FAYETTEVILLE — One day after accepting a job as the next executive director of the Fayetteville Public Library, Shawna Thorup said she's been groomed four years for the position.
Thorup, who has served as the library's operations director since 2005, was chosen from 15 applicants to replace outgoing Executive Director Louise Schaper in a unanimous decision made late Monday by the library's board of trustees.
"I'm honored and humbled," Thorup said Tuesday. "We have a tremendous commitment to this community, to give residents a return on their investment. It's an awesome responsibility."
The nationwide search for executive director began in May, when Schaper announced plans to retire Oct. 30 after serving 12 years.
Thorup said Schaper has "very big shoes to fill. She has been grooming me since I was hired."
Thorup said her vision for the library includes helping to firmly establish a cultural arts district that includes the nearby Walton Arts Center, Dickson Street, the University of Arkansas and radio station KUAF, which begins operating nearby in December, she said.
"I'd love to see joint marketing and joint programming; this fits the city's 2025 Plan," Thorup said. "I also want to focus on getting library services to all residents, perhaps with different methods of delivery, remote locations or maybe an eco-friendly bookmobile."
Thorup said this week the community has been overwhelmingly kind to her, sending flowers and messages.
"I feel even more committed to this community and town," she said.
Schaper said Tuesday that the board instructed her in 2004 to find an operations director who could someday succeed her.
"I'm very happy, and I believe this was an excellent decision," Schaper said.
Thorup's job as operations director has been very hands-on, as all managers in the library report to her.
"I am directly involved in the day-to-day operations, from circulation desk to adult services. This will transition me into the entire organization, the whole vision in every aspect," she said.
A nationwide search for a new operations director will begin immediately, Thorup said.
"The board asked me to get on that quickly," but a replacement likely won't be found before Thorup makes the transition, shesaid.
Thorup has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of California at Berkeley and a master's degree in library science from the University of California at Los Angeles.
She began her career in 1993 as a children's librarian and worked several years for the Torrance Public Library in California as a branch manager and senior librarian.
She was named one of Library Journal's Movers and Shakers in 2007, and was a member of the American Library Association's Notable Books Council in 2007-08.
News, Pages 1, 5 on 09/23/2009