Tina Lux: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Tina M. Lux

City: Bensenville

Office sought: Bensenville Community Public Library Trustee

Age: 51

Family: Husband, David; Daughter, Darin; Son, Donald

Occupation: Special Education Teacher

Education: BS Ed- University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse; Med- Aurora University

Civic involvement: Kaboom playground build volunteer; Parent Volunteer for Bensenville Elementary District 2 for the past 12 years; Community Member of the Bensenville Elementary District 2 Strategic Plan Committee

Previous elected offices held: library trustee

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? I was elected in 2017 as a write-in candidate for an unexpired term of office.

Issue questions

What are the most important issues facing your library district and how do you intend to address them?

The most important issues facing our library district are funding and maintaining relevance for our community with the services we provide.

Why are you running for office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what is it?

I am running for office so I can continue to give back to the library which has been an integral part of my family's life for the past 18 years.

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 was elected by the other trustees to be secretary to the board. I take this responsibility very seriously. I am, as secretary, responsible for the meeting notes, filing ordinances, policy changes and tax levies passed by the board.

Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?

I have held and used my Bensenville Community Public Library card for 18 years. I use it multiple times a week.

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 ability to use technology to connect a small library district like Bensenville to the SWAN system allows our patrons access to materials from throughout the second largest library consortium in the United States. This allows not only access to print materials, but also visual media, audio media, and collections that until now had been inaccessible to local patrons. The library is no longer just a place of books. It provides learning opportunities, public programs for all ages, from infant to adults. We provide computers, printers, scanners, and a host of other technology that can be used either free of charge or at a nominal fee. We have employees and volunteers that speak and understand a variety of languages which allows patrons to communicate in their preferred languages when looking for materials. Libraries need to be seen as an asset to the community, not an outdated place for book storage.