James H. Billington, the 13th Librarian of Congress, will retire on January 1, 2016. The former history professor and Rhodes Scholar was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1987 to oversee the largest library in the world. Billington is credited with expanding the Library’s public outreach, including a lead role in the creation of Thomas.gov legislative search engine and the National Book Festival. His 28-year legacy is not without its critics, however, many of which blame Billington for the institution’s digital lag. Just this year, the nation’s oldest cultural institution came under scrutiny for technology issues that put the Library at risk of a data breach. The new appointee will be nominated by President Obama and requires Senate confirmation.