Keith Fiels, director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners in Boston since 1992, will become the American Library Association’s 22nd executive director, replacing retiring ED William Gordon. The ALA Executive Board announced April 22 that Fiels will begin July 1, and that Gordon will assist in the management transition until his last official day, slated for August 31. Fiels has agreed to a three-year term and will receive a salary of $183,000 the first year.
Fiels was one of two finalists named by the board April 3 on recommendation of a 12-member search and screening committee. The other candidate was Camila Alire, dean emeritus at Colorado State University in Fort Collins and a member of the Executive Board.
Fiels previously interviewed for the executive director’s post vacated August 15, 1996, by Elizabeth Martinez and was one of three finalists. After failing to reach an agreement, the board reopened the search and announced December 1, 1997, that Gordon, then director of Prince George’s Memorial Library System in Hyattsville, Maryland, was selected from a new field of three.
More than 120 individuals were contacted by professional search consultant G. Angela Henry of Ray and Berndtson. Nearly a dozen were profiled, interviewed, and matched against the position requirements. The committee interviewed a preliminary short list of candidates in March. ALA President John W. Berry pointed out that since Alire is a member of the board, she recused herself from all discussions related to the search. The board interviewed the finalists April 11–12 at the Association’s headquarters in Chicago. In addition to board interviews, the candidates toured headquarters, met with senior managers, and interacted with ALA staff.
Fiels will be formally introduced at the ALA Annual Conference in Atlanta, June 13–19.
Posted April 22, 2002.