David F. Unumb: 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: Arlington HeightsWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Arlington Heights libraryAge: 77Family: Three children and seven grandchildrenOccupation: College Teacher and Administrator (Retired)Education: B.A. Carleton CollegeM.A. The Johns Hopkins UniversityPh.D. Loyola University (Chicago)Additional graduate work: Cornell UniversityCivic involvement: Board of Trustees, Arlington Heights Memorial LibraryElected offices held: Trustee, Arlington Heights Memorial Library 1983-1991; 1994-1995; 2005-PresentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 I wish to utilize my experience as a college administrator and my tenure as a Trustee to maintain fiscal responsibility in the management of the library and to promote budgetary restraint in these economic conditions.Key Issue 2 I wish to continue to assist in the effective use of long-range planning approaches and to anticipate the development in information storage and retrieval as technology affects library operations.Key Issue 3 My goal would be, as it has been, to monitor and respond to the changing needs of our residents and to insure that effective services are provided to our patrons.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 am running for re-election in order to continue to serve the public interests of Arlington Heights and to use my experience effectively in support of library usage and responsiveness.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 member of the Board of Library Trustees, I have served on a variety of committees including most recently the Building Committee and was thus deeply involved in the recent renovation of the Kids' World facility. I have also served as Board Liaison to the Friends of the Library organization and am aware of their many contributions to the library's mission and operations.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?I have had a library card for something like forty years and use it at least once a week or more.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.I do not believe that the Arlington Heights Memorial Library has a space problem at the present time but strongly encourage the approach we have been using for some time: assessing changing needs and re-organizing and/or renovating existing space to meet those needs.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?Electronic reading devices, as well as changes in formats affecting information storage and retrieval, have had a significant impact on library systems and operations. It is important for patrons to have the library anticipate and adapt to these changes. At the same time, economic challenges demand that we do so with a prudent and measured approach. We must remember that we need to serve the needs of all patrons young and old, ranging from those who still treasure ""the book"" to those whose personal or professional needs require the latest in technology.