Rachael Rezek: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Rachael Rezek

City: Grayslake

Office sought: Trustee, Grayslake Area Public Library District

Age: 44

Family: 2 retired racing greyhounds (and 4 nieces and nephews who still talk about our trips to the library and ask me to suggest books for them, even though they're all grown up)

Occupation: Librarian

Education: BA in Classics and Archaeology from George Washington University; Masters in Library and Information Science from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Civic involvement: I have been involved in greyhound adoption for twenty years, and have served on several fundraising committees for animal groups and other organizations. I established a volunteer literacy tutor program, and volunteered on several library networking groups and committees at the local and national level, I and am involved in business and community development organizations through work.

Previous elected offices held: None

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

Website: N/A

Facebook: facebook.com/VoteforRachael

Twitter: N/A

Issue questions

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

I think our biggest challenge is funding. Compared to neighboring libraries, our tax base is small, with little room for growth, and residents feel pinched by property taxes. I have experience with fundraising and grant writing, and believe the library could do more to raise outside money. Our building is due for some thoughtful updates, in addition to normal maintenance. I would like to see some upgrades in the youth area, to make it more inviting to younger patrons and their parents, and I think it is important to regularly review how patrons are using or would like to be using the library. Sometimes, you can make substantial improvements at a very low cost (and sometimes a larger investment brings a value many times the cost). I feel we are not taking advantage of opportunities to save money and share resources that neighboring libraries are using, and our patrons would find these services very helpful. I would like to consider all of these options, so our patrons do not miss out.

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

I am running for library board because every day I see the good that libraries do in the community, and I want to do my part to help Grayslake Library continue that tradition. Putting my professional and personal experience to work for my neighbors seems like a wonderful way to do that. My personal "library passion" is literacy, both as it is traditionally imagined and in newer forms, such as digital literacy. I have spent years running a volunteer-based tutoring program for adults, as well as teaching technology classes of all kinds, from basic computer and internet use to cloud computing, internet safety, and "cutting the cable" classes. I have seen firsthand how much mastering these skills can change a person's life, whether it is finally being able to read a bedtime story to their child or learning how to video chat with a grandchild in another state. The Grayslake Library staff does a wonderful job addressing these needs, and I would be very proud to help them continue.

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.

This is my first time running for office, but I have been a public librarian in Lake County for twelve years, and bring extensive knowledge of the library world the laws, regulations, and best practices that apply to us; the issues we face; and various methods to address those challenges. I have worked with most major the library vendors, services, and technologies, and know the long-term costs, benefits, and drawbacks they carry (and how to assess them). Because of this, I can do a great deal to help the board keep expenses in check while maintaining our high quality library services, and expanding on them where that is needed. I also have a great deal of experience with fundraising, grant writing, and marketing through my previous career in advertising and other volunteer work, and would love to put those skills to work for the library.

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

I have had a library card since I was 5, and the first thing I did after I closed on my house in Grayslake many years ago was stop at the library to get a new card (I literally drove from the title company to the library, and THEN to my house). Between print books, movies, and e-materials, I usually have 5-15 things checked out at any given time.

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 have changed a great deal in the twelve years I've been a librarian. Digital resources are incredibly popular, while print is still what people of ALL ages prefer. Offering books, music and movies in so many different formats puts enormous pressure on the library budget, and publishers and distributors are always adjusting the pricing on these digital materials - sometimes with no notice. There is a constant push and pull between being a place for books, research, and quiet reading, and being a busy where people gather to work, have fun, make new connections, and learn new skills. The truth is, we are both, but it is for the community to decide if we prioritize one over the other, and in what ways. To remain a vibrant and important part of the community, the library needs to understand that our patrons' needs are always evolving and need to be reviewed regularly. Our library enjoys strong support from the community, and I would like to see us do more frequent needs assessments, including surveys and other tools to get honest feedback about what users (and nonusers) have to say.