NIU has named Patrick Dawson, of the University of California-Santa Barbara, the new dean of NIU Libraries.

He will begin his term at NIU on July 1, pending the Board of Trustees’ approval on Thursday.

“It was clear to me that one candidate stood out among the group that came to visit campus,” said NIU Provost Raymond Alden. “We were very happy when he accepted.”

Alden said Dawson has a large amount of experience in library administration.

Dawson will oversee Founders Memorial Library, three other specialized libraries on the DeKalb campus and libraries at the NIU campuses in Naperville, Rockford and Hoffman Estates.

“My goal is to make NIU Libraries the best library it can possibly be,” Dawson said in a press release. “It must be an integral part of the learning and research experience.”

The search for the new dean began in October 2007 after a failed search attempt earlier that year, Alden said.

Dawson, as well as any other university deans, are brought to NIU on a six-year contract, Alden said.

“It’s always gratifying that a candidate is so obvious the favorite of all groups,” Alden said. “It always makes the search easier.”

Dawson, 54, has more than 20 years of library administration experience.