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Librarian of Congress Makes Senior Staff Appointments

David Mao Named Deputy Librarian, Robert Newlen New Chief of Staff, Mary Klutts Named Chief Financial Officer

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced the appointment of David S. Mao as deputy librarian of Congress and of Robert R. Newlen as chief of staff. He also named Mary J. Klutts the Library’s chief financial officer.

David S. Mao

"Mr. Mao has directed the Law Library of Congress with distinction the past three years," Billington said. "His demonstrated skill as a collegial manager and an effective leader will help chart the future course of this great institution."

Mao’s appointment took effect Jan. 12.

Mao has served as law librarian of Congress since January 2012 and, in his position as deputy librarian, also will serve as acting law librarian of Congress pending a search for an individual to lead the Law Library on a permanent basis.

In 2010, Mao was appointed the deputy law librarian, following a five-year tenure in the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Before joining the Library of Congress, he practiced law for several years and later held positions in the libraries of Georgetown University and the international law firm of Covington and Burling.

He is a graduate of the George Washington University and of the Georgetown University Law Center. He received his Master’s degree in Library Science from the Catholic University of America. He is admitted to the bars of the District of Columbia and the United States Supreme Court.

Mao has served as the treasurer of the American Association of Law Libraries and chaired the association’s special committee on the study of the future of law librarianship. He is a founding member of the Chinese and American Forum on Legal Information and Law Libraries.

He has been in charge of a recent reorganization of the Law Library of Congress and of its historic exhibition of Magna Carta.

Robert R. Newlen

Newlen had been detailed to serve as chief of staff for a six-month period, beginning Dec. 14. Dr. Billington made Newlen’s appointment permanent.

"Over the course of nearly four decades at the Library of Congress, Mr. Newlen has developed a deep understanding of the many services the Library provides to Congress and the American people as well as a keen appreciation for the work performed by the institution’s unparalleled staff," Billington said. "In his many roles here, he has displayed the leadership skills necessary to help the Library meet its mission-critical needs."

As chief of staff, Newlen will take on Library-wide program and management responsibilities and also oversee the offices of Communications, Congressional Relations, Development, Chief Financial Officer, Contracts and Grant Management, General Counsel and Special Events and Public Programs.

Newlen joined the Library of Congress in November 1975. In more than 39 years at the institution, he has served in a wide range of areas and roles – most recently as assistant law librarian for collections, outreach and services in the Law Library.

Newlen assumed that position in 2010, overseeing collection development, research and reference services and outreach to the Law Library’s diverse constituencies. He also managed the Law Library’s development and fundraising initiatives and last year oversaw the Library’s Magna Carta exhibition and its related events.

Prior to joining the Law Library, he served in several leadership roles within the Congressional Research Service, including management of a 100-member staff as assistant director of the Knowledge Services Group and as director, from 1999 to 2007, of the CRS Legislative Relations Office, managing outreach activities to Congress including congressional staff training and public-policy seminars and workshops.

A cum laude graduate of Bridgewater College with a bachelor’s degree in political science and French, Newlen earned a master’s degree in art history from American University and a master’s degree in library science from the Catholic University of America.

Newlen has served as a member of the Executive Board of the American Library Association (ALA) and as senior trustee of the ALA Endowment. He has held leadership positions in the District of Columbia Library Association and currently serves on the board of advisers of the library school at the University of South Carolina.

Mary J. Klutts

Klutts has served as the Library’s chief financial officer on an acting basis since June; she had served as the Library’s budget officer since 2007.

"Mary Klutts brings an unmatched depth of knowledge and expertise to our finance team," Billington said. "She has improved the quality of our processes throughout her long career at the Library. The trust and respect she has earned among House and Senate appropriations clerks continues to be reflected in a high level of confidence in the Library’s budget requests and real support for the Library."

Klutts has been a key figure in the Library’s annual budget process, regularly interacting with members of the House and Senate.

In 2010, she was recognized by then-Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) as "an expert in every aspect of the Library’s operating budget."

"She set out to transform the way the Library’s budget proposals and funding justifications are formulated," Kaufman said. "Her work has helped make the Library’s budget operations more transparent, and its funding proposals are more concise."

Klutts joined the Library in 1990 as a budget analyst. Previously, she served the federal government for four years as a U.S. Marine. She holds a master’s degree in business administration, management and operations from the University of Houston-Victoria.

The Library of Congress, the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution, is the world’s preeminent reservoir of knowledge, providing unparalleled collections and integrated resources to Congress and the American people. Many of the Library’s rich resources and treasures may also be accessed through the Library’s website, www.loc.gov.

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PR 15-012 01/22/15 ISSN 0731-3527

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