Tiffany Henderson: Candidate profile

Name: Tiffany L. Henderson

City: Bartlett, IL

Office sought: Gail Borden Library District Trustee

Age: 40

Family: Husband: Larry; Children: Larry III and Anaiah Henderson

Occupation: Attorney

Education: BA in Communications; JD in Law

Civic involvement: Current Library Trustee and Pastor at a Local Church

Previous elected offices held: None

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? Yes. I was appointed to a 2 year term in 2017.

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ISSUE QUESTIONS

Library Board

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

The most important issues facing our library district is staying relevant in a digital age and reaching our entire community. To stay relevant in a digital age we must continue to increase our presence on social media, utilize updated and advanced technologies and engage the community with programs that are of significance to our patrons. The librarians at Gail Borden are a very strategic, diverse group of people that keep there finger on the pulse of the community to address this need. I will continue to support this effort. To reach our entire community we must get to under resourced areas. There are many neighborhoods within our district that are not close enough to a branch or main library to frequent the building so we must go to them. Gail Borden has already made significant strides toward this end by having the library bike and book mobile. I will continue to support and champion the cause of these mobile library options that add significant value to our district.

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

I am running for Library Trustee because I want to give back to a library that gave me so much. Having resources available to all and making sure everyone knows about those resources are issues that motivate me. I could not afford a prep course for the LSAT, so I checked out the LSAT prep books from the library and studied on my own. I was able to get a good enough score to get into law school! Once I graduated from law school I studied for the bar exam at Gail Borden! The library is one of the main reasons why I am a lawyer today and why I am so passionate about making sure everyone knows that their next career, hobby, or skill can birthed from the resources of the library.

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.

As an incumbent for the last two years, my main contribution has been approving the Kane County Teachers Credit Union branch in the library and the book mobile among other things. As a Library Foundation board member, prior to becoming a Trustee, I spearheaded the movement to build the South Elgin branch.

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

I have had a library card from whatever library district I've lived in since I was a child. I have held a library card from Gail Borden Library for approximately 15 years. I do not use my card as often as I could because I (unfortunately) check out items with my kids' cards when we're all together. This is changing now that they desire to check out items on their own!

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 had to change with the times. Over the years, libraries had to grow from being a book repository to being an all around life resource. With the advent of the internet, e-books and social media, libraries have had to create new ways to stay relevant. Now, you can come to the library to record a podcast, make a commercial, use a 3-D printer, take a resume writing class, earn your GED or high school diploma and get your passport. The Gail Borden library is doing exactly what it should to stay relevant and still be the first choice and source of information for the entire community.