Elizabeth Harrington: 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: Island LakeWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Wauconda Library Board (4-year Terms)Age: 66Family: I am very happily married to my husband Earl. I have 4 grown children and 4 lovely grandchildren.Occupation: I am currently retired. For several years prior to retiring I worked in finance for an international corporation. Before that I managed my own retail business.Education: I earned an Associate Degree from Temple College in Temple, TX in 1967Civic involvement: For most of my adult life I have worked as a volunteer for various charitable and community organizations. I have been an elected officer in several of these organizations and have served as president on some. Some years ago I joined the Friends of the Wauconda Area Library to enhance the library's contribution to the community. I have been president of the Friends of the Wauconda Area Library for the past 3 years.Elected offices held: I have never been an elected official.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Libraries bring value to their community. I want to keep increasing and improving the contributions of the Library to this Wauconda area community. In order to do that I have become very active at the library. Weekly, I sort donated books for fundraising sales and events. I organize and work at book sales. I sold luminaries as a new fundraising event. I am on the Bunny Hop organizing committee. I know and use the Library's community outreach programs. I belong to 4 book clubs with widely varying interests and topics. I participate in Library's foreign policy discussion group called Great Decisions - Inquiring Minds. Developed by the nationwide organization "The Foreign Policy Institute", Great Decisions gives Wauconda a small, but recognized, voice in international issues. I enjoy and support many of the other great programs offered at the library. As a Library member, supporter and a citizen of this community I want to provide my input and guidance through a seat on the Library Board. I believe that my activities and wide participation can bring valuable perspective to the administration of the Wauconda Area Library.Key Issue 2 Candidate did not respond.Key Issue 3 Candidate did not respond.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?The Library is a community resource that can do great good for every citizen regardless of age or means. Library operations and programs need to be open to fresh ideas and continually in touch with the public. I want to open pathways for growth in the library and widen its community value.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.Candidate did not respond.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?Yes, it was one of the first things I got when we moved to Island Lake, 8 years ago. I use it almost weekly.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.There is surely no single solution for the many different space issues that continue to arise. Accordingly, I can't offer an opinion about which approach might best apply to which space allocation issue without studying the details. I would certainly like to be involved in uncovering and considering issues leading to that decision. I am aware that some parts of the library have already been eliminated to avoid redundancy, eg. reference material that is available online. I know that the library is embracing the technology available which makes information more attractive and accessible to all generations.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?Our library is busy all the time! We have book sales on the first Saturdays and I am often surprised and pleased at the crowds of people going in and out. I think our library remains relevant with book clubs and programs and discussion groups for all ages. I think that the Friends of the Library is a connection to the community. Last Spring the Friends of the Library Bunny Hop drew over 500 people to the library for a 5k run/walk and we expect that it and our other events will be just as successful in the future.