Verner A. Tepe: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: ElginWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Gail Borden libraryAge: 69Family: My wife Judi I had 4 children and we have 11 grandchildren. All of our grandchildren live in the Greater Chicago area so we are able to see them frequently.Occupation: I am a retired Computer Executive. I continue to consult and speak #8211; primarily on Computer Implementation and On-Line Technical Education. At present I am promoting an internet based training product aimed primarily at IT professionals.Education: I attended the University of Cincinnati from 1959 through 1965. I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1963 and did post-graduate work in Economics in 1964 1965.Civic involvement: We reside in a Del Webb community called Edgewater in Elgin. I am active on several committees in the community. In the 80#146;s and early 90#146;s I was very active in Youth Soccer in Naperville. As a volunteer, I managed the Traveling Team program for the Naperville Park District. In 1995 I was on a committee in Westmont, IL that was instrumental in completing the construction of the new Library in that community.Elected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 #1 #8211; I believe that the Gail Borden Library has done an excellent job of serving the community #8211; BUT #8211; it can always do more. I would support and promote initiatives that would encourage people #8211; particularly children #8211; to read. We have a lot of people who are looking for a job - I would support any effort to provide them with assistance. We have a multi-lingual community and I believe that the Library needs to continue to provide resources based on the demographics of our community.Key Issue 2 #2 #8211; We need to embrace technology #8211; not fight it. So I would support the expansion of services to those people who want to download their materials electronically. The electronic delivery of materials will continue to grow. By adding these resources the library can become a proponent of these services, not sit idly by and let the world pass them by.Key Issue 3 #3 #8211; The Rakow Branch, on the west side of Elgin, has been very successful. Every time I visit the branch there are people there in every section #8211; children, adults, as well as the computers. I would actively support the creation of additional branches to serve our community. We serve a very large geographic area and the more we can bring our resources closer to the people, the better job we do.Questions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?Now that I am semi-retired, I am in a position to give back to the community. This is the first time that I have ever run for any public office. I firmly believe that my management and computer experience will enable me to contribute to the betterment of the Library. I would want to contribute in a positive manner. The current contentious atmosphere at the meetings makes it difficult to proceed in a constructive manner. I would seek to resolve this.If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of important initiatives you've led. If you are a non-incumbent, tell us what contributions you would make.As a Trustee, I would strive to reduce the tension that currently exists among the Board Members. This is not productive and detracts from the all of the positive aspects of the library. I would support the expansion of technology as well as civic and cultural involvement.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?One of the first things that we did when we moved to Elgin three years ago was to visit the library and get library cards. We were impressed with the service and resources that we saw on our first visit. I am at the library at least twice a month and my wife is there at least twice a week. We often take our grandchildren there #8211; to get materials just for them #8211; when they are visiting us. We continue to be impressed with the depth and breadth of the resources, at our disposal, through the library. My wife frequently makes special requests for materials and the staff has always been attentive and professional.Space is usually an issue at libraries. If that's the case at your library, would your solution be to expand the physical plant or make room by doing away with parts of the collection that technology has made less critical? Explain.As I said earlier, we need to embrace technology, not fight it. I would like to see the Gail Borden Library become a leader in providing electronic resources and delivery of materials to our community. Books are not going away #8211; but the ways that people receive their information continue to evolve. So for a while we need to do both. I also applaud the opening of the Teen Center. A library is more than just books. It is a cultural center, a meeting center, and a place to improve the mind #8211; not just by reading! Currently, the main branch has the space to accomplish all of these objectives. The key limit will be the financial resources at our disposal to make all of this happen.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?Based on what I have experienced, this library should be commended on how it has embraced technology and community involvement. I have seen Rain Barrels Bicycles painted and decorated by members of the community. I have seen ECC students perform in the Lobby; toy exchanges; computer classrooms; automated delivery of videos; children#146;s programs; comic book exchanges; book clubs; and so much more #8211; happen in the three short years since we moved to Elgin.This library has become a Culture Center and I would continue to encourage that level of involvement.Again Technology needs to be embraced and included. How how much become the issues. Unlike any specific vendor, the library needs to be able to accommodate virtually all of the new electronic delivery devices (and ones that have not been invented yet). E-Books and their readers were one of the main gifts that people received this past year. Providing resources for this type of equipment needs to be high on the priority list of library goals.We also need to compliment our school system #8211; primary, secondary, as well as college level. Let#146;s do what we can to support #8211; not compete #8211; with those resources and cooperate with them. And finally - my mantra is #147;ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE READING IS GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY#148;. As parents, we made sure that our children read on a regular basis. We do everything that we can to encourage our grandchildren to read #8211; and because of that they achieved in school and in their careers.Thanks for this opportunity #8211; Verner A. Tepe