Ed Acuna: Candidate Profile

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:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: Long GroveWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Vernon Area Library Board (4-year Term)Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: Small Business Owner KMA Sales Electronics Manufacturers' RepresentativeEducation: Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management Masters in Management University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign MSEE - Electrical Engineering University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign BSEE - Electrical EngineeringCivic involvement: Board of Trustees Vernon Area Public Library District April 2012 Present Board of Directors - Economic Development Chair Long Grove Business and Community Partners January 2012 Present Village Trustee Long Grove, IL May 2007 May 2011 Plan Commissioner Zoning Board of Appeals Member Village of Long Grove Plan Commission November 2001 May 2007Elected offices held: Village Trustee Long Grove, IL May 2007 May 2011Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Libraries' Role in the CommunityKey Issue 2 New Technologies and the Library DynamicKey Issue 3 Education, Information, and FreedomQuestions 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 was appointed to this office to replace a fellow one year into his six year term. This election process gives the voters a chance to agree or disagree with the board's decision to appoint me. I have a passion for Libraries. They are critical for the community. The Vernon Area Public Library does a great job and I want to help it continue in this tradition.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 special contributions you could make.I have only been in this role for a few months. I like to think I help the process by contributing ideas and asking questions. This is a very well run library and a very professional board.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?I have a library card. I have had one all my life so I immediately got one when I moved to this area 12 years ago. I use it weekly, often more than once a week. I love our library.Space is usually an issue at 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.We are fortunate to have a relatively new facility that was well thought out. Although we are in the process of some renovation it is mostly due to normal facility maintenance. We are, however, taking advantage of the upgrades to re-layout the space for greater efficiency. Our professional library staff constantly culls through our collection to make sure materials are relevant. We have incorporated many new technologies and will be accelerating this process. The key is to have relevant materials for our patrons in the formats suitable for their purposes.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?The fundamental mission of the library has not changed in my opinion. Libraries are places of learning and education. An educated community is fundamental to a free society. Whether the transfer of information takes place in via books, electronics, community programs, on-site programs, or simply forums for patron interaction, the basic mission is still the same the role of the library as an unbiased, unfiltered depository of information is more critical than ever.