David Johnson, one of two final candidates seeking the vacant executive director position at the Fayetteville Public Library, speaks during a public session Tuesday evening inside the library’s Walker Community Room.
Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer
Members of the public this week got a chance to hear from one of the two final candidates in the running to be the Fayetteville Public Library’s new executive director.
David Johnson spoke to about 20 people Tuesday night during the first of two planned candidate forums.
The other candidate, Steven Thomas, will speak to residents at 6 p.m. Jan. 17 on the same stage.
Former executive director Shawna Thorup resigned in August during an investigation by the board of directors. To date, neither party has chosen to openly discuss details of Thorup’s resignation.
Johnson is the son of a librarian and is a 27-year resident of Fayetteville. He is a past employee of the library where became head of the adult services department in 1995 before entering the corporate world two years later.
“I envisioned, when I came to the Fayetteville Public Library, working my way to the top,” he said. Although his goal was to become executive director, Johnson said his $24,000 salary was too limiting at the time.
“I felt like I wanted to create an opportunity for us to have some choice about whether or not Holly (his wife) wanted to stay home and be with the children or whether or not she wanted to continue to pursue her career,” said Johnson.
Johnson said he decided to step aside and go to work at Tyson Foods where he found an opportunity to apply his library and information science training.
He has worked at Tyson Foods for 14 years moving through various leadership positions and is currently the information systems lead for product research and development.
Johnson said he wasn’t looking for a job when the library position became available, but that his wife recently became executive director of the Fayetteville Education Foundation which gives him an opportunity to return to the library field.
“My vision is of a future where we are the ultimate library experience,” said Johnson. “We will be the barometer and the benchmark against which every public library in the country measures itself. From ages 2 to 92, I want people to come here and have that ‘wow’ library experience.”
To reach that goal, Johnson said the library’s leadership must focus on four pillars – people, quality, innovation and process efficiency.
When asked if 14 years of work in the corporate world might hinder his ability to serve as director of a public facility, Johnson says it’s quite the opposite.
He said he’s learned valuable leadership skills at Tyson and has come to appreciate the idea that investors are shareholders who must be satisfied.
“This community is writing the check and it is up to us to make sure that they’re getting the best return on their investment,” he said.
David Johnson
EDUCATION
MLS: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 1993.
MA in Communication: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 1991 BA in Communication: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 1989
EXPERIENCE
2010-Present: Information Systems Lead, Product Research & Development, Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR
2006-2010: Information Systems Project Leader in Sales & Marketing, Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR
2004-2006: Information Systems Project Leader, Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR
2003-2004: Information Systems Communication Manager, Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR
2002-2003: Information Systems Training Manager, Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR
2001-2003: Information Systems Manager of Technical Writing, Training & Office Automation, Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR
1997-2001 : Information Systems Help Desk Manager, Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR
1995-1997: Department Head, Adult Services Department, Fayetteville Public Library, Fayetteville, AR
1993-1995: Head of Reference, Arnold Ledoux Library, Louisiana State University, Eunice, LA
1992-1993: Reference Librarian, Hodges Library, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Steven Thomas
EDUCATION
MLIS: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 1994
BA in History: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 1992
EXPERIENCE
2007-Present: Assistant Director, Washington Co. Library System, Fayetteville, AR
2005-2006: Assistant Director, Support Services, Kanawha Co. Public Library, Charleston, WV
1998-2004: Director of Operations, Assistant Director, Manager of Public Services, Reference Manager, Fayetteville Public Library, Fayetteville, AR
1995-1998: Assistant Branch Librarian, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY
1995: Reference Intern, Lawson McGhee Public Library, Knoxville, TN
On one hand, a semi-outsider’s perspective is valuable. On the other, as an MLS grad, I have to give cred to the guy willing to stick out the low salaries and other vagaries of not working for corporate America. :)
The article is misleading on this point. Johnson made it perfectly clear in his presentation that the reason he left was so that he could make a salary that would allow his wife to have the choice as to whether she wanted to stay home and raise their new baby or continue her career. His move over salary makes perfect sense.
You make a good point, Daniel. Mr. Johnson did say his library salary was limiting, but I did not include his quote that followed which provides some clarification. I’ve made that addition. Thanks for saying something.
I am thrilled to see David as a top 2 candidate for this position. I have known and worked with David for several years. David is a class act and will be a valuable addition to any organization.
Mr. Johnson was quite impressive and seemed like a genuinely nice person. A Masters in Library Science and a Masters in Communication is a good combination, and his corporate experience is quite relevant, both for a 21st century library and for having contacts for outside funding.