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<br />LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANSWERS FOR APPLICANTS BEING INTERVIEWED
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<br />Board.
<br />please share why you may not
<br />have one.
<br />in general?
<br />accessibility?
<br />would be beneficial for this position?
<br />Allie Benz
<br />I have always been passionate about libraries. Not only is
<br />reading a way to explore other worlds and perspectives, but greatly enjoy using it :)
<br />libraries are one of the few third spaces remaining in
<br />American culture. In addition to my personal interest in
<br />libraries, I also have a professional one. I work on the
<br />Strategy and Evaluation team at the Denver Public Library,
<br />which focuses on budget, strategic planning, data collection,
<br />and program evaluation. Given my knowledge of how
<br />libraries operate and my perspective of working from the
<br />strategic side within one, I believe that my perspectives and
<br />insights could be beneficial to the Library Board.
<br />I do have a library card! And I
<br />The layout of the library centers staff, which is beneficial when creating a welcoming
<br />environment and seeking help. In addition, the website is incredibly easy to navigate.
<br />In terms of change, I would like to see expansions of the Acme labs to provide additional
<br />resources, and I think tying actionable items to the Strategic Plan as well as publicly
<br />publishing success metrics/KPIs could be beneficial to track library growth and willingness
<br />to change.
<br />Accessibility of knowledge and resources is priceless.
<br />Allowing people the space to learn, grow, and educate
<br />themselves and others is vitally important to building a
<br />community of engaged and connected individuals. In
<br />addition, having a place where persons can meet and
<br />learn from one another is necessary to increasing
<br />feelings of connection and neighborliness.
<br />The library needs to ensure that it is not only welcoming of all persons, but
<br />*perceived* as welcoming of all persons; BIPOC, LGBTQ+ folks, and persons with
<br />disabilities may feel trepidation in entering a public institution even if that
<br />institution isn't intending to be foreboding.
<br />Library staff and decision makers need to reflect a diversity of thought and
<br />backgrounds such that marginalized communities are represented and centered
<br />at all levels.
<br />Non -English languages, non-traditional storytelling, and books by historically
<br />underrepresented authors should be championed by the library to 1) create a
<br />space in which everyone can see themselves and feel included, and 2) allow
<br />persons to broaden their perspectives and understandings of those with
<br />different backgrounds and lived experiences
<br />I work in the library strategy space, and have a variety of tools,
<br />connections, and job experiences that are representative of that. It
<br />would allow me to be a useful thought partner in this work.
<br />I have a Master's in International Human Rights, so I have a generally
<br />strong understanding of how policy affects communities.
<br />While I can never speak for a community, as a queer and
<br />neurodivergent person, I hope that I can help bring a diversity of
<br />thoughts and perspectives to this work that may otherwise not be
<br />represented.
<br />Lauren Fagnani I absolutely love the Louisville Library and would love the Yes.
<br />opportunity to serve on the board. I am currently a stay at
<br />home and mom of a 1.5 and 3.5 year old. Serving on the
<br />board would give me the chance to participate in something
<br />our family is very passionate about. We frequent the library
<br />and it has become a big part of our life and routine.
<br />We love how engaging the library is for our children and other children of all ages. One
<br />thing I would change is the addition of more copies of recent and popular books to the
<br />library for adults. For example, in the past I have had a hard time getting a copy of the
<br />most recent Reese's book club pick.
<br />The library provides access to information and a place
<br />for people to meet and socialize. For our family it is a
<br />place to learn and play.
<br />The library is a welcoming, safe, and free space for all to visit. The library has an
<br />important role in promoting equity, providing materials that are accessible for
<br />those with disabilities. The library also provides resources and cultural
<br />enrichment.
<br />I have my Bachelors degree in Biology and graduated with 3.8 GPA. I
<br />have a strong skill set in customer service. I worked in a very
<br />demanding setting for those expecting the highest of standards at the
<br />Four Seasons Private Residences in Denver. In this position I was in
<br />charge of organizing small events, creating a monthly newsletter, and
<br />reaching out to local businesses for special deals and
<br />accommodations for the Four Seasons residents. My most recent
<br />position was at Boulder Medical Center where I worked as a Medical
<br />Assistant in Internal Medicine. In this role I honed my organizational
<br />skills, attention to detail, problem solving, time management, and
<br />effective communication.
<br />Alan Halpern We've been active library patrons in every community where Absolutely. See above. I mostly
<br />we've lived. I almost always have several books checked out use the digital version of my card
<br />and several on hold. I rely not only on Louisville's own in Cloud Library to manage my
<br />collection, but also books from libraries in the local network account.
<br />and Prospector to find books and reference materials. I've
<br />also used Prospector and online research materials to find
<br />academic research materials I've used for projects or
<br />teaching I've done. When we were designing a house after
<br />losing ours in the Marshall Fire, we borrowed numerous
<br />housing and design books and magazines to gather ideas.
