The Fayetteville Public Library is still without a replacement for former executive director Shawna Thorup who resigned in August. The library this month will host two public forums with the final candidates for the position.
Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer
The Fayetteville Public Library this month will host two public forums with the final candidates for the library’s vacant executive director position.
Courtesy
A search committee chaired by library board trustee Dan Ferritor has selected David Johnson and Steven Thomas as the two finalists for the position, and the public will have an opportunity to meet the candidates at forums scheduled for Jan. 10 and Jan. 17.
Johnson, who currently serves as Informations Systems Lead, Product Research & Development for Tyson Foods, will meet the public on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Walker Community Room inside the library. He graduated with Master of Library Science Degree from the University of Tennessee, and worked for the library previously as a Department Head in the Adult Services Department.
Thomas is currently the Assistant Director at the Washington County Library System in Fayetteville. A forum with Thomas is set for Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. (also in the Walker Community Room). Thomas also worked at the Fayetteville Public Library previously, holding positions as Director of Operations, Assistant Director, Manager of Public Services, and Reference Manager from 1998-2004.
Johnson and Thomas will each give a brief presentation at the beginning of their respective forum, followed by a question and answer session with the public.
The library is seeking to replace former director Shawna Thorup, who resigned in August during an investigation by the board of directors.
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
PREVIOUS 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
