Meet Your Candidates: Janet Kelenson, Oak Park Library Board of Trustees

Janet Kelenson is hoping to retain her seat on the seven-member Oak Park Public Library Board of Trustees, the group responsible for shaping the library's fiscal and operating policies. 

Members serve four-year terms. This year, three seats are up for election and only three candidates — Kelenson, incumbent and write-in candidate — are running, making the election uncontested. 

Kelenson, a "semi-retired attorney," has served on the library board since 1991 and has also been a member of the village's transportation commission. 

Patch: How would you assess the state of the library’s budget?

Janet Kelenson: The library board, working with staff, has addressed increased demands for services without an increase in the levy. Among the accomplishments with the 2011 budget is a decrease in the library’s overall tax levy because the village refinanced our construction debt. 

To respond to increased demands for services while keeping costs under control, adjustments in staffing have been made.  We previously had a manager at each branch library, now we have one manager. 

The human resources position was replaced with a librarian, who brings both personnel and library skills.  Our well-received new program of “greeters” as you enter the main library frees up security guards to be more readily available where needed. We have also budgeted for new computers and software to replace what is now outdated. 

If expenses need to be reduced, exactly what would you cut? Please be specific.

It’s somewhat unrealistic to specify where cuts might be made at some future time. Given that caveat, our practice is to look at underutilized services, where elimination would result in a savings.  An example is the earlier weeknight-closing hour for the branches (we moved from a 9 p.m. to an 8 p.m. closing time based on lower usage during that last hour of the day). 

Our online tutoring service might be cut, since usage in Oak Park is lower than at comparable libraries that have the same service.  We would not eliminate the service, however, until our contract period expires so meanwhile we are trying increased publicity for the service to generate more use and possibly renew the contract.

If more revenue needs to be raised, exactly what would you propose? Please be specific.

There are numerous examples of non-tax revenues that we have raised in the past year.  A request to a foundation that had not donated to us in several years resulted in a $10,000 donation, supplemented by a smaller amount in contributions from community members.

Our Friends group works with us on fundraising projects. The Smartypants Olympics has been held twice, netting additional contributions and goodwill.  We have cosponsored author programs, held outside the library, with a small entrance fee charged. We have revitalized our fundraising committee, which I currently chair, and are actively pursuing additional non-tax revenue sources. In the past we have considered naming rights, and we plan to re-examine that option.

The annual book fair returns to Oak Park and River Forest High School this year.  This is great news because excess expenses at an alternate site last year reduced net revenues.

The library seems to have robust offerings of eBooks, audiobooks, etc. Are you aware of any other developing technologies that patrons can use?

We now have four free smartphone apps that can be downloaded, with more on the way.  We have a presence on twitter as well.  We recently revamped the teen portion of our website, and expect to have a much more interactive website by the end of this year.

How would you rate the WiFi connection at the Main Branch?

We are glad that we can provide WiFi to library patrons.  A “frequently asked question” about WiFi at main is how to log on.  There are instructions at our service desks, and our staff is happy to help patrons log on. 

When there is heavy use, such as on weekdays after school, both our wired computers and the WiFi system tend to slow down. 

We’ve relayed this concern to Illinois Century Network, our provider, and have asked them to increase our bandwidth.  And keep in mind that our branches also are WiFi hotspots.

What are you currently reading?

I am reading Conspirata, historical fiction of ancient Rome by Robert Harris.  I am also reading When Everything Changed by Gail Collins, a history of American women from 1960 to 2009.

Is the library adequately reaching out to diverse populations, i.e., people with primary languages other than English, people with visual difficulties, others?

A key part of the library’s mission is to serve our diverse population.  We provide books in languages other than English and now that we are part of SWAN, our ability to access non-English language books has increased tremendously. We partner with Literacy Volunteers of Western Cook County by providing rooms for literacy tutoring. 

The main library offers two computers for patrons with visual impairments.  Our transgender resource collection has garnered accolades nationwide. And our delivery service to the homebound is extremely well received.

Does the library get adequate feedback from patrons? If not, how would you increase the flow of communication? Please be specific.

If you doubt that we get plenty of feedback, just take a look at the FAQ and Suggestions area on the front page of our website.  

Our board often gets e-mails, phone calls, and in-person comments from community members. Staff, both frontline and administrative, hears a great deal from the community.

That being said, there is always room for additional communication opportunities.  Election season definitely presents many chances for exchange of viewpoints.  I believe that the new, more interactive website that we are developing will facilitate feedback and communication. 

Also, the library board is currently planning a forum on the role of technology in achieving the library’s mission.  Public input will be an important part of that discussion.

Please assess the Oak Park Public Library’s facilities. Do they need improving?

Tremendous improvements have been made in the library’s facilities.  The main library opened in 2003, and Maze and Dole have undergone major renovations.

Yet we continuously need to look at possible updates.  The areas of greener and updated technologies are just two of those we need to look at.  A specific challenge and opportunity that we have now is at the main library, with the departure of the All Aboard Snack Shop. 

We are looking at changes that would make the vestibule space more integrated with the rest of the main library functions.

What else would you like voters to know about your positions on issues, point of view or qualifications?

I am a longtime member of the library board and have served as board president and vice president.  I am currently the board liaison to the Friends of the Oak Park Public Library and have been an active volunteer for the Friends’ annual book fair for several years. 

Concurrent with my service on the library board, from 2004-2010 I served as a member of the board of the Metropolitan Library System, the regional library system, including two years as MLS board president.  I was honored as Illinois Library Trustee of the Year in 2005.