Washington Post: Wanted: Library Director Able to Fix Problems in Virginia's Largest System
Laughing students walk into the newly renovated Woodrow Wilson Library in Fairfax. (Erin Schaff/For The Washington Post)
Antonio Olivo November 11 at 4:36 PM
With
stellar health benefits and an annual salary of as much as $183,665,
the job overseeing Virginia’s largest library system would seem easy to
fill. But several candidates being considered by Fairfax County
have decided they do not want the job— a reflection, officials and
advocates say, of the challenge of finding a top-notch leader at a time
when budgets are tight, experts are in high demand and the public is
divided over the extent to which libraries should embrace a more digital
approach. Initially hoping to fill the position by the end of
this year, Fairfax officials have temporarily called off a nationwide
search to replace library director Samuel Clay, who is set to retire in
March and has been pilloried by book-lovers angry about Clay’s efforts
to make county libraries less about print.
A
person who was offered the director’s job earlier this month declined
to take it, saying the area’s cost of living is too high, Fairfax
officials said. Two other applicants withdrew from consideration after
being interviewed, saying they didn’t think they were “a good fit” for
the county, library board vice-chair Karrie Delaney said.
Citing confidentiality rules, county officials declined to name the applicants.
“We
were thrilled” about getting close to hiring someone, said Charles
Fegan, chair of the county’s Library Board of Trustees. “And, then, out
of the blue, I got a telephone call or e-mail from the human resources
department saying that the person had rejected the offer and would not
consider it under any circumstances.”
Fegan notified the rest of
the board last week that the search had been suspended. The hunt for
qualified candidates will pick up again in January, he said: “It’s
better to let the water settle for a minute before we jump into it
again.”
See the rest of the article here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/wanted-library-director-able-to-fix-problems-in-virginias-largest-system/2015/11/11/79ec0d28-8881-11e5-be39-0034bb576eee_story.html
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