Library challenger against 100 years' experience
William Olson is challenging a full century of experience on the Schaumburg Township District Library board.
But the 34-year-old Schaumburg resident says he'll provide a forward-thinking attitude on library services and a tougher-minded perspective on finances, which he believes are lacking among the four incumbent candidates.
Robert Lyons has been on the board 40 years, Robert Frankel 32, Ruth Jonen 24 and Anita Forte-Scott four, for a total of 100.
Running as a unified slate, they say they want to provide a sense of continuity for the library's brand new director - the first in 41 years.
The incumbents also point out that, under their oversight, the library has become ranked in the top 10 in the nation for its size in Hennen's American Public Library Ratings.
Olson said he'd bring both professional and personal experience to the board if elected to one of four seats up.
"I'm running because I love the library and am an intense user of the library," he said.
A five-year district resident, Olson believes the changing economy should be forcing the board to reprioritize library spending, particularly for services that are little used.
Though this is his first run for public office, Olson has a degree in public administration and has worked as an economist and development consultant to Peoria, Richton Park and Tinley Park in Illinois and Michigan City, Ind.
Olson said there are predictive economic models the library district should be using to stop relying on "guesswork" for its annual tax revenues.
He believes the library should more aggressive in providing electronic versions of its collection, and said he too would look forward to working with the fresh ideas of new Director Stephanie Sarnoff.
Frankel, who's been board treasurer for several years, questioned whether Olson truly understands how local governments receive their tax revenues if he believed it could be predicted any earlier or better than it currently is.
Frankel added that the library is in strong financial shape and built its Hoffman Estates branch and half its Hanover Park branch with the leftover money when the central library in Schaumburg came in under budget.
The incumbents said they're already adjusting plans to accommodate the effect of the economy on taxpayers - including deferring the conversion of a basement storage space into a teen area.
The challenge ahead will be dealing with declining revenues at the very time more people are turning to the library for free borrowing and as a resource for job searches, Lyons said.
Jonen said the library has steeled itself for a budget deficit for so long that's it well prepared for one that might actually happen this year.
"The library has been very successful at being able to live within its means," she said.
Forte-Scott echoed the sentiments of her fellow incumbents on the library's finances. She also added that the library hasn't offered more selections electronically because copyright laws don't automatically allow it for every publication.