Activist Toolkit

1) Why do you want to serve on the Library Board? What makes you qualified to serve? What metrics of success do you plan on holding yourself accountable to? 

I want to continue to champion the library and its services. My background is in early childhood education, public service management, and community engagement. I’m an avid reader and the parent of a toddler, so I engage with the library a lot. I would consider our board successful if we see staff retention, increased community engagement, and new library champions stepping up to run next election.

2) How do you make decisions? 

I appreciate a good discussion and strive to keep an open mind. I try to remember that urgency is often manufactured and that good decision making takes leg work, engagement, and deep thinking. I’ve also worked in community systems development for over ten years, so I’m very familiar with root cause analyses and the importance of context and history. 

3) What are the three biggest challenges or opportunities facing the Library in the next three, five, and ten years and how should the board address them over the next four years? 

The biggest challenges facing the library are all external: the national trends of book banning, the criminalization of drag, the distortion of history, and an overall movement towards privatization. The Oak Park Public Library has risen to these challenges, taking action by adopting resolutions to become a sanctuary for books, standing with our staff and leadership, and embracing diversity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that welcomes all individuals, particularly those who have faced historic and continued marginalization and racialization. As a community, we should remain vigilant and take steps to ensure that the library continues to set an example for others to follow.

4) How would you approach the budgeting process? 

I would approach the budgeting process with a thorough understanding of the library’s financial needs and goals. Working with OPPL leadership, I would make sure that our projected expenses align with our strategic plan, allowing some room for flexibility. 

5) What would you say to voters who are worried about the tax burden? 

The library accounts for less than 5% of the overall tax bill and offers invaluable services to the community. So many are hurting right now financially and there are a number of factors that play into that including corporate greed and bad state and national policy. 

6) How do you define equity? Have recent discussions in the larger community informed or changed your thinking? 

 I understand equity as both a process and an outcome. As an outcome, it is when people receive what they need in order to thrive. And as a process, it means engaging and centering the folks who have been most structurally and historically harmed in the establishment of policies and practices. My understanding of equity is deeply influenced from my previous work where my team provided training and technical assistance to early childhood collaborations. We worked hard to embed racial equity in everything we did, recognizing that early childhood is rife with inequities and often sets the stage for a lifetime of inequities. 

I do worry that as a community, we’ve diluted the term equity to mean what we want it to in the moment. There’s a powerful presentation by Angelique Powers on the death of Equity that speaks to this. She talks about how it used to be scary to use the term “racial equity” in organizational discussions, but now it’s become an accoutrement and the pieces that make the word powerful are missing. Ultimately, equity is action. If we aren’t actively working to change the system, then we’re going to continue to have the same inequities play out.

7) How will you seek feedback from patrons who may be experiencing Oak Park’s libraries in a different way than you? How do you think residents perceive the Library? Are there barriers that might make it more challenging for residents to use the library’s programs and services? 

I value feedback and actively seek it out myself. I also encourage library leadership to gather feedback from patrons before proposing changes that could impact their experience. While the library is beloved by many in the community, it's important to acknowledge that there are still barriers to access. Diverse language needs, varying levels of literacy, and accessibility concerns are just a few examples. Fortunately, the staff at OPPL are dedicated to addressing these challenges, though it's an ongoing process that requires continuous improvement.

8) In recent years, the Library has replaced security guards with social workers, increased salaries for its lower-waged workers, and eliminated late fees for borrowers. Do you believe these initiatives have been successful? Why or why not? Are there ways in which you would anticipate expanding or rolling back this work? 

Yes I believe these measures have been very successful. The library should be a welcoming and inclusive environment that doesn't contribute to systemic injustices. This means that we should pay our staff livable wages, disentangle ourselves from the carceral system, and eliminate barriers to access wherever possible. Doing anything else is antithetical to library services.

