Deborah K. Hughes, 4 years: 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: WaucondaWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Wauconda library, 4-year termAge: 61Family: Husband of 23 years 21 year old son 31 year old stepsonOccupation: retired foreign language teacherEducation: BA- DePauw University- Spanish and secondary edMS- NIU in bilingual education and secondary edMBA - Lake Forest School of Business managementNIU- Certified for school administrationCivic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Library Board trustee- 2 years (I stepped in to fulfill the rest of a term for a board member who resigned)Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: noCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Maintaining the level of service for which Wauconda library is known while being financially responsible to our patrons.Key Issue 2 Keeping current with technology and all of the new modes of delivering information, such as e-readers.Key Issue 3 Ensuring that all have equal access to the numerous resources at the library. We currently have excellent programs for non-English speakers, and we must do all we can to continue to support and expand those programs.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?My main motivator is service to Wauconda and because for the 22 1/2 years I have lived in Wauconda, I have been impressed with the personnel, resources and services offered by our library.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.Because I have been on the board for only two years, I am at the beginning of the learning curve. I did attend one training session to learn some of the responsibilities of a trustee, and as I become more familiar with all that is entailed, I will offer to do more. I am serving as secretary for this year; I served on the personnel committee; and this past summer, I met with the auditors to go over their report with the director and financial officer.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?YES! I have had a card since 1989 and I use it probably twice a month.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.Currently space is not an issue, and we have recently purchased shelving which ""expanded"" our space. The collection is weeded regularly.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?State funding is becoming a large issue, but Wauconda library has been responsible fiscally and we are in good shape. Technology has demanded that we update our computers, purchase laptops, and recently we acquired a few e-readers so patrons can try them out before purchasing one. Libraries must stay current and serve as a leader for the community, and allowing the checking out of e-readers is a good example.