Jennifer Banek: Candidate profile
Bio
Name: Jennifer Banek
City: Green Oaks
Office sought: Cook Library Board Trustee
Age: 45
Family: married with four children: Emma (23); Lillian (17); Gabriel (14); Lukasz (13)
Occupation: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist
Education: Master's Degree in Nursing
Civic involvement: Captain in the United States Army Reserves, I have served for 8 years and continue to serve
Previous elected offices held: none
Incumbent? No. If yes, when were you first elected? N/A
Website: N/A
Facebook:<URL destination="https://www.facebook.com/jenbanek/"> Jen Banek For Cook & Aspen Library Board
</URL>Twitter: N/A
Issue questions
What are the most important issues facing your library district and how do you intend to address them?
The expansion of the Aspen Drive Library is one of the most important issues. This is a $7M project and requires fastidious attention to planning and excellent communication. I am interested in serving on the committee dedicated to the Aspen Drive Library expansion research and planning. Another pertinent issue that will require addressing is the repair or replacement of the Bookmobile. This is an exciting service that is widely used by community members. I would like to explore options to maintain this resource for our patrons.
Why are you running for office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what is it?
I am running for office because I feel it is important that as residents of a community, we should take a vested interest in leading community initiatives. It is my mission that the cares and concerns of residents are considered and amenable plans are implemented.
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 am a non-incumbent candidate. The library board encompasses portions of Mundelein. I was a Mundelein resident for many years, and presently, I am a Libertyville resident. Having lived in both communities gives me additional perspective. I intend to be prepared for meetings by doing any necessary outside reading or research and am interested in serving on board committees when opportunities to do so arise.
Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?
Yes, monthly.
What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?
I recently took a tour of both the Aspen Drive and Cook Libraries and was thoroughly impressed by the resources offered and how the library has adjusted to the needs of the community. The Aspen Drive Library, in particular, accommodates up to 100 youth during after school hours. They are greeted by "Ken," one of the library employees, who meets the children at the front entry, often by name, and helps manage this influx of young patrons. I was impressed by the popular recording studios that are available at both library sites; the one at Aspen Drive will be upgraded during the expansion so that it will be similar in quality to the one at Cook Library. In addition to a wonderful selection of traditional materials available for checkout, the libraries offer Roku (technology that helps with streaming video media), digital hot spots, selfie sticks, GoPros (action cameras), DSLR cameras (digital single-lens reflex camera), and even passes to many popular museums.