“Dr. Billington’s stewardship of the Library of Congress for the last three decades has ensured that the nation’s most prominent library is an inspirational haven and unequaled resource for all Americans who visit or use it. In 2012 Dr. Billington and I joined together, both at the Library of Congress and in Vermont, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act authored by Vermont Senator Justin Smith Morrill, which established the land-grant colleges, one of which is the University of Vermont. As a lifelong library-goer, I also have deeply appreciated Dr. Billington’s commitment to highlighting the great accomplishments of countless Americans through the oral histories project for wartime veterans, the National Book Festival and the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Marcelle and I send our deep appreciation to Dr. Billington for his extraordinary career in public service, and we wish him all the best as he retires at the end of this year.”