Only Three of Four Lake Zurich Residents Will Be Elected to Library Board

Four Lake Zurich residents are seeking election to three available positions on the Ela Area Public Library Board of Trustees in Tuesday’s Consolidated Election.

Incumbent Kathy Caudill is currently board president and is seeking reelection. Cindy Blank, Tim Jackson and Tracy Suykerbuyk are the other three candidates.

Lake Zurich Patch asked them why they want to serve on the library board and what is the most important issue the library faces and why. Here are their answers with the candidates presented in alphabetical order.

Cindy Blank

Why She Wants to Serve: I love our library and my family has enjoyed using the services provided throughout the years. I think our library is great and has a wonderful reputation, so I come with a clean slate — no agenda to try to change things. Since I have recently took early retirement from Kraft Foods, I have the time and the desire to give back to the community that has provided so much for us during the past 29 years.

Most Important Issue: Continuing the assessment, development and implementation of programs and services that address current and projected needs of patrons is key.  Economic changes have highlighted the need to look at value, ensuring that the library is providing cost effective services that are meeting the needs of its patrons.  The Board must ensure that expenditures are responsible within the budget of anticipated tax revenue.

Kathy Caudill

Why She Wants to Serve: I love our wonderful library. My family has benefited greatly from the many programs and services our library offers, and it has been my privilege to serve on the Ela Area Public Library District Board of Trustees since 2003. I welcome the opportunity to continue to give back to our community through service on the board of the Ela Area Public Library.

Most Important Issue: I believe our greatest challenge in the near future will be to continue to maintain quality services and programming even as our area experiences less growth and anticipated reductions in tax revenues in the coming years.

Tim Jackson

Why He Wants to Serve: I have had the privilege to serve our community in other leadership capacities in the past.  In these previous roles I believe I made positive contributions by helping the professional staff meet their goals and objectives while being true to their strategic mission.  When I was asked to consider a leadership role on the library board, I reflected on what I know of the library as it functions today, its challenges going forward and how might my skills benefit the Library.  I think there is a good match – my financial and strategic management skills can help the Ela Area Library meet its mission now and into the future.

Most Important Issue: The most important issue facing the Ela Area Public Library is the need to create tight alignment of the Library’s Strategic Plan with that of our community’s expectations. Ela Area Library and all publicly funded entities are under incredible scrutiny to be good stewards of public monies. As a result, the Library’s strategic plan should reflect the right mix of future vision and pragmatic financial planning.  Meeting that challenge is the biggest issue facing the Library Board.

Tracy Suykerbuyk

Why She Wants to Serve: I am running for Library Board Trustee because I love Ela Library and as a resident I am invested in its continued success.  I want to help ensure that it will be a vital part of our community for my family, now and in the future.

Most Important Issue: The most important issue facing the library today is keeping up with current technologies while still being financially responsible.  The internet and now the rise in eBook-reader use have forced libraries to change the resources available to their patrons.  I believe Ela Library has made great strides at becoming one of the area leaders in technology use at the library.  I would like to see even more push toward technology both in education for the community and to serve the patrons that are looking for new technology but may not have the resources to have it at home.

I believe a library will and should always be a relevant part of a community.  It will always be a wonderful place for children, teen and adult activities centered on learning.  It is a safe meeting spot for teens to study.  It helps showcase the local culture and also bring different culture programs to the patrons.