Monroe Library has found a new dean after a year and a half of searching.

University President the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., said he was glad to announce Michael P. Olson, associate university librarian for information commons at University of North Carolina, as the new dean of libraries at the Jan. 20 President’s Convocation.

Edward Kvet, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, said he believes Olson is perfect for the position.

“I am pleased that Michael and his family will be joining the Loyola community at an exciting time in our history as Loyola begins its second century,” Kvet said. “His background as a scholar and administrator will enhance the stature of our award-winning Monroe Library.”

Olson’s predecessor, Mary Lee Sweat, retired in August 2010 after 40 years of service. Since then, the university has been searching for a replacement.

Laurie Phillips, associate dean of Technical Services and a member of the search committee, said a lack of protocols made it difficult to find a new dean.

“Because Ms. Sweat had been dean for so long we had no protocols for hiring a new one, so we had to figure out how we wouldproceed,” Phillips said.

The other associate dean, Deborah Poole, served as interim dean.

James Hobbs, online services coordinator, said the university stopped searching for a new dean toward the end of the spring 2011.

“We stopped for several reasons, and I won’t say exactly what happened, but we decided to change strategies,” he said. “In September of last year we started again, and we had two candidates interviewed in December, one of them being already chosen by the provost and president of the university.”

Phillips said the university did not use a search firm to aid in the first round of the search.

“When you don’t use a search firm it is much harder to recruit people to apply. What you get is people who are out there looking for a job, and they may not always be the best fit,” Phillips said. “On the other hand, with a search firm, they recruit people based on certain elements that you’re looking for, and these people may not be even actively looking for a job, so you end up with a much better fit of candidates.”

Hobbs said that after the university selected two candidates in December, a period of interviews and meetings began.

“In every interview there are always two parts: you are trying to impress me, the interviewer,” he said. “But I’m also interested in impressing you, in introducing you to what would be like to work at Loyola. And so we did.”

Olson said he was impressed with the university and its faculty during the time he was interviewed and said that accepting the job was an easy decision.

“Everyone I met during my campus interview was absolutely terrific: smart, sociable, curious, striving to improve what is always good about the university,” Olson said. “My wife Karen, sons Clancy and James and I are delighted to soon call New Orleans our new home.”

Olson will begin work as the new Monroe Library dean Aug 1.

Judith Corro can be reached at [email protected]