Skokie Library Board Election

Three current trustees of the Skokie Library Board are on the ballot April 4th and your votes for Gene Griffin, Michelle Julaton Mallari and Mary Pietrucha (Punch 1, 3, & 4) will help ensure that the award-winning Skokie Public Library continues its excellent service for all.

I, Gene Griffin am president of the board and have been a trustee since 2015. I am a retired attorney and clinical psychologist, who spent my career working with high-risk youth. My wife and I raised our three children in Skokie and have lived here for over 30 years. I founded the Skokie Community Foundation and have volunteered in other local organizations.

Michelle Julaton Mallari is a public-school administrator who has dedicated her career to fostering the love of reading. Michelle draws on her 20 years of experience as an administrator, elementary school teacher, reading specialist, and interventionist to create systems that focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. A Skokie native, she volunteers at the Niles Township Food Pantry and serves on the Skokie Fourth of July Parade Committee as well as other committees. She accomplishes all this while keeping up with her three children, PTA, and school sports teams.

Mary Pietrucha is our newest board member who brings business and technology expertise to the board. Mary has spent the bulk of her career developing educational toys, software, and books for children. She, her husband, and dog have lived in Skokie for four years. In addition to her work at the library, she serves on the Skokie Stormwater Task Force. Mary spends personal time perfecting her arts and crafts skills through drawing, weaving, and creating ceramics.

The Skokie Public Library is an outstanding community resource. The hard work, care, and dedication of the amazing staff and administrators combined with the support and guidance from the board have led to many successes. This past year, over 1.3 million items were checked out and people visited 400,000 times, with several thousands more attending programs virtually. Last year the library completed a beautiful renovation of the first two floors, adding more interactive spaces, cutting edge technology, and study rooms. At the March Board meeting, the board approved the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated between the union and library administration. These milestones have all been accomplished without the board of trustees raising the library’s tax levy during the last five years.

The library board of trustees is responsible for establishing the mission, vision and governing policies of the library as well as the annual tax levy. The seven volunteer trustees are publicly elected for six-year terms on a staggered two-year basis. This April, three of the board positions are up for election and all three incumbent board members are on the ballot.

Mary, Michelle, and I have and will continue to work together to maintain the following principles at the library:

• Intellectual Freedom- We strongly endorse the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, and are committed to Intellectual Freedom, ensuring access to information and resisting movements toward censorship and book banning.
• Inclusive Vision- We serve and celebrate our diverse community as reflected in the library’s strategic plan.
• Strong Budgeting- We believe in fiscal responsibility to Skokie taxpayers by maintaining sound financial oversight while also ensuring the library is fully funded now and for the future.
• Technology- We support staff in sourcing and implementing cutting-edge technology. Access to technology is a crucial equity issue. BOOMbox, Maker Space, and Digital Media Labs are just a few of the library's best-in-class resources we are proud to support.
• Outreach- We believe outreach is critical in bringing our community together and fostering an environment for learning and discovery. Whether it be the bookmobile bringing materials to those who cannot get to the library or hosting events like Storytime and other performances, we believe in the power of people connecting through the library.
• Investment- With a successful renovation under our belts, we will continue to invest in our library to ensure we have the best resources, materials, policies, and spaces for patrons and staff.

We want the library to continue to be an enriching and supportive environment where everyone is welcome.

As the incumbent library trustees on the ballot, Michelle, Mary, and I have demonstrated our dedication to the library and our community and we look forward to continuing to serve as your trustees. Vote for Mary, Michelle and me this April 4th. Punch 1, 3, and 4. Re-elect Skokie Public Library Trustees