Joan Brody Garkisch: 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: Arlington HeightsWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Arlington Heights libraryAge: 46Family: Married, three childrenOccupation: Grant Writer. I have worked extensively with state and local governments, including public libraries and non-profit organizations as a professional grant writer and criminal justice policy advisor/analyst.Education: Master of Public Policy, Harvard Univ, John F. Kennedy School of Gov't, 1989; Master of Science in Criminal Justice Admin., Northeastern Univ., 1987; B.S. in Criminal Justice, Northeastern Univ.,1986, Summa Cum Laude and Class Valedictorian.Civic involvement: Jr. Great Books, PTA, 4H Club, Girl Scouts, Music For Youth, School District 25 Community Conversations participant. I have also volunteered grant-writing services to local schools and community arts organizations and have supported other community non-profits, including a community-based literary organization that assists teens with book-group discussions and poetry writing.Elected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Key Issue #1 - The Economy: In these challenging economic times, when we have to do more with less funding, how can our nationally recognized, five-star library continue to provide our entire community with an undiminished level of community service?My Position: The Arlington Heights Memorial Library has already done more with less. The recession led to increased library usage as evidenced by a significant increase in the number of patrons using the library and materials checked out. This increased demand for services was met with existing resources and within the current budget. This was accomplished by carefully tracking and assessing library operations, continuing to partner with the Friends of the Library organization and creatively problem solving. I support continuing to provide a five-star, undiminished level of library service while remaining mindful of the slow economic recovery through ongoing tracking of revenues and expenditures as well as indentifying new needs and creative cost-saving strategies. I have the background and experience, having worked on numerous government and non-profit agency budgets in difficult fiscal times, to help the library continue to operate in a budget conscious manner while maintaining current service levels. I also have experience developing cost savings approaches for government and non-profits that I will bring to my role as library trustee.Key Issue 2 Key Issue #2 - Technology: How does the Arlington Heights Memorial Library adapt to new reading, research and other library technologies within its current budget?My Position: The Arlington Heights Memorial Library has already started reinventing itself to meet the changing role of public libraries. Our library has already expanded and enhanced library technology in almost every area of library operations. Patrons can now learn how to use and checkout eReaders. Numerous on-line services and databases are accessible through expanded Internet services. And even for those of us who still love print media, we rely on library technology to reserve books and other library materials, receive reminders about due dates and renew materials all conveniently through our computers and smart phones. All of this has been accomplished during the past five years without a significant budget increase. Reinventing public libraries does not mean increase the budget. It requires assessing needs and redirecting existing resources in innovative and strategic ways, which is already being done at our five-star library. My experience working as a grant writer and policy advisor with public organizations on reengineering and organizational change processes qualifies me to serve as a library trustee who will work with the community and library administrators to continue to cost-effectively reinvent itself in light of technology changes.Key Issue 3 Key Issue #3 - Keeping Public Libraries Relevant: How do free public libraries survive?My Position: Even with recent reports of bookstore closings and on-line booksellers selling more electronic than print material, I have not given up on free public libraries. There are those that predict all book and print media will soon be available on-line, leading to the demise of public libraries. I see a more positive outlook for libraries. Libraries can continue to serve people who read whether they read printed or electronic material. Our library is already adapting. And there is no place like the library for even the youngest child to begin to develop a passion for books and reading. The sensory benefits of a book cannot be replaced by a computer. Years ago when VHS/BETA movies came out, people predicted the demise of movie theaters too. But like reading a book, there is something special about the movie theater experience. And just like movie theaters which have reinvented themselves to become full-service entertainment venues, libraries are starting to reinvent themselves to become full-service media centers that attract patrons who all use the library in different ways, from renting eReaders, to accessing genealogy databases, to even still checking out books. My education, background and experience working on grants involving public and non-profit agencies engaged in organizational and operational change has prepared and qualified me well to serve as an Arlington Heights Memorial Library Trustee. Being a mother of three young children who use the library often, I will work hard to ensure that the library continues to be the pride of Arlington Heights.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 am running for library trustee to ensure that the Arlington Heights Memorial Library remains a vibrant and engaging resource for the entire Arlington Heights community to enjoy both in strong economic times and thankfully in fiscally challenging times. I feel lucky to live in a town with such a great library and I would be honored to serve on the Arlington Heights Board of Library Trustees and contribute my time and experience to ensuring that it continues to operate so well.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.My education, work experience, community involvement and being a mother of three young children who use the library on a regular basis will help me contribute a great deal as an Arlington Heights Memorial Library Trustee.My college and graduate education in public administration and public policy and 24 years of work experience with public sector agencies and non-profits will help me contribute immediately and effectively to all board operational and administrative functions. I have contributed in a similar capacity on numerous planning teams and committees. My experience working with public and non-profit organizations on developing and writing grant proposals an d budgets, including writing grants for public libraries, will help me contribute to working with the community, library administrators, and other trustees to maintain the level of excellence our community has come to expect from our library, and continuing to do so in a cost-effective way. Finally, my commitment to the library as a resident and taxpayer who is raising a family in Arlington Heights will help me contribute insights and perspective as a member of the Arlington Heights community who wants to maintain the services offered by our five-star library, but to do so in a budget conscious manner in these challenging fiscal times.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?I have had an Arlington Heights Memorial Library card for 13 years. I use my card a 2-3 times per month to check out library materials. I also use the library#146;s online services. My three children all have their own library cards. They also take out books and attend programs regularly.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.I do not see a need for and would be opposed to expanding the library#146;s physical plant. I do, however, support the Arlington Heights Memorial Library's current plan to evaluate the entire library's use of its current space. For example, recently a decision to reduce some older issues of periodicals that are available electronically will free up space. The increased use of eBooks and educating patrons about their use may also lead to freeing up space. The library is already examining many ways to use existing space more effectively and efficiently. Currently, space considerations are being reviewed for the teen area. And recently the library completed a well received reconfiguration of the Kid's World area, which was also accomplished in a way to make the library even more safe for children.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 combination of having to do more with less while offering new services like eBooks and educating patrons on their use is rapidly changing the way patrons use the library and have caused public libraries to evaluate all services. This type of internal assessment is healthy for both the library and the community. It provides an opportunity to reinvent, adapt and evolve, and to do so in a cost-effective manner. The Arlington Heights Memorial Library has already started this process as evidenced by their weekly eReader purchases and training and other services (i.e. business center, resume review) that the community has requested and is enthusiastically using. I feel encouraged by these changes knowing that our public library is not only surviving, but thriving as evidenced by substantial increases in use and material checkouts, and is doing so while being budget conscious. As a trustee, I will work hard to ensure that the library continues to work with community toward reinventing itself, both in terms of services the library provides and how the community at large uses this important public resource, all the while remaining mindful of current economic constraints.