As announced last week, two candidates have advanced to the final round of the selection process in the Library Board of Trustees’ national search for the next Executive Director and Chief Librarian of The Seattle Public Library. The candidates are Tom Fay, the Library’s current interim Chief Librarian; and Chad Helton, current Library Director of the Hennepin County Library in Minnesota.
As part of the final round, each candidate will spend a full day interviewing with the Library Board of Trustees, meeting with Library leadership and staff, and participating in virtual public engagement forums to share more about their background and vision for The Seattle Public Library.
The Chief Librarian is responsible for the overall vision, direction, stewardship and successful operational management of The Seattle Public Library, and leads and oversees 650 employees. Reporting directly to the Library Board of Trustees, the Chief Librarian also holds a cabinet level role on the leadership team of the City of Seattle Mayor’s Office.
The Library’s five-member Board of Trustees is responsible for selecting the successful candidate who will serve in this role.
Public Forums with the Candidates on Feb. 9 and 10
On Wednesday, Feb. 9, and Thursday, Feb. 10, patrons and community members are invited to attend virtual public forums featuring each of the Chief Librarian candidates. The candidates will join Library Board president Carmen Bendixen and vice president Jay Reich for a conversation about their respective backgrounds, experience and visions for The Seattle Public Library, and then take questions from the public.
Schedules and links to join these virtual public forums are provided below. The forums will be recorded and made publicly available on our website.
Candidate Tom Fay, current interim Chief Librarian for The Seattle Public Library:
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- Wednesday, Feb. 9 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Join event
- Event password: chiefsearch
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Candidate Chad Helton, current Library Director for Hennepin County Library, Minnesota:
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- Thursday, Feb. 10 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Join event
- Event password: chiefsearch
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Sharing your feedback
Executive search firm Koya Partners is collecting feedback from each session about the finalist candidates on behalf of the Library Board. You can submit your feedback about each finalist candidate via their online feedback form.
You may either submit your name along with your feedback or provide your feedback anonymously. Information being collected will go directly to Koya Partners to collate and present to the Board of Trustees.
About the Candidates
Tom Fay
Tom Fay is currently serving as The Seattle Public Library’s interim Executive Director and Chief Librarian. He served as the Library’s Director of Programs and Services from 2015 until 2021, overseeing the Library’s Public Services and Programs, Collections, Materials Handling, and Information Technology departments at Seattle’s downtown Central Library and 26 neighborhood branches.
As a native of southern Nevada, Fay’s 38-year career in libraries began as a page for the Las Vegas Clark County Library District. Prior to joining The Seattle Public Library as Director of Programs and Services in 2015, he held roles as the Executive Director of Henderson Libraries in Nevada and the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of Las Vegas Clark County Library District in Nevada.
Fay graduated with a Fine Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He has been awarded the O’Callaghan Public Sector Person of the Year and selected as Nevada’s Librarian of the Year.
Chad Helton
Chad Helton is Director of the Hennepin County Library system. Over his career, Helton has held progressively responsible roles in both academic and public libraries.
Prior to joining Hennepin County, Helton held executive leadership and management positions at Los Angeles Public Library as the Director of Branch Library Services, and at the Contra Costa County Library as Deputy County Librarian. At the Palo Alto City Library, Stanford University Green Library and University of California Davis Shields Library, Helton worked in Library Services, Circulation and Access and in Operations.
Helton graduated with a degree BA in African American Studies from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, a Master of Science in Library and Information Studies, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco.
In addition to his passion for public service, Helton is an Emmy award winning documentary producer and a musical scholar.