December 22, 1997

Contact:
Press Contact: Jill D. Brett (202) 707-2905

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Nancy Davenport Appointed Director for Acquisitions

Nancy Davenport, a 26-year Library of Congress veteran, has been appointed Director for Acquisitions effective December 21. In announcing the appointment, Associate Librarian for Library Services Winston Tabb said, "In each position she's held at the Library, Nancy has demonstrated in-depth knowledge, enthusiasm, and a strong commitment to the Library and its mission." Most recently acting chief of both the Rare Book and Special Collections Division and the Prints and Photographs Division, Ms. Davenport began her career at the Library at the Congressional Research Service in 1971. During her tenure at CRS, she held a number of positions of increasing responsibility in the Library Services Division, including senior bibliographer in foreign affairs, national defense, education and public welfare, assistant section head, assistant chief and acting chief.

From 1985 to 1995, she served in the Office of the Director of CRS, first as coordinator for member and committee relations, then as associate director for special programs. From 1990 to 1996, Ms. Davenport helped direct the Frost/Solomon Task Force, which was responsible for overseeing assistance to the newly democratic legislatures of Central and Eastern Europe. Specifically, she helped train members of parliaments, their staff and their librarians in the use of technology and other information resources to support the needs of democratic legislatures. In addition, she served as the first Acting Director of the newly-created Library Distribution Services directorate, which included responsibility for the Library's Cataloging Distribution Service, Photoduplication Service, Federal Research Division, and Retail Sales.

Ms. Davenport received her MLS degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1971, and her bachelor's degree in political science and economics from West Virginia University in 1969. She has been active in the American Library Association, where she currently serves as chair of the Editorial Board of the journal, Library Administration and Management.

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PR 97-215
12/24/97
ISSN 0731-3527