Alex Hageli: 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 Library Board (6-year Terms)Age: 37Family: Single, no children.Occupation: AttorneyEducation: JD, Loyola University Chicago, 2000 BA, University of Michigan, 1997Civic involvement: Republicans of Wheeling TownshipElected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoneCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 To maintain the character of the library as it evolves to accommodate new technologies and community needs.Key Issue 2 Fiscal discipline.Key Issue 3 Greater transparency in governing.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 most interested in maintaining the character of the library as most everyone has traditionally experienced it. As a frequent visitor to libraries all my life, to me that means ensuring there are plenty of semi-secluded spaces for visitors to spend hours reading in a quiet environment. Any modernization of the library's floor plan should preserve the amount of such space for patrons.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.Whether an incumbent or non-incumbent, all I can do is work with the board and library staff and listen to the community to ensure the library experience I've enjoyed all my life is preserved in the midst of necessary technological changes for both current and future patrons.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?I've had an AHML library card since approximately 2005. I visit the library at least once a week. I visit the library's website almost daily to search the catalog for items I am interested in and check the status of reservations.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 would emphasize maintaining maximum floor space for the collection. I would guard against proposals that shrink the amount of space dedicated to the stacks and collaborate with various stakeholders to find the optimal balance. I would consider proposals for expansion if fiscally feasible.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?First and foremost a library should remain a place where patrons have access to a wide range of books and movies. Adults and children should be able to immerse themselves in finding good books and have plenty of places to sit and read in a quiet environment. A library should adapt to new technology of course, but technology should supplement, not supplant, the overall traditional library experience.