By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch Georgia Lomax, who wants libraries to "look forward and ask what they must now become,GÇ¥ will soon move up from second-in-command to the top leadership job with Pierce County LIbrary System. Lomax, the deputy director since 2006, has been named by the system's Board of Trustees as the new executive director. She'll start her new duties on Nov. 10 at an annual salary of $140,000. The 55-year-old Lomax will replace Neel Parikh, who is retiring Nov. 1 after 20 years at the helm. Lomax was one of three finalists in the search for an executive director. She and the other two GÇô Nate Hill, the deputy director of Chattanooga Public Library in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Jeff Scott, the county librarian in Tulare County, Calif. GÇô were chosen by the board with the assistance and vetting of Bradbury Associates/Gossage Sager Associates, an executive recruiting firm based in Kansas City, Mo. The board paid the firm $26,000 to help in the process. Final interviews of Lomax, Hill and Scott were conducted Aug. 21-22, and they met with the public during a forum Aug. 21 at the system's headquarters near Tacoma. The board announced its choice of Lomax on Aug. 27. Officials say that public libraries are at a crossroads as consumers deal with faster Internet connections, more mobile devices and entertainment giants such as Amazon and Netflix. In that regard, Lomax said her goals for the 18-branch system (including locations in Eatonville, Graham and the Parkland-Spanaway and South Hill areas) are to keep it relevant through technical innovation, workforce development and support of the military population. "As libraries exit the recession, they can look back and try to rebuild what was, or they can look forward and ask what they must now become,GÇ¥ said Lomax. "We choose to move forward. We will determine our future using guidance from the community and the resources and creativity of our staff. I know for sure that includes providing much-needed services, great books for readers, and the library playing a major role in the community.GÇ¥ Lomax previously worked for the King County Library System from 1993 to 2005 in several positions, including managing librarian. Before that, she was director of the Flathead County Library System in Montana from 1987 to 1992. She earned a master of library science degree from the University of Washington and a bachelor degree in communications and journalism from Washington State University. She lives in Sumner and is a native of King County. She's part of a racing crew for a Seattle-based 46-foot sailboat that finished third overall in the 2014 Vic-Maui race that spanned more than 2,300 nautical miles between British Columbia and Hawaii.
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