Suburbanites elected to library association board

Arlington Heights and Elgin libraries will be represented on the executive board of directors of the Illinois Library Association, known as the state’s largest professional organization of library and information science professionals.

Rick McCarthy, board president of Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin, and Christina Stoll, programs manager for Arlington Heights Memorial Library, will begin their three-year terms on the board on July 1.

This will be McCarthy’s second stint on the ILA board, after serving in 2004-05. He has served in Elgin since 1986, with the exception of a two-year period.

McCarthy said he wants to help libraries embrace change driven by evolving technology and patrons’ needs while advocating for adequate local and state funding.

As a library architect, he brings a unique perspective to the board, he said.

“I really want to do whatever I can to make myself useful,” he said.

Stoll has worked in Arlington Heights for two years, after working as a library system consultant for the former Metropolitan Library System, now the Reaching Across Illinois Library System.

She served on the ILA’s reporter committee and was co-chairwoman of the 2011 ILA conference.

“One of my strengths is helping people solve a problem. I want to continue to identify those connections to strengthen the Illinois’ library community,” she said.

She also wants to mentor people in the early stages of their library careers, she said.

“I would like to look for ways to aid them in their own development, and encourage them to get involved in ILA and the library community,” she said.

The ILA has more than 3,500 members across the state, said its executive director, Robert Doyle.

Five seats on the 15-member executive board were up for election this spring, Doyle said.

Two candidates ran for each seat, all selected by a nominating committee whose mission is to ensure diversity among the board — including geographic, ethnic, professional and more, he said.

Also elected to the executive board were President-elect Jeannie Dilger, of the LaGrange Public Library, Amanda E. Standerfer, of the Decatur Public Library, and Keshia Garnett, of the West Englewood branch of the Chicago Public Library.