Congressional Research Service
Gets New Director
Daniel Mulhollan, Acting Deputy Librarian, Gets Nod
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Daniel P. Mulhollan, 49, to be director of the Congressional Research Service (CRS), effective Jan. 24. Mr. Mulhollan succeeds Joseph E. Ross, who retired on Dec. 3.
"Daniel Mulhollan brings to this position comprehensive knowledge of Congress, an understanding of its research needs, a strong commitment to diversity and a record of effective and energetic administration," said Dr. Billington. "He is an excellent person to meet the challenge of operating effectively within a reduced budget while providing strong leadership for the Congressional Research Service."
The Congressional Research Service, an administrative unit of the Library of Congress, works exclusively and directly for the members and committees of Congress in support of their legislative, oversight and representative functions. CRS maintains close ties with Congress and provides research, analysis and a wide variety of information services with the goal of contributing to an informed national legislature.
In addition to directing the work of more than 800 employees in the 10 offices and divisions of the Congressional Research Service, Mr. Mulhollan will serve as a member of the Library's Management Team, which shares responsibilities for the formulation and administration of policies affecting the entire Library. He serves under the general direction of the Librarian, who has charged him with streamlining operations within CRS, improving services to Congress, particularly through greater use of technology, and increasing diversity in positions of responsibility throughout CRS.
For the past two years, Mr. Mulhollan has served as acting Deputy Librarian of Congress. In that post, Mr. Mulhollan led an effort to improve the Library's service to Congress with a temporary Library-wide team that examined and enhanced Library responsiveness to congressional needs, congressional understanding of the Library's mission and potential, and relations with the noncongressional communities that have an impact on the Library's legislative agenda.
Born in Louisville, Ky., Mr. Mulhollan grew up in the Chicago area. He graduated with honors in 1966 from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn.; he received a fellowship and completed his Ph.D. comprehensive exams at Georgetown University. He joined the Library of Congress in September 1969 as an analyst in American national government in the Government and General Research Division, Legislative Reference Service, which became the Congressional Research Service the following year. From 1973 to 1981 he served as head of three sections in that division and worked closely with a number of congressional committees on issues such as lobbying disclosure, the Watergate investigation, congressional reform and standards of official conduct. He became assistant chief of the Government Division in 1981 and was named chief in 1991.
In 1987 Mr. Mulhollan served on the Library's Management and Planning Committee, formed by Dr. Billington shortly after he was appointed to help define strategic priorities for the 1990s. Mr. Mulhollan's extensive experience working with Congress made him a valuable member of the committee, where he focused particularly on the Library's services to its constituencies.
Mr. Mulhollan has lectured widely on congressional operations and contributed scholarly articles to several professional journals. He has received numerous awards for performance, including the Library's highest award, the Distinguished Service Award, which he received in 1991.
