Elgin library appoints new trustee

The Gail Borden Public Library appointed an Elgin resident known for being active in the community to serve on its board of trustees.

Carlos Chavez, who works as program coordinator for HIV/AIDS prevention at Renz Addiction Counseling Center in Elgin, was appointed earlier this week to fill a vacancy on the board.

Chavez is a frequent volunteer at the library, including playing one of the Three Wise Men during the Christmastime program.

"I think it's important for the Latino community to preserve their traditions, our traditions," he said.

Chavez, however, emphasized he plans to serve all residents of Elgin, whose Latino population is about 44 percent.

"It's an honor for me to serve the whole community, not only the Latino community," he said. "It's a tremendous responsibility to balance my decisions."

Chavez is, at minimum, the second Latino to serve on the board in the library's history, library officials said. JoAnn Armenta, a Latina, previously served on the board.

A former board member of Centro de Información in Elgin, Chavez has worked at Renz for 22 years. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from University Intercontinental in Mexico City.

"Carlos knows this community very well. Because of his position at Renz, he has strong ties with several community groups and institutions," Gail Borden Library Executive Director Carole Medal said in a news release.

"Plus, he has been exposed to financial management because of grant-writing experience. His knowledge makes him an asset for our board."

Chavez will serve on the board through the April 2015 election. He fills the vacancy created when Rick McCarthy stepped down after he moved out of the district.

" I personally believe that we have the best public library in the state of Illinois," Chavez said. "I would like to continue preserving that prestige."