective January 1, 2016. In a video announcement shared with all Library staff, Billington said, "Leading this great institution alongside all of you for nearly three decades has been the honor and joy of my 42 years of public service in Washington, DC."

Billington informed President Barack Obama and called congressional leadership to share his plans. The vacancy will be filled by presidential nomination, with confirmation by the US Senate. Billington enabled the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution to become one of the most innovative -- largely by raising for the Library an unprecedented one-half billion dollars worth of donations from the private sector. Billington was sworn in on Sept. 14, 1987, and is recognized for having brought the world’s largest library into the digital age.