Karina Barriga Albring
News Editor
The Dean of the Mason Library, Irene Herold, will soon exchange the fluffy New England snow and clam chowder for some Hawaiian palm trees and pineapple pizza.
Herald announced she was leaving KSC on March 18. She was named the head librarian at University of Hawaii-Manoa, a state university with a population of 20,426, according to UH’s website.
Herald was selected over finalist Brad Eden, dean of library services at Valparaiso University in Indiana, according to Hawaii News Now. Herold has been the head of the Mason Library at Keene State College since 2002.
Herold chose not to comment on her new position at UH-Manoa.
According to Hawaii News Now, UH-Manoa officials have proposed a salary of $195,000 a year for Herold. The officials are still waiting to hear back from the Board of Regents about their proposal.
The librarian’s salary has created a commotion in the Hawaiian Senate as well as in the university.
Hawaii News Now reported that the proposed salary for Herold will exceed the interim librarian’s salary by $50,000. Hawaii News Now, report State Sen. Sam Slom (R) said the proposed salary for Herold is “out of line.”
According to a report in the Union Leader published in June 2011, Herold’s salary at KSC is $97,018.