Library executive director shares memories on eve of departure

After 14 years at the district, Fay recently announced it was his time to transition to a new role.

“I’ve done what I can to position the district to come out of the recession,” he said. “Now I think it needs a new set of eyes. I think it’s really good for the betterment of the organization.”

His last day at Henderson Libraries is scheduled for July 12. He plans to start work as the deputy director for Las Vegas-Clark County Library District on July 22.

“Clark County is very lucky,” said Colleen Bell, who has been on the board of the Henderson Libraries since 2002. “I was crushed when I found out, but this is a great opportunity for him.”

Fay started at Henderson Libraries as an Internet technology manager in 1998 during the construction phase of the Paseo Verde Library, which he said is now one of the biggest in Clark County.

In the district’s humble beginnings, Fay remembered that it was still connected with the city and had fewer than one book per Henderson resident.

“When I walked in, there were seven computers in the district,” Fay said. “Now there are over 200.”

But with the opening of the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway, Fay said Henderson Libraries began to expand.

As it grew, Fay’s roles changed, first as the assistant director of operations and in 2004 as the executive director of Henderson Libraries.

“The biggest learning curve was learning to let go and delegate,” he said.

Bell said the board voted for Fay unanimously.

“And he has gone far beyond our expectations,” Bell said.

Fay was involved with creating a Henderson Libraries separate from the city of Henderson.

“It wasn’t that we were unhappy being with the city,” he said.

He added that the district wanted to grow and thought the best way was to become independent.

Out as its own entity, the Henderson Libraries has grown.

When he started, Fay was one of 27 employees.

At its peak, the library district had 135 employees before having to make cuts.

Until November, after a failed attempt to pass a tax-rate increase to contend with budget issues, there were six library branches. Two closed in November.

Fay said Henderson Libraries is up to the national standard with two books per Henderson resident and a circulation of 1.8 million products.

Bell added that another accomplishment Fay had a role in was bringing the Green Valley Library back into Henderson Libraries.

“People assumed it was part of the district because it was in Henderson,” Bell said. “It wasn’t.”

Because Henderson Libraries was so small and had few staff members, Bell said the Green Valley Library was operated by Clark County Library until 2005.

She said the job to re-establish the library as part of the district was started by past directors.

“But Tom finished the job,” she said.

In his nine years as the director, Fay had guided the district through economic hardships.

“The way he got us through this downturn was nothing less than a miracle,” she said.

With major accomplishments under his belt, he said he is ready for a new challenge, which he said isn’t uncommon for people in the industry once they’ve hit seven or eight years.

As the deputy director for Clark County, Fay will oversee 25 libraries and a collective staff of 550.

“It has a circulation of about 13 million,” he said. “About 500,000 people come through the doors each month. I’m ready for the challenge.”

Fay added that it’s fitting to be at the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, where he started nearly 30 years ago when he was 16. At the time he was tasked with putting books away and reading during story time. He continued to work at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, while attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

“At the time (the Clark County Library) was still kind of a mom-and-pop business,” he said. “It has reinvented itself two or three times since I’ve worked there. It kind of is like walking into a new system.”

He said he will miss the connections he has made at Henderson Libraries.

But moving forward, Fay looks back on his time at the district with good memories.

“You always think about what you would have done differently,” he said. “But I have no regrets.”

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 702-387-5201.