Paul B. Kaplan: 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: Elk Grove VillageWebsite: http://re-electskcslate.comOffice sought: Elk Grove Village libraryAge: 67Family: Married (1)child (2) GrandchildrenOccupation: Mechanical ContractorEducation: Technical Trade SchoolCollege 2 yearsCivic involvement: Elk Grove PTO Board at the elementary level. Part of the formation of the PTO at the Jr. High Level and served on the board for 4 years. Served on the Elk Grove High School Booster Club Board for 10 years. I was President of the Elk Grove Music Booster's Club. I served many years on the local chapter of the Elk Grove Jaycees. Present Chairman of the Village Zoning Board of Appeals.Elected offices held: Elk Grove Village Public Library Board of Trustees for the past 18 years and served on several committees including Secretary and President of the Library Board.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 To maintain and fund the services that are needed to provide the patrons with the library they expect.Key Issue 2 The library needs to remain relevant and current in its thinking to appeal to all of its patrons both young and old.We have to be proactive in order to keep up with all the changes taking place in our society.Key Issue 3 We need to keep our library strong and always be forward-looking.Listen to what our patrons needs are and keep in close contact with our patrons.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?I want to continue on this board to see through the major remodeling work that has not yet started in our library. I have chaired the Building and Grounds Committee for all of my years on the board. I will continue on the State's System board that is going through major changes affecting all libraries in the State of Illinois.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.I have contributed my expertise in the projects remodeling the library and have kept the cost overruns to a minimum. I have continued as the representative on the System Board of Directors(NSLS) during these troubling times with the state's budget in jeopardy. I have been diligent in keeping reciprocal borrowing between NSLS Libraries with the state's budget cuts which funds this service. I served as Project Manager during the construction of the Paul Kaplan Computer Lab in adult services.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?YesI have had my library card since moving into this village some 39 years ago. I use my card almost every week.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.At this time there is no need to expand the library but I will continue to monitor this issue.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?We have maintained our library services despite the economic situation in our community. We are fortunate to have and excellent staff that has allowed us to win awards. Our technological staff has been able to keep up with all the changes and still keep within our budget. We remain relevant through listening to our patrons' concerns and changing our methods when necessary. We listen to our community through many sources. The Friends of the Library organization is a good bell ringer. We keep the lines of communication open.