Robert J. Wagner: 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: Villa ParkWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Villa Park libraryAge: 57Family: Married, three childrenOccupation: Facility Project ManagerEducation: BA in Political Science, DePaul UmiversityCivic involvement: Chairman, Villa Park Environmental Concerns Commission Friends of the Library Sierra Club (River Prairie Group)Elected offices held: Library TrusteeState Central Committeeman, 6th District Village Trustee (1995 - 1997) Precinct Committeeman (Since 1988)Board of Directors (DuPage Library System)Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 To help advance policies and plans that help the Villa Park Library meet the challenges of the future and meet the needs of all its patrons.Key Issue 2 To make sure we make the best use of the the physical resources available to us so that our patrons have a comfortable and pleasant experience.Key Issue 3 To make sure that the financial resources of the library are used wisely and that the board continues to plan for the near and distant future.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 to make sure that the library board has responsible and experienced leadership.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 have served as Board President and Treasurer. I have also been actively involved as a legislative advocate for local libraries by working through the DuPage Library System. I have traveled to Washington D.C. twice and to Springfield multiple times to lobby our members of Congress and the General Assembly on behalf of libraries in our System.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?Yes, over twenty years.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.As a member of the Building Committee, I support the ongoing efforts of staff to reassess our space needs and to make the best use of space by eliminating or shrinking parts of the collection that may be out of date or have been converted to electronic format.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 downturn in the economy and the increase cost of benefits have put serious financial strains on the library. Because of the explosion in technology, our staff has had to constantly reassess the composition of the library collection. We are acquiring more and more electronic media and less and less print material. Libraries will continue to be the cultural center of their communities. Libraries of the future will continue to stay relevant by helping their patrons use and access information. Libraries of the future will continue to be a place where members of the community can meet and share ideas.