Mary Vanco: 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: WinfieldWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Winfield Library Board (2-year Term)Age: 49Family: Married, two childrenOccupation: Stay at home mom/freelance writerEducation: Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, National Louis University, 1993Civic involvement: Winfield Public Library Board of TrusteesElected offices held: Currently holding an appointed position to the Winfild Public Library Board of TrusteesHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 My goal in being a Trustee on the Winfield Public Library Board of Trustees is to make the library and all of ts services accessible to all citizens.Key Issue 2 Candidate did not respond.Key Issue 3 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 libraries and what they have to offer all citizens. Libraries are a cornerstone of democracy. The collections of books and other resources represent a diversity of ideas that are available to all its citizens without regard for income level. The services provided by a librarian help patrons locate information to learn and expand their knowledge. I am serving on the Board now, and wish to continue to serve, in order to continue the high level of service Winfield now experiences from its excellent library and library staff.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 special contributions you could make.While serving on this Board, I have worked with other Board members to initiate renovation of the current library to make it ADA accessible, and to expand its services through a new catalog system and maintain the service excellence Winfield patrons have come to expect.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?I do have a library card, which I've had for about 15 years. I use it almost weekly! I could never afford to purchase all the items I borrow!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.Space is an issue for any library, large or small. Small libraries like ours have looked to expand, but that is not always possible. Many look to technology to fill in the gaps and make available the things that would physically take up space, i.e., the multitude of books many expect to see in a library. Technology can be great, but it costs money to install and continue to upgrade to stay current. Finding space for more computer terminals can be difficult to find in any library and finding money in tight budgets for e-resources can be challenging.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 current economic situation has increased our circulation. Our library will soon offer e-books, and even offer the ability to check out e-readers. Libraries will always be relevant in our society because they offer a place for citizens to find new ideas, or by working with a librarian, learn how to more effectively find information in online databases and other resources. The need for libraries will not go away because books become digital. Libraries will continue to be a place for people to come and learn through the many community programs offered to people of all ages, starting with story time for the very young and continuing with programs for young adults and adults of all ages. With the rapid change in the amount of information and the types of information retrieval methods changing, libraries will be at the forefront of being the place where people come to learn, be entertained and have their imaginations nurtured.