Debby Brauer: 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: PalatineWebsite: www.debbybrauer.orgTwitter: https://twitter.com/DebbyForPPLDFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DebbyForPPLD/Office sought: Palatine Library Board Age: 50Family: Husband, Tom; young adult sons Justin and AdamOccupation: Candidate did not respond.Education: University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana"â#128;ťBA English, minors in Business Administration and Classical CivilizationsCivic involvement: past PTA committees and board; band parent volunteer; community theatre volunteerElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.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?People of all ages and backgrounds use the library for education and entertainment. Beyond lending (physical and digital) and reference services, the library offers community meeting space; study rooms; computer/internet access; programs for young children, teens, families, and adults; job search assistance; art exhibits; and so much more. I want to protect and grow this shared resource, so it will remain an incredible community asset for years to come.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.Because libraries have been indispensable to my personal education, development, and happiness, I want to be of service to the library and the community. I will contribute creative problem-solving and fiscal responsibility to every level of service required of the position. I will thoughtfully study and consider each issue that comes before the board, and work with my fellow trustees to craft solutions that work.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?I've had a library card since I was 4 years old, starting in the Chicago Public Library system. I've been a PPLD cardholder since we moved here in 1993. I visit the library at least weekly, not counting digital services and special programs.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.There are several criteria to be employed when deciding whether to cull the collection or expand the physical plant, including (but not limited to) circulation levels, availability of the items elsewhere (inter-library loan, reciprocal borrowing, availability of digital resources, etc.), and historical value. A careful and informed decision would need to be made according to specific circumstances and current best practices.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?Economic challenges require libraries to be ever-mindful and creative about applying available resources to the maximum benefit of the community. Technological changes have expanded the resources available beyond physical plant space (as a supplement to, not necessarily replacement of, physical lending resources). The fundamental role of the library doesn't change; but, in order to remain relevant, the library has to be flexible enough to adapt and grow.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I would like to be involved with community outreach, including helping to raise awareness of the vast scope of services the library provides; learning from patrons what services are most important to them and whether we're serving their needs; and reaching out to under-served areas in the community.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Neil deGrasse Tyson: I like his passion for science and lifelong learning.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Growing up in diverse Hyde Park, I learned that individuals of different cultures, ages, and abilities contribute great value to a thriving society.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I have no specific event that I would like to do over. However, I should have worried less along the way.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?English and math were my favorites. They fostered creativity, communication skills, logic, and critical thinking.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?You don't have to know all the answers; you just have to know how to find the answers.