Endorsement: Medal, Galla, Somary for Arlington Heights Library trustee
The Arlington Heights Memorial Library is not just one of the finest in the Northwest suburbs, but one of the finest in the state, and a great asset to the community.
It went through an unsettling period a few years ago, leading to the ouster of its top staff leadership, but with that controversy behind it, things have calmed down and the library is moving forward again.
It has managed issues related to the pandemic well and is positioned for exciting things, particularly with the Makerspace building that is expected to open this summer on Belmont Avenue near Recreation Park.
Like most suburban libraries, Arlington Heights' has a challenge serving the growing population diversity in the community, but it is making strides in doing so and most of the candidates in the trustee race seem committed to continuing progress as a priority.
Three trustee positions are up for election on the library board - two 6-year terms and one 2-year term. Six impressive candidates are running, and all of them would be good trustees.
It is hard to choose between them, but the voters must and therefore so must we.
For the 6-year terms, we endorse incumbent Carole Medal, whose outstanding skills and insights as chief executive officer at the Gail Borden Library in Elgin make her the clearest choice among all the candidates; and Sarah Galla, who brings a parent's perspective to library service, an arts perspective to the Makerspace development and an awareness of diverse populations and knowledge of mental health needs and resources - all ingredients of a good library trustee.
The third candidate for the 6-year term, Emma Kaden, has a clear dedication to the library and has a lot to offer as someone who sees the service needs from a young adult's point of view. If she does not win, we hope she finds other ways to serve.
For the 2-year term, we endorse Anne "Amy" Somary. This is a tough call. All three of those running for this seat - Jenifer Borrell and Violet Jaffe as well as Somary - offer strong candidacies and we hope each stays involved.
What set Somary apart for us is her public relations background and the contribution she can make to further defining the library's brand and marketing it for the future.