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Bonita Gilliam: Candidate Profile

Carol Stream Library Board (4-year Terms)

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: Carol StreamWebsite: http://STLCarolStream.Blogspot.comOffice sought: Carol Stream Library Board (4-year Terms)Age: 50+Family: Married, one adult son and daughter-in-law , and four grandchildrenOccupation: Adjunct Professor and Certified Professional Development Provider for the State of IllinoisEducation: B. A. in Elementary Education, University of Illinois at Chicago,IL 1982 M. A. in Clinical Psychology, Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago IL 1992 Psy. D Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology, Il. Sch. of Prof. Psychology 1994Civic involvement: Member Friends of Carol Stream Library Member Cloverdale School PTA Minority Student Achievement Committee District 87 Serve annually as a judge for DuPage ACT-SO (Afro-Academic Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics) Mentored students at Glenbard North High School Tutored students for DuCaps (DuPage Area Project) Taught disaster psychology unit for Community Emergency Response Team (CERTS) Milton Township. Past Member Carol Stream Chamber of CommerceElected offices held: I have not held an elected office. I am a member of several professional and civic organizations with state, national and international affiliations.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 To restore ethical leadership that focuses on the needs of our community as a whole. Our library board members should provide a voice for the community as a whole rather than represent a small group.Key Issue 2 To provide fiscally responsible oversight for all library spending.Key Issue 3 To promote and develop community partnerships that celebrate our diversity in a positive manner.Questions Answers Do you support the board's decision to put the library's Kuhn Road property on the market? Would you support a sale or lease of the property? Would you ever support construction of a new library in the village?Although I am not a realtor, it seems that selling property at this time is ill-advised. A sale or lease of the Kuhn property in the future, following careful assessment of all options, is a possiblity I would consider. I would only consider supporting library construction if our community strongly voiced the desire to construct a new site.What specifically will you do to improve the working relationship among board members?I intend to be respectful of other board members. We need to look for common ground and develop Win-Win strategies for a successful board. The citizens of Carol Stream deserve a responsive board.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 strongly believe that serving one's community is a privilege and an obligation. For me, serving helps to ensure the future of a vital Carol Stream. My husband, David, and I moved here to raise our son, Solomon, in a safe community. He attended school here and we were frequently found in the library. Our son went on to become a successful attorney, in part due to the advantages fine schools and a great library offer. I want other families to have similar experiences.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?Yes, I have library cards for three libraries. I have had my Carol Stream library card for 30 years and it is my oldest library card. There is quite a bit of variation in the number of times per week or month I use my Carol Stream library card. During a slow month I use the library 4-6 times per month; during a busy month I use the excellent services the library staff provide 4-6 times per week. I often use the library website and obtain help from the reference librarians for my research.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?We continue to see gains in technology that ten years ago were impossible to imagine (i-pads, smartphones, etc.). As our nation continues struggling to rebound from severe economic downturns we have many more individuals depending on the library resources. For example, individuals can find: help with a job search, audio books, information on caring for seniors or home entertainment in the form of videos/DVD's. On the one hand, technology has streamlined many mundane tasks previously handled by library staff while on the other, it has heightened the need for trained personnel to instruct and provide assistance to library patrons in the vast array of technological and personal needs. As times change, the library remains a haven for study, interpersonal contacts for young and elderly, and cutting edge information on every conceivable topic. The library changes to suit the dynamics and the needs of a diverse population with regard to age, mobility, language and interests of the patrons. The library trustee board can be strengthened with an inclusive diverse board as well.