Karen Kaluzsa: 2023 candidate for St. Charles Public Library Board
Bio
Town: Wayne
Age on Election Day: 65
Occupation: Librarian/Competitive Intelligence Analyst
Employer: Cigna
Previous offices held: I am running for re-election to my second term as a Trustee of the St. Charles Public Library District
Q&A
Q: Why are you running for the library board, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?
A: I am running for re-election to continue serving the residents of the Library District and the staff of the St. Charles Public Library. I am privileged to be able to serve. I love the library and want to continue to help it be the best it can be and a great place to work.
Q: Has your library seen a significant shift in the use of online materials? Has it adequately bolstered and promoted its online collection?
A: Purchase requests for digital items continue to outpace requests for physical materials. Last year we had requests to purchase 648 items for the physical collections and 4,460 requests for digital items. 37% of the total collection are downloadable titles. Our collection reflects the changing format preferences of our patrons.
Q: What do you see as the future of role of libraries in the electronic age? How well prepared is your library for meeting that role? What new steps must the library begin taking?
A: Purchase requests for digital items continue to outpace requests for physical materials. Last year we had requests to purchase 648 items for the physical collections and 4,460 requests for digital items. 37% of the total collection are downloadable titles. Our collection reflects the changing format preferences of our patrons.
Q: 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.
A: My biggest accomplishment as a Board member was the library expansion project. Following a planning assessment and input process to determine what the community would like to see included in a library renovation, we embarked on a $18.6M renovation and minor expansion of the library. The project was completed on time and on budget, during COVID, without raising taxes. We made the collections more accessible, added new infrastructure and additional study and meeting rooms, a larger teen area, expanded parking, a drive-up window, a digital maker space and outdoor access for youth services.
Another major accomplishment was the intergovernmental agreement between the library and school district D303 that made it possible for us to offer library cards to students living outside the district who attend D303 schools.
Recently, after a nationwide search we hired a new executive director and last month we embarked on a new strategic planning process.
Q: Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?
A: I have had a library card since I moved to the St. Charles Public Library District 18 years ago, and before that I had a Chicago Public Library card. I am a regular user of the library.
Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions of your library board.
A: I have had a long career and much experience working in a group setting to determine policy. My style is to thoughtfully listen to all opinions around the table and then offer compromises to reach consensus.
Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?
A: I am the best candidate for the job since I am the only candidate who has experience and a successful track record as a library trustee. I already have close working relationships with the other board members, the library management and the library staff. I understand libraries. I have been a librarian for nearly 40 years and I currently am a member of both the American Library Association and the Illinois Library Association. In the past I served on the Board of the Chicago Library System and on the Illinois State Library Advisory Committee.