Meet Your Candidates: Mary Therese Small, River Forest Library Board of Trustees

Mary Therese Small, 78, is aiming for a spot on the River Forest Public Library Board of Trustees, the seven-member group responsible for shaping the library's fiscal and operating policies. 

Members of the library board serve six-year terms. This year, three seats are up for election. Four candidates — Small, , and — are vying for spots on the board.

Small is retired from her work in marketing research for a major food company. Her day job now, she said, is "having fun." From 2008 to 2010, she served on the Board of Trustees at St. Xavier University, where she was also chair of the President's Library Board. Currently, she serves on the River Forest Township senior services board. 

Patch: How would you assess the state of the library’s budget?

Mary T. Small: At the present time and to my knowledge, River Forest Library operates on a balanced budget with reserves.  Additionally Village TIF funds recently distributed $66,000 for library use, a substantial sum for a one-library use. 

If expenses need to be reduced, exactly what would you cut?  Please be specific.

Unlike some suburban libraries, our library has not curtailed hours and/or services.  The public has use of the library 12 hours a day on four days  and 9 hours on two other days. Sunday hours during the school year (4 hours).  

If we were to look at reduced expenses, hours could be considered.

If more revenue needs to be raised, exactly what would you propose? Please be specific.

The library's Strategic Plan 2010-2013 proposes to pursue creative funding and has already established the Dr. Edwin and Mary Liebner Endowment Fund as an active way to access more funds.

The library seems to have robust offerings of eBooks, audiobooks, etc.  Are you aware of any other developing technologies that patrons can use? 

Yes, there are substantial electronic materials and resources at this village library including Kindles and several e-books.  Classes are also available on several subjects including Social Networking.  

Does the library have WiFi?  If so, how would you rate the connection?

It is quite common to see patrons using WiFi connections throughout the library. Both adults and children have sufficient computers for use.  Upstairs in the Adult department, there are 5 dedicated computers with internet connection for up to 180 minutes each day per card holder. 

Additionally, there is a guest computer for checking e-mails, or printing out board passes.  Another computer has no time limit but is without an internet link for use on Word, Excel or Powerpoint.

What are you currently reading?

Just finished Irish author Maeve Binchey's March release, Minding Frankie.  I read the preview in Bookpage, a monthly publication on new books, children's and adults, a gift from The Friends of the Library available while supplies last.  When I asked about this book, I learned it was already on order and I was notified by email when it came in.  How's that for exceptional service? 

I am a fan of "gentle fiction"  and find a plethora of such books available:  my favorites by Alexander McCall Smith, Farahad Zama's Marriage Bureau for Rich People, Helen Simonson's Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and all of Jan Kavan's The Mitford Series and  Fr. Tim novels.

Is the library adequately reaching out to diverse populations, i.e., people with primary languages other than English, people with visual difficulties, others?

The diversity of our population is served not only with books but a myriad of other services. I've already enumerated some in the previous points. 

The Friends of the River Forest Library provide dollar support each year for the Children's Summer Reading program that serves great numbers each year.  In 2010, the program served over 600 children including special teen activities. 

Does the library get adequate feedback from patrons?  If not, how would you increase the flow of communication? Please be specific.

A written suggestion system is available and action at staff or board level is taken. 

Special publication requests can also be handled effectively through the inter library loan program. The staff also provides "Book Blogs" of new personal favorite books.   

Please assess the Lathrop Avenue facility.  Does it need any need improving?

Our historical and updated building was recently re-roofed, a major expense now in the past. 

The Strategic Plan calls for on-going maintenance and continued updating.  It's been amazing to see "new spaces" evolve as some collections are culled and current demand items, DVD, Blue-Ray,CD's and videos are expanded.

What else would you like voters to know about your positions on issues, point of view or qualifications?

For the past six years, I have been immersed in University Library issues at St. Xavier University, Chicago, my alma mater. 

As chair of the President's Library Advisory Board, I considered such matters as Library Expansion, Library Modernization, possible new library site and design and The Library of the Future and its service to the community. 

I look forward to sharing not only this board experience but my community knowledge through Township Senior Services and my business management acumen in research, budgeting and technology. I can frequently be found in the River Forest Library at a computer.  Please introduce yourself and consider a vote for me on April 5Th, "Mary T for Trustee!".