Anita Forte-Scott: 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: SchaumburgWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Schaumburg Township Library Board (4-year Terms)Age: 43Family: Married - 25 years to Jeffrey Scott. 2 - children, sons: Jeffrey Taylor, now attending NIUOccupation: Early Education School Administrator at Bright Stars Academy, ElginEducation: Northern Illinois University Elementary Education / Early Childhood Education 1990 1993 Elgin Community College AA, Early Childhood Education 1987 1990 Activities and Societies: Phi Theta Kappa - Honors SocietyCivic involvement: 2013-2014 Board of Directors - Secretary / 2012-2013 Membership Fellowship Director Schaumburg / Hoffman Estates Rotary Club 2004 Present (9 years)|Bridges of Poplar Creek, Hoffman Estates, IL. - Meeting Every Friday at Noon 2012-2013Membership Fellowship Director 2011-2012 Rotarian of the Year / Youth Exchange Officer Provide a variety of opportunities for club members to participate in fellowship activities while reaching out to our community leaders and others who make a difference by investing their time and efforts to the betterment of Schaumburg Hoffman Estates. Rotarian of the Year 2011 - 2012 Rotary Club of Schaumburg / Hoffman Estates June 2011 Paul Harris Fellow +1 The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International August 2011 In appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world. Dr. Howard Baker Achievement Award Rotary Club of Schaumburg / Hoffman Estates June 2006 In Recognition of Service Above Self in the Five Avenues of Service. City of Chicago Pipe Band / Chicago Scots Bass Drummer / Mid-Section Leader 2010 Present www.ChicagoPipeBand.com Supported by leadership and instruction by members of the (then) Grade 2, the City of Chicago Pipe Band created a feeder unit in Grade 5 in 2008. Regularly placing in competition in 2008 and 2009, and convincingly winning during 2010 under the direction of Pipe Major Steve Moore, CoC-5 was rewarded by promotion to Grade 4 for 2011 by the Midwest Pipe Band Association. With the promotion of the unit, the Grade 4 was rebranded the Chicago Scots Pipe Band, with founding member Michael Forkan as Pipe Major. Neil Seivright leads our drum corps. Our members have a constant desire to improve, with access to regular high quality instruction and hands-on support from members of the higher grade band. Chicago Scots are enjoying success in competition, and are playing at the upper end of the grade, with serious ambition in the right direction. Hoffman Estates Celtic Fest Commissioner Hoffman Estates Sustainability CommissionerElected offices held: Trustee Schaumburg Township District Library 2005 PresentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 To continue providing the services and programs that our Library patrons want and need.Key Issue 2 Preventing a tax referendum in the coming 4 years and continuing to keep the Library fiscally sound and within budget each year.Key Issue 3 Providing excellent service to patrons by having a well-trained and highly educated staff at STDL.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?It has been my greatest pleasure to represent our whole community as a Library Trustee during the past 8 years. I look forward to continuting the great tradition of providing 5 Star services and programs to all of our patrons in the future.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.I have served as President and Vice-President / Secretary on the Board of Library Trustees. I have also served as a Board Member and STDL representative to the North Suburban Library System for many years. I am the liaison for STDL to the newly formed RAILS, Reaching Across Illinois Library System.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?Yes, I have a library card. I have had an STDL library card since I was a young child growing up in Schaumburg. I use it 2 to 3 times per month to check out books, DVD's, CD's and online to download digital books and Freegul music.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.Since the STDL is blessed to have a main building in Schaumburg and branches in Hoffman Estates and Hanover Park it is unlikely that we would move to physically expand any of the buildings at this time. In fact, we have just created a Teen Place area on the 2nd floor of the main building by re-purposing areas and expanding the dedicated Teen areas from appx. 600 ft. to a 6,000 sq. ft. Teen Center--ten times the size of the old Teen Center. This new area offers an activity room and stage, video gaming area, study areas and a media production studio for teens to create music and videos. But that's not all. The fiction and non-fiction book collections have be expanded, and teens will have access to computers, a projection screen, charging stations, and a digital media lab.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?Libraries all over the country are having to 'do more with less'. Patron usage and needs are increasing while annual budgets remain pretty steady from year to year. Luckily, STDL has a world class staff of Library professionals, a dynamic management team and dedicated Trustees who watch the operating costs closely and balance patron needs within our established budget. With consistent feedback and suggestions from our patrons, STDL remains relevent, yet flexible, in our programming and services. A libraries' role in the community is to provide information freely to anyone who inquires and to provide the best services and programs possible. Our Mission Statement is: Schaumburg Township District Library will be a premier provider of quality information resources, materials, programming, and facilities with easy and equitable access for all library users and through the excellent service of a well-trained staff.