Washington, DC - The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) announces the recess appointment by President Clinton of three new members: Paulette H. Holahan, Marilyn Gell Mason, and Donald L. Robinson. The nominations sent forward in late September, did not complete the review process and receive Senate confirmation before Congress adjourned, therefore, the President signed the recess appointments. As recess appointees, the new members will serve through the first session of the 107th Congress.

Paulette H. Holahan of New Orleans, Louisiana is the retired Deputy Judicial Administrator for Public Information, Louisiana Supreme Court. She is the Chair of the New Orlean Public Library Board and a current member of the Louisiana State Library Board as well as the former chair of that group. She is also a former member of NCLIS ably serving from 1980 until 1985. Ms. Holahan was on the executive board of directors of the Urban Libraries Council and a delegate to the White House Conference on Libraries and Information Science in 1979. She received the American Library Association Trustee Award and the Louisiana Library Association Midisette Award. She continues to give countless hours to the support and governance of libraries in her community.

Marilyn Gell Mason of Tallahassee, Florida is the retired director of the Cleveland Public Library. Prior to her service in Cleveland, she was the director of the Atlanta-Fulton Library in Atlanta, Georgia. She also served as the director of the First White House Conference on Library and Information Service in 1979-1980. Ms. Mason is the author of many publications that have appeared in various library journals and is a regular speaker at national and international meetings, conferences and seminars. Ms. Mason received a B.A. from the University of Dallas, a Master of Library Science form North Texas State University and a Master of Public Administration form Harvard University School of Government.

Donald L. Robinson, Ph.D. from Washington, DC is an adjunct professor of Political Science at Boston University and the director of Boston University's Washington Internship Program. Dr. Robinson is the coordinator of the Mickey Leland Congressional Intern Program in Washington of the Center for Public Policy, University of Houston. Dr. Robinson received a B.A. and a M.A. from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. in International Relations from American University.

Martha B. Gould, NCLIC chair, speaking on behalf of the Commission said, "Commission membership is defined in the law with specific competencies required. Ms. Holahan will represent the needs of the elderly, Ms. Mason will the serve as one of five librarian and Mr. Robinson will represent the public needs. Each of these individuals brings a long history of public service and experience and will greatly enhance the Commission in its advisory role to the President and Congress."

The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science is a permanent, independent agency of the Federal government charged by Public Law 91-345 to appraise the adequacies and deficiencies of current library and information resources and services and to advise the President and Congress on national and international library and information policies and plans.