Wally Salganik: Candidate Profile

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:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: Buffalo GroveWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Indian Trails libraryAge: 69Family: Married, two children, one grandchildOccupation: RetiredEducation: MBA, Loyola College (Baltimore, MD), 1970Bachelor of Arts, Johns Hopkins University, 1962Civic involvement: Trustee, Indian Trails Public Library District Board of DirectorsTutor, Township High School District 214 Adult Literacy/Volunteer ProgramVolunteer Assistant Coach, Arlington Huskies Boys Lacrosse Club Team ProgramElected offices held: Board of Directors, Indian Trails Public Library District, 2006-presentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Acquiring and retaining qualified people to staff the library is my number 1 campaign issue. As with any successful organization, a library must hire and maintain a staff who are qualified to help patrons understand and use the library's materials, services and technology. Because librarians' pay is relatively low compared to other occupations requiring a similar level of education, it is a daunting task to keep a library properly staffed. Because of the upcoming glut of retirements of Baby Boomers, we must address this issue now.Key Issue 2 To adequately fund libraries. In order to provide for adequate staffing, to keep our materials, databases, and technology up to date, to continue to offer enough programs that our patrons want and demand, and to continue to maintain our facilities and equipment in good condition, we must adequately fund our libraries. Along with our schools, park districts, police and fire protection, and local government, good libraries are essential to maintain the high status that the communities in Indian Trails Public Library District have attained.Key Issue 3 The need for greater online services. Due to the proliferation of the personal computer and the e-reader devices, demand for audiobooks, e-books, music, videos, online instruction courses, online homework resources, including live tutors, and the collection of reliable library databases, libraries have had to scramble to keep up with the demand. The library staff must be trained to help patrons understand and use e-government services, including enrolling in Medicare and applying for unemployment benefits. The staff must be dedicated to helping people get and use online tools. There should be more computers available at the library for patrons' use.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?Because I feel that I can continue to help the library operate more efficiently. My primary motivation is that I would like to encourage more of the library district's patrons and businesses to utilize its materials, services, programs, and databases. In many cases it is not necessary to come to the library to do so.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 treasurer of the library's board of trustees, I feel that by monitoring the library's balance sheets, budget statements, and warrant reports, I have helped to ensure that the library lives within its means. I was a strong proponent of the current automated circulation/inventory-control system for tracking materials. Although the system had some bugs for awhile, it has enabled returned materials to become available for recirculation much sooner than before the system was installed. It has also enabled patrons' records of returned materials to be updated virtually instantly. It has also allowed the library to reassign many former circulation clerks to other areas of service. I have been a strong advocate for the library in meetings with our U.S. Congressman and many state representatives. I am against internet filters on library computers because I believe they violate the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment pertaining to freedom of speech. I do support, however, the library's providing minors with safety precautions when using the internet.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?Yes, since moving to the library district in 1986. I use it nearly every day--including access to the library from off-site.Space is usually an issue at 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.Our library is very crowded. We are constantly weeding the collection of materials in an attempt to deal with the over-crowding. With the advent of e-books, etc., that should allow us to free up some space now allocated to hardback books, CD's, etc. However, because of the lack of adequate space for program rooms and the general crowded conditions, I feel that the library should have a modest expansion in the next couple of years. We now serve a population of about 65,000, and the library building has only 48,000 square feet. The rule of thumb for public libraries is 1 square foot of building per person in the community served. We could certainly use another 15,000 - 20,000 square feet.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?Economic and technological changes have required libraries to provide immediate access at the library, or from anywhere where there is access to a computer, to subjects such as auto repair, books, business (including job-search aids), tax forms, careers, investing, children, geneology, health, history, social science, magazines, newspapers, and general interest.A library remains relevant by anticipating its patrons educational, cultural, social and recreational wants and needs and by providing staff, materials, programs, a venue and up-to-date technology to satisfy those wants and needs.Its role in the community is to periodically re-balance its resources to continue to satisfy the overall needs of the community which it serves.