Billington to Retire as Librarian of Congress

James Billington announced Wednesday that he will retire at the end of the year as librarian of Congress. A scholar of Russia, Billington was nominated for the position (which doesn't have a term of office) by President Reagan and has served since 1987. The New York Times noted that the Library of Congress has in recent years been the subject of several highly critical government audits of its management and of its use of technology.