Amanda Garcia: Candidate Profile

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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: ElginWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: @MandyJoyGFacebook: www.facebook.com/AmandaJGarcia.ElginILOffice sought: Gail Borden Library Board Age: 30Family: Spouse, Daniel I Garcia. Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, Jaime and Donna Garcia (Elgin, IL).Occupation: Founder and Principal Executive of ColorWord Creative in Elgin.Education: MBA - Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL.BA, Communications - Judson University, Elgin, IL.Certificate, Cook's Assistant - Elgin Community CollegeCivic involvement: Member of Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Academy class of 2017. Member of Zion Lutheran Church in Elgin. Volunteer with Kids Hope USA at Lowrie Elementary in Elgin. Member of the League of Women Voters. Former member of the Downtown Neighborhood Association's Harvest Market advisory board.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.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 believe in the power of education, community, and literature, and Gail Borden Public Library generously supplies all three. I would be honored to serve in a leadership role at such a fine institution, and inspired to participate in its growth and further development. I also believe that the greatest potential for change in our world begins at home, and I am motivated by that responsibility and the opportunity to take on a little more as an elected trustee.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.As a young professional, entrepreneur, and local small business owner, I hope to bring a unique perspective and fresh voice to the library board. As a communications expert, I hope to encourage a creative and narrative approach to the ways in which the library engages our community. As a small business owner I hope to support and enhance the already existing resources provided by the library for entrepreneurs. As a citizen of Elgin who believes in working to better her community, I believe my combination of skills, education in business and communication, and experience working with non-profit organizations and small businesses will offer a unique contribution to Gail Borden Library's board of trustees.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?I became a Gail Borden Library card carrier in 2008 and have since spent so many hours at the library that it feels like home. From borrowing art for my first house in Elgin, to checking out books about Indian Cuisine for my culinary classes at ECC, to spending hours on end in the River Room studying for my MBA, Gail Borden has been a well-loved and heavily used resource in my life for years.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.Breaking ground on an addition is a serious commitment and substantial decision, so to address the challenge of space at the library I would first evaluate the current building for gaps in efficiency. E.g., Are there ways to consolidate existing resources, or re-imagine the use of space? In the same way, eliminating any part of a collection is also a serious decision that should be approached with a thorough understanding of the hole its absence would create. With that in mind, I would also recommend research into the ways that resources being considered for elimination are used, and who typically uses them. While I embrace technology for its convenience and efficiency, I am hesitant to replace anything tried and true too quickly and without consideration from a diverse collection of perspectives. But ultimately, if I was presented with any problem and told there were only two solutions, my immediate impulse would be to work to develop a third. That said, I have been particularly inspired by Gail Borden's expansion to a total of three branches, which I believe would offer a plethora of possibilities for a creative "third" solution to the problem of space that I would be most interested in exploring.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?With each new advance, technology provides a new opportunity. Automation, for example, has saved a great amount of library funding dollars by reducing necessary staff hours, and things like RFID cards have allowed for better tracking of items and fewer lost resources. Library patrons can use wireless internet, computer labs, and other technology for free, which is particularly useful for those who wouldn't otherwise have access. In some cases, resources like these have transformed libraries into a mobile office for entrepreneurs or adult students, or a place to apply for/learn about jobs. These are only two examples of the large impact a library can have during economically challenging times"창#128;큐not to mention free activities for children and free media like movies and music. Keeping up with technology and supplying what patrons need to keep up with changing economic situations is one of the most profound ways that a library can remain relevant in its community (technical training sessions, tax assistance, and language conversation classes/groups, for example, can all be forms of free job training offered at the library). A library's relevance requires awareness of and adjustment to changing needs and desires of a community, all by staying on the cutting edge of ever-changing technology. This challenging task is certainly fluid, but it supports the library's role of educating, resourcing, and empowering its patrons"창#128;큐its role in the community that should never change.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The Gail Borden Public Library is somewhat of an epicenter for education in our community, and I would like to see that continue to grow. I have great admiration for the many partnerships that the library maintains with U-46 and several non-profit organizations and civic institutions. I believe those partnerships can be further strengthened and new ones formed, creating an even greater network of learning and growth in and for all members of our community.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Michelle ObamaWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Always take responsibility for your actions.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Taking love for granted.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History, music, and reading were my favorites. All three taught me the value of art, storytelling, and learning from mistakes.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Discover your boundaries, learn to protect them, and forgive yourself when you don't.