Arlington Heights Library Trustee Candidates Discuss Security, Censorship and Digital Content

The four candidates for Arlington Heights Library Trustee addressed issues of concern affecting the Arlington Heights Memorial Library on Saturday, March 16, at a candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Arlington Heights-Mount Prospect-Buffalo Grove. 

Tiana D. Brazzale, Joan Brody Garkisch, Alex Hageli, and Greg Zyck answered questions ranging from the future of digital content use, to issues regarding security, to the possibility of censorship.

Two seats are open on the library board; neither of the incumbents, Victor Johnson and Luis Ramirez-Alonsois, are running again. 

Each issue, and the candidate responses are below. 

Digital content

Zyck said the model for the library is changing and digital content is something “the library has to embrace.” He added that it is necessary to grow with the digital world.

“They’re doing a great job of integrating technology into their programming,” Hageli stated, “they have nooks and kindles to rent out.” As long as the functions of the library are kept the same, i.e. it is kept as a place for reading and research, it does not matter whether it is done with a physical book, or a digital one.

Garkisch agreed with Hageli that technology should be used to carry out the library’s main purposes. How the library can use electronic books and media is something she said she would work on with the board and publishers.

Technology has already helped to improve the library, Brazzale pointed out. Reserving and checking out books are two ways technology has been seamlessly incorporated. She does not believe print books will ever fully go away.

Security

The question at the forum stated that “there have been instances of people being drunk and abusive in the library. The security staff has been slow to respond. What are your thoughts on ensuring security in the library?”

The problem should be addressed, Hageli said, “If there’s a problem, you deal with it.”

Garkisch stated that the code of conduct of the library is enforced by security staff. She said the library works hard to address problems.

The approach to security issues by the executive director of the library is to “police behaviors, not people.” Brazzale agrees with this statement that behaviors are dealt with when they happen.

Zyck supports the efforts and commitment of the security staff.

Censorship of Books & Media

A proponent of freedom of speech, Garkisch states her view against the practice of book-banning. In regards to graphic material brought up on computers, she said the current filters on adult computers prevent access to information. Until better filters come along, she is not in support of them except on computers in the children and teen sections. The privacy screens in the adult section are enough, she said.

Brazzale in general does not support censorship on books. She also supports access to information and thinks that the library’s current policies are sufficient in terms of keeping graphic images away from young eyes.

A legitimate reason would be the only way Zyck would even consider censoring a book.

Hageli said he believes that the library has to make choices all the time about which books to add to their collection, which is not censorship. They should remain responsive to the community and their concerns. He said that all computers facing public areas, and not walls, should have filters.

The Arlington Heights mayoral candidates and the candidates for trustee also took part in this forum.