Robert Kepka: 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: AddisonWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Addison Library Board (6-year Terms)Age: 62Family: Married, two sons, one granddaughterOccupation: Retired. Formerly: Computer Systems Consultant; Mental Health Services Administrator.Education: BA, Anthropology, Northwestern University,1972. MS, Communication Systems, Northwestern University, 1996.Civic involvement: Former Member DuPage Library System Board of Directors Former Cubmaster Boy Scouts of America Former Member Illinois State Library Advisory CommitteeElected offices held: Library Trustee, Addison, 1979-1991 Library Trustee, Addison, 1999-PresentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Continue to provide the community with a high quality, pleasant, and safe environment that supports life long learning with access to resources, both physical and digital, that fulfills the community's need for information, enlightenment, and entertainment.Key Issue 2 Continue good stewardship of the tax dollars and other revenue received for library purposes in order to maintain the environment, resources, services, and programs that the community desires, expects, and has come to rely upon in pursuit of information, enlightenment, and entertainment.Key Issue 3 Faithfully uphold the precepts of the American Library Association's "Library Bill of Rights," with emphasys on intellectual freedom and library users' privacy.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?It is my fundamental belief that a democracy can only survive if its citizens have unlimited and unrestricted access to all information and points of view. I also believe that a publicly funded library is the most economical and fair means to providing such access. By sharing the cost among all property owners, Addison residents benefit from a vast store of resources and programs that could not be recreated within their personal budgets. In addition, residents are not limited only to resources owned by the local library. Resources from almost anywhere in the world are available because of resource sharing agreements established by law and custom. The expertise of trained professional staff makes accessing those resources possible.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.My most significant contribution to date has been my active involvement in the construction of the new library building from concept to completion.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?Yes. I have continuously had a library card wherever I lived since age 10. I only borrow a dozen or so items each year. I attend programs of interest to me.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.The efficient use of space is a constant concern. The opening of the newly constructed building in 2008 solved many of the limitations of the old facility. However, due to financial constraints, we were only able to construct about two-thirds of what we had envisioned. I want to continue toward realizing that vision during the next several years. The staff continuously assesses the physical collection. Items that are outdated or have diminished value are removed. Many hard bound reference materials have been replaced with equivalent digital ones. Technology has made it easier to access some resources. No longer is it necessary to search printed indexes for articles of interest and then hope journal or periodical is available on the shelves. As digital resources replace printed ones, the number of computer stations available to users must increase. This means that any floor space recovered from shelving areas will be converted to desks and seating areas. It is unreasonable to believe that changes in technology reduces the need for library space. The reality is that changes in technology only change how the space is utilized.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?To continue to be relevant, libraries need to constantly monitor the pulse of their communities. Creating a welcoming environment with excellent customer service from friendly, responsive, knowlegeable staff and providing engaging programs and relevant resources which meet the interests and expectations of the community cements the relationship between users and libraries. Addison is fortunate to have weathered the economic problems of the last several years with little negative impact to library services. The financial stability of our community, along with good schools, many parks, and an outstanding library, makes it an attractive place to live.