Karen Dimond: 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: NilesWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Niles Library Board (6-year Terms)Age: 57Family: Married, one daughterOccupation: AttorneyEducation: Bachelor of Arts, Loyola University Juris Doctorate, Loyola Law SchoolCivic involvement: Niles Zoning Board member School Disctrict 63 - former board member Chicago Architecture Foundation - docent for 30 years Women's Bar Association - member and past president Appellate Lawyer's Association - CLE CoordinatorElected offices held: 2 terms as District 63 School Board memberHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 I want to ensure that the library continues to provide excellent service to all of its patrons and is able to keep pace with all the new ways in which its patrons receive information (electronic devices, e-readers, etc.)Key Issue 2 I think fiscal responsibility is very important. During the upcoming months I believe the library board will want to monitor the progress of the remodeling and avoid, if possible, any cost over-runs. I also believe the board will need to revisit whether it wants to join IMRF so as to offer pensions to employees or if it believes other types of employee benefits are more appropriate.Key Issue 3 I would like to see the library continue to offer programs and activities so that it can grow in its role of providing a communal center for residents, especially seniors and students.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 main reason I want to serve as a library board member is that I have been a frequent patron of the library for over 20 years, and I want to serve the library which has served me and my family so well. When we moved to Niles I first visited the library to check out children's books for my daughter. Over the years, I have used the library to research various topics, to check out movies, to download e-books for a course I was taking, to borrow audio books for long road trips, and to reserve books for my book club reading. I think the library is wonderful resource in our community.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 an incumbant, but have only been on the board for a short time since I am serving the remainder of the term of a former board member. I think the main contribution I have made so far has been to carefully consider the issues presented to the board during the past months, and to ask questions that elicit more information that has been useful to me and my fellow board members.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?Yes! I obtained the card shortly after we moved to Niles in 1989. I use it at least once or twice a month.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 am not sure that we are short on space at this time, but to the extent we are, I would like to investigate eliminating or placing in storage duplicate copies of materials or materials that are rarely used. While I think that having electronic copies of materials is a good idea, I also think that we should be mindful that not all of our patrons are comfortable using computers or other electronic devices.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?Technological changes certainly have opened up the manner in which we can obtain books, other written materials, and audio/visual materials. But I think there is still a need and desire for collections of actual books and hard copies of other materials. And nothing can replace the librarian who can help you find what you are looking for - be it a hard copy or an electronic copy. I also think libraries can remain relevant in an additional way. By offering programs and activities in the library, a library enables people to step away from their computers and enjoy some social contact.