Julie Wroblewski Bosshart: Candidate Profile

Back to Schaumburg Township Library Board

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: SchaumburgWebsite: https://www.facebook.com/JulieWroblewskiBosshartforSchaumburgLibraryOffice sought: Schaumburg Township Library BoardAge: 43Family: I have been married to my husband John since 1996. I am the mother of 3 kids ages 10, 12 14. I grew up in Schaumburg with my parents, Mary and Vince Wroblewski, and my siblings, Vinny, Carrie and Amanda.Occupation: Accountant/ C.P.A.Education: Graduated with High Honors with a Bachelors Degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana. Passed the C.P.A. exam. I also studied abroad for one semester at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.Civic involvement: I have always been active in the community. I was elected to the St. Hubert School Advisory Board and served as it's Vice President. I served on the Finance Council at church. I have been a volunteer in the school library and a room mom at my kids school for many years. I was a girl scout leader and the Community Service Chair for Cub Scout Pack 399 for 3 years. I like to volunteer at Feed My Starving Children in Schaumburg. I served on the Citizens Input Committee at the library prior to being elected to the board.Elected offices held: current Vice President/Secretary past Treasurer on the Schaumburg Township District Library Board.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?I was first elected to the library board in 2011. As a library trustee, I am committed to finding ways for the library to be more efficient in serving library patrons, shaping the library's role in our community and creating the library of the future. My accounting background is beneficial in reviewing financial issues before the board. As an experienced and dedicated trustee, I will continue to lead the library in a fiscally responsible manner. I am the only board member with school-age children. I want the library to be as relevant in my children's lives as it has been in mine.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 served in leadership roles on the board, first as Treasurer and now as Vice President/Secretary. In my four years on the board, we had balanced budgets, paid off our debt, and maintained the high level of quality services and hours that our residents expect. We celebrated the Schaumburg Library's 50th Anniversary. We also opened the technologically advanced Teen Place on the 2nd floor of the library. It is a very popular and safe place for students to study. The library continued to receive a 5 star rating in the Library Journal (1 of only 6 in the state) in part due to our amazing staff which I continue to appreciate. My focus will be on continuing to advance the library in a fiscally responsible manner.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?As a lifelong Schaumburg Township resident, I have held a library card since my parents took me to the library as a child which helped foster my love of reading. After college, I studied at the library for my C.P.A. exam. I come to the library to get books for my book club. My favorite section is the travel books which I use to plan family trips! I bring my children to the library for teen programs. We also regularly use the website to get e-books for our Kindle readers. As you can see I am a heavy user of the library. In fact, it is one of my favorite places to be!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.The Schaumburg library recently converted under-utilized space on the second floor to create the architecturally award-winning Teen Place. Previously, teens had a small hallway space on the first floor. This new space is state of the art with a video production studio and group meeting spaces with white boards to collaborate on projects. The Schaumburg Library is large but with the aging of the building and the heavy use by the public, I expect the spaces to be re-imagined and remodeled over time. The library's collection of materials is continually reviewed with some older and less relevant materials being removed regularly. New models allow the library to buy enough popular books to meet demand. Often the library now has to purchase the same material in multiple formats which can be costly. Even with the increasing usage of e-books, traditional formats will be maintained. Personally, I use both traditional books and e-books, but still love the feel of a book in my hands.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?Our library continues to serve the community in new and exciting ways. Through the library's website, users can access materials and other resources remotely. The Schaumburg Library continues to expand the band-width for web access for patrons with laptops and cell phones in the library. Our teen meeting rooms and video production studio are technologically advanced. Hopefully the library will add more technical capabilities to other meeting rooms in the next year or two. The library is an important resource for job seekers and local businesses. In times of economic downturns, the library provides free access to computers and materials. The library provides outreach to those who cannot come to the library, such as the home-bound and those in nursing homes. The meeting rooms are essential to local groups in the community. The library remains relevant by being innovative in its providing of materials and services and listening to patrons to meet their needs. Our main library and two branches provide vital learning centers, meeting places, and resources to the community.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Long-range planning is an important focus for the board. We have recently had plan of service meetings to discuss how to meet patrons current needs. We also must focus on the mission and vision of the library. I would focus on the maintenance of facilities and the visioning of the library of the future to serve our community. The library is in a good fiscal position with no debt and a good level of reserves. We must spend our resources wisely while maintaining a high level of service. I believe that libraries change lives. I want to preserve and renew this precious resource in our community.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Judy Baar Topinka - I saw her speak a few years ago. I admire her public service, personal integrity, sense of humor, and hard work.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?You can accomplish anything you set your mind to.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have traveled more right after college instead of working so much.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math: I became an accountant. It also helped me find my husband because we met working at a large accounting firm in Chicago.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Smile and be positive!