2011 Election Issues: Nancy Wendt Healy, Orland Park Public Library Board Candidate

Eight candidates are vying for three seats in this year’s board of trustees race. In Patch's issue-specific questionnaire, incumbent candidate talks about how, as treasurer, she has closely monitored the library's finances and which energy-reducing endeavors she supports.

What is the biggest problem(s) facing the library? How do you propose to solve it?

The biggest problem facing the library is the uncertainty regarding the state’s ability to pay their bills. The library systems have been forced to consolidate. In the future the state may no longer be able to contribute funds to subsidize library services such as delivery and the online catalog.  This problem does not have a specific solution. Board members should support the library director in her efforts to oppose assessments based strictly on volume or size of the library.

How do you propose constructing a budget that doesn’t burden taxpayers, while keeping the library competitive and desirable?

As treasurer I closely monitor library expenditures. I know our staff makes every attempt to control expenses but there is always room for improvement. Specifically in this year’s budget we took a critical look at health insurance and made (sure) certain employee contributions were at a level comparable to the percentage village employees pay for their health benefit. I have been responsible for requesting discounts from office supply vendors. I have supported changes in the business manager’s function that have resulted in lower expenditures for accounting functions

How do (I) propose to keep the library competitive and desirable? Material expenditures are reviewed frequently and usage data is maintained. We have increased spending for new media such as Nooks, electronic books, games and DVD’s. We frequently update software in our computer lab so patrons are trained on the latest versions. We have improved seating in our “Next chapter” senior area. We have a redesigned pre-school area. We offer free wi-fi access and have over 50 computers available for patrons.

The library offers beginner programs such as yoga and knitting to our patrons. These classes are offered at minimal cost. I have personally attended computer classes, concerts, lectures, book discussions and author events at the library. I think anyone who is on the library board should be an advocate for the library within the Orland community. Word of mouth advertising is the most effective means of getting more new faces into the building.

How do you propose bringing talented artists and authors to the library, upping the number of library card holders and bringing those members through the doors?

The outreach department schedules frequent programs for our cardholders. They strive to offer variety in their programming. Staff share ideas with personnel from other libraries in order to determine which type of event will result in the highest patron participation.

The adult and children’s department frequently invite local authors to the library. However, we are not “on the radar” of national publishers and cannot rely on those sources. I believe we offer our patrons value when we have book signings during author visits. Business sponsors provide light refreshments and generally the authors allow photos to be taken.

I was personally responsible for two standing room only author events. Mary Pat Kelly author of  “Galway Bay” and George Wendt author of “Drinking with George” both regaled residents with anecdotes from their books.

Some say the state’s financial woes threaten Orland Library’s system of exchanging books with other libraries. What is your understanding of this issue, and how should Orland Library prepare in the event it needs fund its own delivery of books?

The board needs to anticipate that the delivery function will need to be outsourced. Under the current system delivery is on a daily basis. The state provides funding. In the future the Orland library may need to explore the possibility that interlibrary loans will be delivered less frequently. Another option is to have a private local delivery service and the Orland library would exchange books with libraries in a smaller geographic area. Either of these options would cut the expense associated with the delivery function.  (It should be noted that the state will fund interlibrary loan delivery through the end of 2011.)

The Smart Energy Design Assistance Center performed a study on the library this summer and determined its energy consumption was higher than average. The study offered several recommendations to curb consumption. Which recommendations do you support? Are there any other ways you propose cutting back on energy?

What suggestions do I support? The redesign of the HVAC system is a costly endeavor. The library staff has committed to writing grant requests for the funds to do an in depth analysis of the efficiency of the HVAC system. The suggestion is that activating heating and cooling systems within the library could be more efficient if based on occupancy rather than time of day. This sounds logical but I would need to understand the costs to the library before committing to a change.

I support the suggestion to change vending machine lighting to a motion sensor system. (No cost is associated with this change.) I also support the suggestion to reduce lighting wattage in areas where patrons do not notice the effect.

What is your favorite book?

A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer.