Activist Toolkit

1) Why do you want to serve on the Library Board? What makes you qualified to serve? What metrics of success do you plan on holding yourself accountable to? 

I love the Oak Park Public Library.  It is a wonderful institution with great staff and I would be honored to support this institution as a member of the Board of Trustees.  

For the majority of my legal career, I have worked as a civil servant, dedicated to being a thoughtful and careful steward of public trust and public funds.  In my capacity as an attorney, I have acted as FOIA Officer and Purchasing Officer as well as drafted legislation.  To me, knowing Illinois Statute such as Illinois Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information are important to ensuring transparency of process.  This transparency is essential to ensuring that public can maintain its trust in the mechanisms of government.

2) How do you make decisions? 

Deliberately and in consultation with the community, the library staff, and my fellow board members.

3) What are the three biggest challenges or opportunities facing the Library in the next three, five, and ten years and how should the board address them over the next four years? 

To me, two of greatest challenges, which are not limited to time, are as follows:  

1. Ensuring that our library remains an intellectually vibrant space.  Across the country we are witnessing attacks on libraries and their intellectual vibrancy and freedom.  

2. Libraries need to ensure that they remain up to date with technological trends and how people are reading, while also ensuring that our buildings remain up to date and accessible.  I love using Hoopla and while it would have been completely foreign to me as a child, but it is completely comfortable for my kids.  Likewise, how my children interact on the Main Library’s first floor is notably different than how I understood the children’s section of my library growing up.

The board needs to have a thoughtful and strategic approach in handling these issues and will depend upon voters to continue to select board members that want to ensure the strength of the library as a vibrant and intellectual space that is accessible.

4) How would you approach the budgeting process? 

In my capacity as a civil servant, I reviewed and dealt with budgeting of limited state financial resources.  I plan to bring my experience and careful review of budgets to this process, with the understanding that as a Board member my role is not to micromanage the educated and qualified library staff, but rather to question and research the budget that is proposed.

5) What would you say to voters who are worried about the tax burden? 

The library budget represents less than five percent (5%) of an Oak Parker’s property tax bill.  While every dollar certainly counts, the library represents a moderate and well managed expenditure for an institution that is a cornerstone of our community.  

6) How do you define equity? Have recent discussions in the larger community informed or changed your thinking? 

I don’t believe I can adequately define equity, but I can say that the Library as an institution, and myself as part of that institution can strive to treat every person who comes to the library with respect as an individual, and we shall strive to meet each community member where they are.

7) How will you seek feedback from patrons who may be experiencing Oak Park’s libraries in a different way than you? How do you think residents perceive the Library? Are there barriers that might make it more challenging for residents to use the library’s programs and services? 

I’ll happily take written feedback, comments at board meeting, shouted commentary from across the street, and any other form of feedback.  Oak Park as a community, and the library specifically, works hard to be accessible, and I support continuing this effort.

8) In recent years, the Library has replaced security guards with social workers, increased salaries for its lower-waged workers, and eliminated late fees for borrowers. Do you believe these initiatives have been successful? Why or why not? Are there ways in which you would anticipate expanding or rolling back this work? 

These are important and positive changes.  Based on my knowledge of the situation, I would not support rolling back any of these changes.

9) What approach should the Library take towards intergovernmental cooperation initiatives such as the Collaboration for Early Childhood Development? Are there other specific initiatives that you would like to implement or expand upon? 

Intergovernmental initiatives are fantastic ways to implement groundbreaking programs, while limiting use of public resources.  The Collaboration for Early Childhood Development is the gold standard for the state and the nation.  In a recent conversation with Brian Straw, candidate for Village Trustee, he brought up gun safety as a public health issue, and the possibility of offering free gun safety locks in a manner similar to the opioid overdose kits that will be available at the library.   Though Project ChildSafe aims to make these locks available at police stations, it is important to acknowledge that for some, the library is likely a space that they are more comfortable entering than a police station.    

10) What approach should the Library take towards intermunicipal cooperation with neighboring communities? Are there specific initiatives that you would like to implement or expand upon? 

Like intergovernmental initiatives, intermunicipal cooperation with neighboring communities is a great way to limit replication of work and be careful stewards of public resources.  Have I personally benefited borrowing books via interlibrary loans accessed through the Oak Park Library System.  For a library, pooling resources to ensure maximum access to information is fantastic.

11) What lessons learned from the services provided, or not provided, during the pandemic’s early years, do you believe will be applicable going forward? 

I think the library staff would have the most valuable perspective on this question.

12) In an era of radical changes to how people find and consume information, what should and shouldn’t change about the services provided by the Library? 

The Library needs to be evolving with the needs of the public to ensure relevance, but I will always support a physical library space that is accessible to the public.  Also, my nine-year old has informed me that if I don’t continue to support the “old fashioned” experience of getting books from the library he will be very upset.   

13) How do you feel services and supports for homeless patrons fit within the mission of the Library?

Everyone – homeless or otherwise – should feel welcome and respected at the library.  However, the constellation of housing, employment, mental health, and medical services to support homeless persons are generally not within the ambit or ability of the library.  

14) Libraries have been faced with deciding whether or not to remove books from their shelves if community members deem the content to be inappropriate, too controversial or objectionable. How would you handle this issue and how should the Library Board handle this question? How could you ensure that ALL points of view are heard and the issue addressed in an open and constructive manner? 

It is my understanding that for at least the past 26 years, the Oak Park Library board has not engaged in any book banning.   I’d like to continue this tradition.  I fully support the right of people who are offended by specific books to not check them out.

15) What is your favorite Oak Park Public Library program, exhibit, or service? 

This is a hard question.  Personally, I love Hoopla.  I read a ton of books on that app.  However, my favorite is probably the summer reading program because of the pure joy it gives my children.  They love showing off their necklaces and beads each year.