J. Thomas Willis: Candidate Profile

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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: AddisonWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Addison Library Board Age: 54Family: I have been married to my wife, Kathleen Willis, for 34 years. Together we have 4 adult children, all of which have gone through the Addison Public school system.Occupation: Retired Fire FighterEducation: I graduated from Montini High School in Lombard. I began my post high school education at Illinois Benedictine College in Lisle then ultimately received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Managerial Communications from Elmhurst College.Civic involvement: I have been actively involved with the parents clubs at Addison Trail High school while my children attended. I was active with music boosters, theater boosters, varied athletics groups and the TPO. I volunteered for many years with the local Cub Scout Pack as both a den leader and Assistant Cub Master. I then moved on to the local Boy Scout Troop with my son when he transferred. While involved, I served as both Assistant then Scout Master. I have been involved with the Addison Kiwanis Club for many years and currently serve as the clubs president.Elected offices held: Trustee for the Addison Public LibraryQuestions 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 continue to have interest in serving the patrons of the Addison Public Library and to see where the future will take us. While we can not allow ourselves to be led as much as continue to lead, technology is a difficult animal to keep up with. The need for libraries as a structure will never go away. It is a gathering place as well as a place for learning and investigation into the unknown. Being a part of that and being able to help steer it in the right direction is what makes this position very worth while.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.I have had the pleasure of serving on the Addison Public Library board since 2005. During that time I was actively involved with the rest of the board in the planning and execution of our new building. This was a major undertaking but one that benefitted the entire village. Our most recent endeavor was a space relocation project within the existing building. This project provided more creative space for all the patrons, opened up the lobby area to be more inviting and gave a dedicated home to our Young Adult patrons.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?I have had a library card since first moving into the village in 1984. I do not use it that often to actively check out books but that is part of the beauty of our library. There are so many wonderful things to do at the library and through the library. No one is limited to just using their library card for checking out books.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.Space is always a problem for the library. That is one of the primary reasons we just recently undertook a Space Reallocation Project. This project was driven by many needs. First and foremost, our teens and young adult patrons are very prevalent and active at the library, especially during the school year. The services we offer to them, make them feel important and engaged. It gives a safe, communal space for them to gather and experiment with creativity. Whether its through the recording studio using the green screen, the sound recording studio, the 3-D printer or just utilizing the many computer terminals we have placed on the second floor. They also have their own place within the building, named The Hive. There are glass partition walls to designate that area for them and also to minimize the sound transfer out into the rest of the quiet areas of the library. We have an active weeding system to remove books as they loose interest or are replaced. Several other adaptations were made within the existing structure during this project to better serve the needs of all patrons. On the first floor, in the children's area, we added two new break out rooms that can be used either by a smaller group or one on one with a tutor. Additional computer terminals were also placed on that level.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?We have been very lucky to be able to work closely with the village in regards to our finances. Back in 2005 when we were planning our new facility, we were very fortunate to be able to build with our financial resources on hand and with the generosity of the village being able to issue a bond to fund the rest. That allowed us to build the much needed new building without having to go to the citizens for a referendum and costing them more through their property taxes. To date, we have been able to do everything needed without the need for a referendum and it is my intent to continue that trend. The technological changes do not eliminate the need for the library, but rather enhance the need. While you may not need to go to the library to research because of the development of the internet, but many of our patrons still do not have access to the internet anywhere but the library. Let alone a computer. We have also implemented many new features such as a green screen for video usage, a sounds recording studio, a high speed photo scanner, a 3-D printer and many many more.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?With the increase of technology, the increase in safeguards is constantly needed. But, along with the safeguards comes the responsibility to not be overly infringing on the patrons rights and need to be able to find what they want when they need it. We recently instituted internet filtering. While this seems it should be an easy issue, the other issue of constitutional rights of the patrons comes into play. That requires a constant balancing act to keep everyone safe and comfortable within the building but to also allow those patrons access when needed.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.President Barack ObamaWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Compromise is not giving upIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I'm not sure I would. I am who I am because of the highs and lows in my life.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Science, biology. It helped me be a better paramedic and gave me an appreciation for everything around me.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be yourself and be proud of who you are.