Mandi Zalewski: 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: BensenvilleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Bensenville Library Board (6-year Terms)Age: 37Family: I've been married to Pete Zalewski for 15 years. We have 2 sons, Thatcher, 8, and Edmund, 5.Occupation: I work as a Case Manager for adults with developmental disabilities.Education: Bachelor of Arts, Psychology - DePaul University, Chicago, 1997 Master of Arts, Professional Counseling - Concordia University, River Forest, 2000Civic 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: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 The local public school district works hand in hand with the library. My children both attend parochial school and our school has recently joined in a partnership with the library to make it accessible to our students. I would love to see this program expanded to other private schools, as well as build the program further to benefit our students.Key Issue 2 I love the great number and wide variety of programs available to children in the area, but I think that there is always room to grow and improve the resources available to kids of all ages.Key Issue 3 I want the library to be a fun and inviting place for families to come and spend the day.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 was motivated to run for the library board when the director of the library, Jill, came to our school open house and announced the new partnership between the library and our school. I was so thrilled with this opportunity for our kids to get access to the library and its materials, I wanted to make it bigger and better.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 special contributions you could make.I am hoping to provide the perspective of a parent with young, elementary school aged children to the board. Children today are learning in ways I could have never imagined in my youth. I think I can bring my experiences with my children to the library to improve and enhance it.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?I have had a library card since we moved to Bensenville 9 years ago. I have to admit that I do not use it much anymore because my son is always so proud and excited to use his, that he checks out the family's materials for us.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 is doing a fantastic job utilizing its available space and doing away with less critical materials. I cannot think of anything that could be improved upon in this area.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?Obviously the internet and the accessibility to information via laptops, cell phones and such has changed the role of the library. It is still a destination to get information and materials, but has also evolved into a place where people can learn to use the new technology. The library has become a classroom for many older adults, and a place for children to learn to still appreciate a good book.