Jenny Norton: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Jenny Norton

City: Lisle

Office sought: Lisle Library District Trustee

Age (on election day): 38

Family: Modern

Occupation: Director of Accounting

Education: Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Certified Public Accountant

Civic involvement: I participate in several volunteer and fundraising activities for nonprofit groups every year with a focus on organizations that work to eliminate homelessness, disease and hunger.

Previous elected offices held: N/A

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? No. N/A

Website:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FirstFourForLisleLibraryBoard

Twitter:

Issue questions

What are the most important issues facing your library district and how do you intend to address them?

The current board recently approved a 2019-2022 strategic plan which outlines four main areas of focus for the near-term: Outreach/Awareness, Facility Optimization, Organizational Culture, and Technology/Innovation. I agree that all four areas of focus in this plan are very important and I am particularly keen to focus first on increasing Outreach/Awareness. I believe that this initial focus will stimulate community participation which will then yield the real-time feedback necessary to drive the decisions and action plan for Facility Optimization, Organizational Culture (Vision/Values), and Technology/Innovation. One of my goals is to be a champion for implementing the strategic plan in order to best serve the needs and wants of the community and ensure that the library remains relevant and valuable for all its stakeholders - taxpayers, patrons and staff.

Why are you running for office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what is it?

I am very passionate about Lisle and its library and I want to serve both in a capacity that aligns with my values and experience. As a taxpayer, patron, and accountant, I represent a pragmatic and moderate viewpoint that will help ensure healthy productivity, a high degree of collaboration, and sound decision making by the library board over the next term. I am particularly motivated to promote initiatives to increase library utilization and to incorporate the recommendations of the board-adopted strategic plan so that we can maximize the library's value to the community.

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 have a strong background in finance and accounting. This gives me a variety of relevant skillsets and expertise to contribute to the board including financial planning and analysis, process improvement, leadership, professional ethics, customer service, complex problem-solving, strategic management, contract evaluation, academic research and technological optimization. I plan to be heavily engaged in initiatives that are aimed at implementing the recommendations of the strategic plan and to be a conduit for ongoing community feedback in order to act as a true representative of the people we serve.

Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?

Everyone in my five-person household has a library card and is an active patron. I have been a library patron since I moved to Lisle in 2012 and have been a regular member in the monthly mystery book club since 2014. As a family, we collectively enjoy the wide variety of book and movie genres that the Lisle Library offers. We've also taken advantage of some of the virtual perks of the library, including museum passes, ebooks and the language learning subscription at Transparent Language Online.

What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?

Federal funding for libraries has been strong in recent years, so despite Illinois' economic issues, public libraries are generally faring better now than 8-10 years ago. Libraries have learned from the previous downturn and have become more fiscally responsible in carrying a respectable reserve, and paying close attention to what communities want. Libraries are also spending tax dollars and grant funding more wisely. Many households, and in particular Illinois households, struggle to make ends meet with their current property tax obligations, so libraries must be cognizant of the need to balance the responsibility of maintaining a thriving community asset with the practical limits of taxpayer contribution. Technological changes have been the impetus for libraries to evolve their staffing, program offerings, and electronic media in order to continually meet and exceed their patrons' needs. Libraries now have IT staff available to work directly with patrons. Libraries also offer programs covering a variety of computer-based topics such as coding, 3D printing, and computerized sewing. Many libraries have mobile hotspots, and ebook devices available for checkout. The library's strategic plan, cultivated with feedback from the board, staff, and community, is key to ensuring that the library remains relevant and optimizes its value within the community it serves.