Margaret Myers: 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: CaryWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Cary Area libraryAge: Candidate did not respond.Family: Married, two children, four grandchildrenOccupation: Director of Administration, Society for Service ExecutivesEducation: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of Iowa, 1984Diploma in Nursing, Evanston Hospital/Northwestern UniversityCivic involvement: In Muscatine, IA: Public Library Board School Board Crossroads Board (for developmentally disabled) Numerous city, county, and school committeesIn Cary, IL: Cary Area Public Library District BoardElected offices held: School Board, Muscatine, IA, 1988-1998Public Library Board, Cary, IL, 2007-presentHave 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 believe that libraries are important to communities. They are relevant and will stay relevant by working to evolve as public needs evolve. A part of this effort means understanding and keeping pace with technological change.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.We have kept our library fiscally healthy by careful management of resources. We were able to renovate the building recently (and pay for it without borrowing) creating a wonderful new space for our patrons. We are working hard to keep our library technologically up to date.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?Yes, I have a card and have had one since childhood. I use it many times a year but I can't say how often.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.Our library staff is always evaluating the collection and discarding materials that are not being used. As a result of their efforts, and due to the recent renovation, our space is not constrained at the moment. When it becomes an issue, we will make decisions based on the needs we have at the time.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?The impact of the constant change going on today is enormous. Technological change has made a library a different place with online catalogs and downloadable books, with CDs and DVDs, with the ability to access databases from home at no cost to the patron. People will need these kinds of services for many years to come, even as they move from old media to new, and especially as some databases become too costly for an individual to access. In addition, libraries continue to be important as meeting places for groups, as centers for activities for small children, as a study refuge for students, and as a source for online access for the many folks in our community who still do not have computers in their homes As a matter of fact, whatever space we gain from disposing of old media, we use for new computers for patrons.