Meet Oak Lawn Library Board Candidate John 'Sean' Kelly

John "Sean" Kelly is running for his first term on the Oak Lawn Public Library Board of Trustees. Five candidates are vying for two seats on the library board. Trustees serve six-year terms. The library board is responsible for governance and overseeing the provision of library services to meet the needs of the Oak Lawn community. Local elections are April 2. Early voting is going on now.

Name: John "Sean" Kelly
Occupation/employment: Director of Risk, Security and Compliance for The National Restaurant Association.

1) Why do you want to serve on Oak Lawn Public Library Board of Trustees?

I’ve lived in Oak Lawn for most of my life and have deep roots and connections here. Oak Lawn has been a great place to grow up, and it’s an even better place to raise a family. Our library is at the center of our community, both literally and figuratively. It does a lot of good things, but I think improving what it does and what it offers will make Oak Lawn better still. When I was younger, I spent hundreds of hours at the Oak Lawn Public Library and relied upon its vast resources for my school work. When my daughters were younger (they are in their 20s now) they also used the library, but very infrequently, given the vast amount of resources that people today have at their finger-tips. We don't use the library as much as we used to because times have changed, and our library has to change with them. For example... The library sends out a newsletter, which is packed with information about all of its offerings. I think the newsletter is great, but I feel like it is information overload for most people. Of course, there is still a need for the newsletter, but there may be an opportunity to enhance communications like more targeted mailers and a better use of social media.

My 10 years of service on the Village of Oak Lawn’s Special Events Committee gave me the opportunity to work closely with Village officials and others and helped me get a better understanding and sense of the Oak Lawn community. I would like to use that experience and combined with my business and technology background bring a new and more innovative approach to the library, in a way that is less burdensome on Oak Lawn taxpayers.

2) What makes the library’s mission meaningful to you?

As previously stated, the library is at the center of the Oak Lawn community, a community that I love. But a library has to be about more than just books and magazines -- it has to be a true community center: A place where individuals and groups can gather and meet and socialize and learn. I truly believe we can make the Oak Lawn library the envy of the Chicago-land area.

3) What skills, resources, and expertise do you bring to the OLPL board? What do you have to offer the library board?

I have been in the Information Technology field for almost 30 years, and over that time I have developed complex systems for some of the largest companies in the Chicago area. I have managed teams and projects and developed strategic plans that benefited their organizations, and plan to do the same at the library if elected.

4) As a board member, what would you like to improve at the library?

I would like to make sure that the Library’s offerings, programs, and services are the best possible, and eliminate those that get limited interest. I would like to see more outreach to Oak Lawn citizens and better use of social media and communications methods. I would like to see far more effort devoted to the library’s finances and see where we can eliminate waste and reduce the money we take from taxpayers. Finally, I would like to make sure that the library is ready for the future…that it has a strategy that makes the best use of technology and allows it to adapt to the changing needs and desires of Oak Lawn residents.

5) How can the OLPL board work with the Oak Lawn Board of Trustees on the library’s annual budget?

When my friend Pat O’Donnell first approached me about running with him for the library board, that was one of the primary reasons he said he was running. Pat spent two years as the Oak Lawn treasurer and had difficulties working with the library, difficulties he thinks can be eliminated by working together with the Village. I agree with that.

6) For the past several years the board has raised the library’s property tax levy? What can the library board do to trim operating expenses?

The first thing I plan to do is analyze where the library’s money is being spent. I plan to look at all products, services, and programs and see how well they are working. Ones that don’t work either need to be improved or eliminated. And for the ones that do work, look at ways they can be improved or made more efficient. We need to look at every process and see if there is a better or more efficient way of doing it.

7) How would you improve transparency on the library board?

The library needs to create detailed plans and financial reports and make this information easily available to Oak Lawn taxpayers.

8) How would you approach budget constraints and/or live within the library's means? Why would you be a good steward of taxpayers’ money?

I have years of experience working with difficult budgets. It comes down to planning, prioritization, managing effectively, and sometimes finding creative ways to do things that need to get done, but do them for less money.