BARTLETT PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEE ELECTED TO SERVE ON RAILS BOARD

Dave Barry, a Trustee serving on the Bartlett Public Library Board, was recently elected to the RAILS (Reaching Across Illinois Libraries System) Board. Barry, a five-year resident of Bartlett, will serve a three-year term as a Public Library Trustee to represent the overall interests and needs of the RAILS organization and its members. RAILS is a consortium of regional libraries, and the Board meets at least nine times per year. Board members work to further the interests of RAILS libraries; to monitor the system's health and finance; to review policies; to act as an advocate for libraries; and to maintain open lines of communication with RAILS members.

RAILS Board members must hold a current card from their local library and be avid library users. This requirement was not a problem for Barry who has been the proud owner of a library card since the age of five. He described RAILS as a "nuts and bolts" organization, and he welcomes the opportunity to play an active role. He strongly believes in the need to provide a seamless service to library patrons and is interested in working with representatives serving both public and academic libraries to pool resources and ideas and to ultimately bring these improved resources to patrons at a lower cost. He also sees his involvement on the RAILS Board as an opportunity to augment his support of the Bartlett Public Library where he will serve as an elected Trustee though 2019. He said, "I am humbled to serve on the RAILS Board and hope to work with member libraries to provide relevant and cost effective services. It is this desire to provide Bartlett residents with up-to-date programs, ideas and services that drives the decisions that our Library staff and Board make on a daily basis. I look forward to learning the latest ideas and trends and, just as importantly, to discovering new and creative ways to fund these initiatives and bring them to our Library."

Barry has practiced law for more than 20 years, and he currently operates a law office in Wheaton. In addition to serving as a Bartlett Public Library Trustee, he is an active member in the Bartlett Lions Club.