Kathryn M. Tamms: 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:BioQA Bio City: HampshireWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Ella Johnson libraryAge: 43Family: Married with two children, ages 7 and 9Occupation: Instructional Library/Media Aide, Gary D. Wright Elementary School, HampshireEducation: Bachelor of Arts in German, Michigan State University, 1989; Secondary Teacher Certification, Michigan State University, 1995; Master of Science in Education, Instructional Technology, Northern Illinois University, 2010Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoQuestions 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?I am motivated by my love of libraries and books, and by my desire to play a role in maintaining top quality facilities, programs and services for the entire library district.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.A major contribution to the board would be my ability to approach issues from a variety of perspectives--as a frequent patron of the library myself; as the parent of school-age users of the library; as a school librarian, and as a Library Information Specialist with a degree in Instructional Technology.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?One of the first things I did upon moving to Hampshire 15 years ago was get a library card, and I use it on a weekly basis.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.While expansion of library facilities becomes desirable as a community grows, a library must also stay attuned to the changing needs of its patrons, and adapt to the use of new technologies as they become available. Areas of a library's collection that see frequent change, such as reference materials, are well suited for consolidating and transitioning to digital availability.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?Like many institutions in today's economy, libraries have faced their own unique challenges as they struggle to stay financially secure as well as relevant in a digital age.While some may feel that the proliferation of new technologies could hurt the library cause, I believe that the opposite is true. By embracing new innovations in information technology, a library can fulfill its responsibility to promote and increase information literacy in the digital age while also maintaining a viable print collection.