Algonquin library to welcome new trustees
Jan Baker Kelsch, Louise Nee, Fatima "Tina" Sanchez and Katrina McGuire will be sworn in as new Algonquin Area Public Library District trustees at the board meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27. They join current trustees Lynn Hammerlund, Erin Van Der Bosch and Mary Gebhardt.
Jan Baker Kelsch
Kelsch is a lifelong participant in a variety of community service projects, most recently organizing/supporting the activities of numerous church social groups. She has fundraising experience with local food pantries and actively participates in clothing drives for local charities. A graduate of Lewis University, her employment experience includes substitute teaching, risk management and sales. Jan is a voracious reader and enjoys bringing a book and relaxing in the library's comfortable public spaces. She looks forward to bringing her people skills and positive attitude to her work as a trustee. Kelsch lives in Algonquin with her husband and two children.
Louise Nee
Retired librarian Louise Nee is a member of the village of Algonquin Historic Commission and a literacy tutor with The Literacy Connection. A participant of the Ted Spella Leadership School, offered through the village of Algonquin and Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce, Nee also brings 36 years of experience with libraries and boards. She has a master of arts in library science from Dominican University and bachelor's degree in music from Northern Illinois University. Louise and her husband have lived in Algonquin for 26 years and have one daughter.
Fatima "Tina" Sanchez
Sanchez is a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts, active as a troop leader for 16 years and a trainer for three years. She has also served as Boy Scout troop secretary, PADS volunteer, and a church choir member. A mother of nine, Sanchez has actively participated in the library's summer reading programs and registered for many adult computer classes. She brings business experience in finance/banking, 25 years in the decorating field and bilingual skills to her new position. Tina lives in Lake in the Hills and is a graduate of Columbia College, Chicago.
Katrina McGuire
McGuire, of Lake in the Hills, is the vice president of the board of Hooves to Heal Therapeutic Riding, and is past president of the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce. She served as secretary and vice president of a school board in Michigan and brings skills as a spokesperson on the responsible stewardship of tax dollars. After moving from Illinois to Michigan, McGuire and her family used the library's activities and events as a place to connect and meet people. The library also has served as an important resource for Katrina's continued education goals. She is a business graduate of William Tyndale College and will obtain her master's in business leadership from Central Michigan University in August 2015. Katrina and her husband have two daughters and a son.
Algonquin Area Public Library District trustees are responsible for determining the library's mission within its community and developing appropriate goals for service based on this mission. The board adopts policies for the library's operation, hires and evaluates the executive director, authorizes budget expenditures to support the library's service program, and advocates for the library in the community and with local government. Trustees are charged with maintaining awareness of issues in library service and legislation affecting libraries, and moving the library forward to meet the needs of the community in the future.
The elected trustees will be sworn in Wednesday, May 27, during the regular monthly board meeting at 7:30 p.m. Board meetings are open to the public and are held in the Administration offices on the lower level of the Harnish Main Library, 2600 Harnish Road, west of Randall Road, in Algonquin.