<br />I'm sure I don't know the full range of services and programs that the library offers, their
<br />utilization and impact in order to choose a lowest priority.
<br />I would absolutely maintain and broaden the ways patrons can access the library
<br />collection. It's important both for accessibility and the promotion of literacy and
<br />information literacy that people be able to browse the collection physically and digitally; to
<br />search it in person and at home through the website (or an app); to borrow print, digital
<br />and audio versions of library resources; and to receive assistance from staff or assist
<br />themselves using computers in the library or apps on their phones. There may be other
<br />options in use or available, and the library should continue to review and explore those
<br />tools. The more ways people can access materials, the greater the chance they'll find and
<br />use what they want and need.
<br />I know the library manages its budget for greatest impact. I would expect that the staff
<br />review programs continually to ensure that they are utilized, to understand their impact,
<br />and to choose the combination of programs and services that achieve the greatest impact
<br />with the available resources. I hope that the board is a resource in this process, providing
<br />anecdotal information, individual perspective, assisting in data collection (where possible),
<br />and providing additional eyes for review, analysis and decision making. (I understand the
<br />board's role is advisory, but I expect program management and goal setting is a
<br />community process striving for consensus.)
<br />Libraries are essential public spaces in many ways.
<br />Physically, they provide space for meetings and public
<br />services, including voting. Their collections form a
<br />repository of stories, data, information, and lore that
<br />undergirds a common culture and promotes
<br />understanding. They may facilitate communal dialog.
<br />And they promote both English literacy and data literacy.
<br />Ina time when public discourse mixes opinion, fact and
<br />fiction in increasingly confusing ways, being able to find,
<br />evaluate, understand, challenge, absorb and process
<br />information is ever more important.
<br />The library can reflect the diversity of its community and its surrounding
<br />community in its collection, staff, processes and programs. Visiting a library
<br />exposes us, ideally, to familiar and unfamiliar stories, to information that
<br />deepens and challenges our own convictions, and that broadens our
<br />understanding of ourselves and the world. The more diverse and inclusive the
<br />offerings, the more welcoming the library is to everyone it can reach.
<br />I've long appreciated the simple welcome signs on the doors and the inclusion of
<br />pronouns on name tags which should help many visitors feel safe, seen and
<br />welcome at the library.
<br />I've paid less attention to the library's accommodations for different abilities. I'm
<br />sure the building conforms to ADA requirements. Over the last decade, I've
<br />become more sensitive and attentive to the needs of declining vision and
<br />hearing, frequently unacknowledged, among seniors, and cognitive differences
<br />within the entire population. I don't know all the ways these differences or
<br />changes affect the accessibility of the collection, but I'm learning and paying
<br />more attention.
<br />I served on a library board in Ohio before we moved to Louisville,
<br />including as president. I launched that library's citizen advisory
<br />council, participated in a successful bond issue, and helped launch
<br />and structure a review of the facility in preparation for a major
<br />remodel. I also managed a synagogue with a collection of about 6000
<br />volumes. A team of volunteers managed the daily operations, and I
<br />assisted them in digitizing the catalog by reviewing and selecting the
<br />software, hiring a team of students to enter the collection into the
<br />software, and integrating the public interface into our congregational
<br />website.
<br />I've worked in the private and not -for -profit sectors managing
<br />operations, finance, marketing, membership, facilities, human
<br />resources. I'm comfortable gathering and analyzing data, am highly
<br />proficient with Excel, Google sheets, Microsoft Word, and Google
<br />docs. I'm familiar with design programs including InDesign, Publisher,
<br />and Canva. I have a rudimentary understanding of HTML and
<br />conceptual grasp of CSS.
<br />Lynn Johnson
<br />I'm a fairly new resident of Louisville after living in Golden Yes
<br />for over 40 years. I'd like to contribute something to my new
<br />community. As a retired classroom teacher and school
<br />librarian, I believe I have the skill set to provide advice and
<br />insight about libraries. I am a very frequent user of the
<br />Louisville library.
<br />I would definitely keep all the various access points for returning library books. I would It provides a focal point and resource center for the
<br />love to have longer hours on Saturday and Sunday but appreciate the evening hours during community. I love seeing so many children using the
<br />the week. library.
<br />Most importantly, the public library needs to continue to provide information
<br />and resources for all members of the community, whether we agree with them
<br />or not. DEI is becoming a controversial topic and I'd like to think we could stay
<br />above the fray. We need to see ourselves and others in what we read.
<br />I was an English major in college, a high school English teacher and
<br />then an elementary school librarian. I also worked in the legal
<br />profession, primarily as a legal assistant, so I have experience in
<br />reading and comprehending policy and complex documents.
<br />City Council 9-10 December 2024 Packet
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