9) What approach should the Library take towards intergovernmental cooperation initiatives such as the Collaboration for Early Childhood Development? Are there other specific initiatives that you would like to implement or expand upon? 

My previous role involved working closely with early childhood collaborations across the state, so I'm well-versed in the Collaboration for Early Childhood Development in Oak Park and what it does for the community. I'm consistently impressed with their data-driven approach to decision-making, centering of parental voice, and coordination with multiple taxing bodies. While the Collaboration and OPPL already work closely together, I believe there's always room for improvement. Specifically, I would like to see a greater focus on supporting grandparents who are raising or caring for their grandchildren. This can be an isolating and challenging role, and it's a common situation in Oak Park. By recognizing and addressing the unique needs of this group, we can strengthen the bonds of our community and ensure that everyone receives the support they need to thrive.

10) What approach should the Library take towards intermunicipal cooperation with neighboring communities? Are there specific initiatives that you would like to implement or expand upon? 

The Oak Park Public Library already has a strong track record of collaboration with neighboring libraries, which enables us to cosponsor events and attract high-profile authors and speakers. However, I believe there's always more we can do to support our neighboring communities. In light of recent developments in Elmwood Park, I'm particularly interested in exploring opportunities for outreach and staff development that could benefit both our library and others in the region. 

11) What lessons learned from the services provided, or not provided, during the pandemic’s early years, do you believe will be applicable going forward? 

Digital resources and virtual programming are here to stay. Going forward, libraries may need to invest more in their digital infrastructure and technology to ensure that they are able to continue to provide access to information and resources to all community members. 

12) In an era of radical changes to how people find and consume information, what should and shouldn’t change about the services provided by the Library? 

Libraries have transformed in recent years to provide a wide range of resources and services beyond traditional books. It is so important for libraries to remain nimble and responsive to the changing needs of their communities. Overall, I'm impressed with how well the Oak Park Public Library meets the diverse needs of its members. One dream I have for the OPPL is establishing a tool library. While there is already an unofficial one through Facebook, I believe that connecting it to the library would enable us to better serve the community and enhance our role as a hub of resources and information. 

13) How do you feel services and supports for homeless patrons fit within the mission of the Library?

Unhoused patrons are community members and should be treated as such. Homelessness is a policy choice that I hope we can address as a nation, state, and community.

14) Libraries have been faced with deciding whether or not to remove books from their shelves if community members deem the content to be inappropriate, too controversial or objectionable. How would you handle this issue and how should the Library Board handle this question? How could you ensure that ALL points of view are heard and the issue addressed in an open and constructive manner? 

I think it is important to acknowledge that recent attempts to ban books have predominantly targeted materials that highlight uncomfortable parts of US history and amplify marginalized and racialized perspectives. These efforts have a profound impact on marginalized communities, whose voices and experiences are already underrepresented in literature. Therefore, it is really important that library leadership and board communicate the value of preserving access to such materials for readers. A helpful framework for approaching this issue is to ask, “Who is being harmed by this decision?” This question allows us to identify whose voices are being silenced and to center their perspectives as we work to address the issue in an open and constructive manner.

15) What is your favorite Oak Park Public Library program, exhibit, or service? 

I love the cumulation of all its services and events! I probably most utilize the digital collection with audio books and ebooks. But there’s nothing like walking to Dole to pick up a hardcover, or meeting up with other families of toddlers on Saturdays, or finding a quiet space to work when I need a change of scenery.

16) For those who are currently serving or have previously served on the Library Board: What vote are you most proud of, and what vote do you most regret? Why?

I was appointed in June, so my tenure with the library has been relatively short; however, I'm proud of the decisions I've been a part of so far. One of my proudest moments was voting in favor of Joslyn Bowling Dixon as the Executive Director. Her leadership has already made a positive impact on the library and its community. I also supported a decision to increase salaries for library workers, recognizing the vital role they play in serving our patrons and the community. It goes without saying that the library wouldn’t be what it is without the staff.