The Hard Sell: Read Why These Three Finalists Believe They Should Lead the Dallas Library

By Robert Wilonsky Tue., Nov. 22 2011 at 1:00 PM

Yesterday we met the three finalists for the Dallas Public Library System director's position, one of whom's the current interim, Corinne Hill. The other two candidates presented to city officials by a DeSoto-based search firm (??) are out-of-towners: Juliet Machie, who actually remains the deputy director of the Detroit Public Library despite earlier reports saying she was ousted over contracting concerns; and Larry Frank, who lives in Knox County, Tennessee, following his celebrated tenure there as its senior director of library services. Machie, turns out, also has local ties: From 1997 to '98, says her bio, she served as director of the Zale Library at Paul Quinn College.

And yesterday we let others tell their stories; today, we give them space to sell themselves. On the other side are all three candidates' résumés and letters explaining why they'd be perfect for the job of directing the library system into an uncertain future. The city has redacted some of their personal contact information, in case you were wondering.

From Hill: "I am a hands-on, fully engaged library director with the vision to take a library forward, even in difficult economic times."

Writes Machie: "I am a dynamic, strategic, transformational and experienced leader who is poised and ready to deliver the innovative, productivity, success and engagement that you desire for the Dallas Public Library."

Insists Frank: "I am considered a superlative library administrator, visionary and facilitator, experienced in cultivating partnerships and developing strategic financial tactics." He's also the author of The Arius Scrolls.

Check it out. Dallas Library Director Candidates' Resumes

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heyheymama

The City has adopted the DISD's tried-and-true hiring tactics: "2 Goats and a Coached" (thank you, DISD Teacher, for that wonderful label that just says it all). Make no mistake, this is a deliberate strategy to get Corinne Hill hired into the position. Against two lackluster candidates located by a lackluster recruiter, she shines. The Council just needs their rubber stamp to make it so.

And what's so great about Ms. Hill? She has done a fabulous job of strip mining the library operations to make it function within the severe budget reductions. Queen Mary, who proposes how much the library system will (or won't) receive, loves her for it.

PlanoDave

At least Machie appears to know where the Thesaurus and "Resume's for Dummy's" are located.

That verbal diarrhea that is being labeled a "resume" wouldn't even garner a phone interview from this manager...

MattL1

I don't think I've ever seen such a collection of junk words and meaningless jargon in one place before. Call the Guinness people, as this might be a world record.

It would be one thing if they were applying for a marketing position, but they're not. They're all hoping to lead our library system. Have some respect for the English language.

Depressed Dallasite *sigh*

I made the depressing mistake of clicking "a DeSoto-based search firm" above to find out who the City of Dallas hired to perform this search. Ugh. What an absolutely god-awful website, full of poor writing, bad design, trite and meaningless business jargon, and Misplaced Capital Letters. Jeebus H.

And advertising!

Wylie H.

I did the same thing--- the guy (he appears to operate as a sole proprietorship out of his house) doesn't even claim to be a recruiter--- rather, he's some sort of career coach, motivator, or something.

How the heck did he even get this gig from the City of Dallas? How much is he getting paid?

A quick Google search reveals him giving a motivational talk to laid off city workers last year: "At a podium inside the Dallas Convention Center this morning, an energetic man in a tan suit delivered a pep talk.

"We are here to support you in really getting prepared to go on this journey," said the man. By "journey," he meant: losing your job, looking for another one, and trying to support yourself and your family in the meantime."

http://cityhallblog.dallasnews...

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Re: Juliet Machie--- Apparently having a solid command of grammar isn't a prerequisite for being considered for the position of library director. Couldn't she have at least given her letter to someone else to proofread, first?

Depressed Dallasite *sigh*

The city's equivalent to the county's Wai-Wize.

Randy S

This "firm" is typical of the consultants and other worthlessness hired/contracted by the City of Dallas. My guess is a relative or church friend of someone inside the City.

Wylie H.

If they decided they weren't going to hire a legitimate, qualified search firm-- why couldn't they have just had a city staffer run an ad in the relevant librarian publication/website then sift through the resumes themselves?

The City shouldn't be paying connected outsiders to perform make work-- besides, this guy doesn't even live in the City of Dallas.