Meet Your Candidates: Library Trustee Hopeful Jan Barshis

Jan Barshis has a background as a community college reading specialist and is a lifelong educator. Barshis previously ran a large developmental education program at Harold Washington College in Chicago.

Board members serve four-year terms. Four seats are open this year, and five candidates are running altogether—Barshis, as well as Kathleen M. O'Laughlin, Virginia T. George, Lisa Gaines McDonald and write-in candidate Michael Levitan.

Barshis is especially interested in building on the library's green initiatives. "I will work to ensure that the library reduces its environmental footprint wherever possible," she told Patch.

How would you assess the state of the library district’s budget? If expenses need to be reduced, exactly what would you cut? If more revenue needs to be raised, exactly what would you propose? The library director and trustees have done an excellent job maintaining a cost effective budget while providing a rich variety of services. I don’t see that expenses will need to be substantially reduced unless there is a change in the funding structure of the library..

What’s the best way for the library to keep up with changing technologies, such as the way people access books and materials? (Example: eBooks, iPods, and developing technologies). Is the library adequately providing the following, or do you feel these need to be adopted or augmented: computers, study rooms, reading areas, drive-through book drop-offs, self-checkout stations, refreshments/food. Would you suggest any others? The staff currently exhibits real skill in keeping up with changing technologies, and I think we should continue to rely on their expertise. The computers, study and reading areas, book drops, and self-checkout stations seem more than adequate. My preference is for personal contact with the staff at checkout who are always courteous, helpful, and professional. I don’t see the necessity for refreshments and food as part of the library service, except for special functions. These, of course, would need to be kept cost-effective.

Does the library get adequate feedback from patrons? If not, how would you increase the flow of communication? I have personally received feedback from Library staff on suggestions I’ve made over the years. The suggestion box gives patrons an opportunity to voice concerns or make recommendations.

Does the library need upgrades to its facilities? What do you think of the Village's and how it will relate to the library in the future?  The library has recently upgraded its facilities, and, to my mind, improved the environment. Outside, adequate parking with easy access to the library continues to be a problem, but, hopefully, it will be further addressed as the Village begins implementation of its Master Plan.

What are you currently reading?  I am currently reading three fascinating, but very different books. "The Big Burn" by Timothy Egan tells the story of an extremely destructive fire in 1910 that consumed three million acres of our Northwest forests as the nearly 10,000 men tried to hold it back. The backdrop is the recounting of the story of Teddy Roosevelt and his chief forester, Gifford Pinchot, and their pioneering work to preserve public land as a national treasure belonging to every citizen. "Seeds of Deception" by Jeffrey M. Smith chronicles how both industry and government have misled the public about the dangers of the genetically modified food that we’re eating. And "Deep Blue Home" by Julia Whitty, beautifully explores the wonders of the ocean and our need to preserve it