Candidates to present their visions for the university’s library system in campus forums later this month.
Samantha Espinosa | Contributing Writer
FIU students and staff have the opportunity to help choose the next Dean of Libraries as three finalists visit campus for public forums. The Dean of Libraries oversees over 2.1 million titles across FIU’s vast library network.
Alan Grosenheider, Deputy University Librarian at UC Santa Barbara, visited campus on October 14 and 15. Two more candidates will visit on October 27 and 29.
The Dean will lead a library system serving more than 54,000 students across multiple campuses in Florida, Washington D.C., and internationally, while supporting over $300 million in annual research expenditures. FIU Libraries provide access to more than 650,000 electronic titles, 100,000 journals and newspapers, and 1,000 databases.
The Office of the Provost will post the names and materials of the remaining candidates two working days before each campus visit on the Provost website. The next open forums will take place on October 27 and 29, from 1:45-2:45 p.m. in the Green Library at Modesto Maidique Campus. View-only access will be available at the Biscayne Bay Campus in the Hospitality &. Tourism Management building 135 and HM 260, respectively.
Each candidate will spend about 15 minutes discussing their vision for FIU libraries and how they would align services with the university’s goals. The audience will have 35 minutes for questions.
According to the position profile posted by the FIU office of Provost, FIU seeks an “experienced, visionary, and inspiring leader” with transformational thinking about 21st-century academic libraries. The Dean will be responsible for reporting directly to the Provost and serving on the Provost’s Dean’s Advisory Council alongside other university leadership.
The university partnered with executive search firm Isaacson, Miller, to identify candidates. The firm’s process included listening sessions with FIU stakeholders to understand the university’s culture and strategic goals before developing a position profile. A search committee worked alongside the firm to identify the three finalists.
Community engagement is also necessary in assisting FIU to make an informed decision about its next library leader.
Provost Elizabeth Béjar, who also serves as executive vice president and chief operating officer, encourages the FIU community to provide feedback after each candidate’s visit in her memo to the university. She called community input “critical” to the selection process and hopes FIU faculty, staff, and students to attend the forums and provide feedback after each candidate’s visit.
Candidate materials and a direct feedback link are available on the Office of the Provost’s website. The search is governed by the Florida Public Records Law, meaning all documents related to the search are public record.
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