Marjorie Bartelli: Candidate Profile

Back to Lisle Library Board

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:BioQA Bio City: LisleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lisle Library Board Age: 68Family: SingleOccupation: RetiredEducation: St. Willibrord High School, Chicago, IL, Graduated 1967Prairie State College, Thornton, ILCollege of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, ILCivic involvement: Sharing Connections, Downers Grove, IL, Past TrusteeDuPage Art League, Wheaton, IL, Volunteer, 2016Tierra Grande Courts Condominium Association, Past President, Country Club Hills, IL 1980-1985Citizens Police Academy, Village of Lisle Police Department, Graduate 1996Elected offices held: Country Club Hills, IL Park DistrictNov. 1985-Dec. 1990; Commissioner; President 1986-1988Questions 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?Having previously served as the President and Commissioner of a Park District prior to moving to Lisle, I truly enjoyed making a contribution to my community. I believe library services are an important service and I will work to ensure that the Lisle Library remains a vital and sustainable component of 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 contributions you would make.As Commissioner and President of the Country Clubs Hills, IL Park District, I was involved in the planning, securing of financing, construction planning and completion of lighted baseball fields, a golf driving range, and community center. I understand intricacies of a public taxing body, formulating tax plans and levies, and working with the taxpayers, including preparing referendums for voting ballots. As a non-incumbent re the Lisle Library District, I have an open mind without a predetermined view; I am an independent thinker and my allegiance is first and foremost to the patrons (taxpayers) of the library. I would review thoroughly any capital expansion and strongly encourage the library district go to referendum before any expansion takes place. I will advocate for increased transparency, recording and broadcasting of board meetings, posting of expenditures on the district website, work to reduce the tax burden on Lisle residents, and to deliver the best value of library services to our residents.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?Yes I have had a library card since 2005. I use the card regularly and visit the library at lease once every week to read periodicals and do research.Space is an issue at many 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.As a non-incumbent, I feel I would bring a fresh, new perspective with no pre-conceived opinions on the issue of library space. I am aware that the Lisle library has already extensively weeded their physical collection of print materials and has invested over $10 million in capital improvements to the existing building since 2008. The existing space at the library has been reconfigured over the past 8 years with significant investment of public funds to better utilize the space for today's needs.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?With the introduction of technology and reducing the need for physical plant space, I would first explore how to continue to maximize the efficiency of the existing space. Expansion isn't always the solution as you can see by the numbers of vacant office buildings in Lisle's corporate corridor. We need to be prudent and evaluate all the options. I believe a library is relevant when it retains its focus on its core mission to provide free access to information, books, and reference materials that inform and educate the public.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The internet and e-books have had an impact on the spatial needs of libraries, however, many people still prefer to hold a book in their hands which you can always pick up and put down as you choose. Remember, the internet is only as good as your ISP or your electric utility and in outage situations your need is greater for a physical item to read or research. That having been said I refer to my answer to above question. A library needs to be relevant to the whole community it serves-preschoolers, elementary students, high schoolers, college students, young adults, parents, seniors. A library should "provide a service" and be responsive and maintain open communication with taxpayers. On the economic issue, we certainly need to look into why our district has one of the highest property tax rates in the area and explore how we can be more efficient--thereby reducing the need for property tax increases causing the electorate to lose trust in the library board. My primary issue - the library must be more fiscally responsible. I was raised by parents who had 7 children and they continually stressed the value of a dollar because they wanted the best they could provide us with the limited resources available to them.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Candidate did not respond.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Financial prudence and respect. As a child of depression-era parents "don't spend more than you earn".If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Candidate did not respond.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Civics and political science. As a member of our H.S. debate team, learned to evaluate others' point of view.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?I don't have children but would encourage children to read daily as my parents and teachers encouraged me.