Meet Your April 5 Candidates: Danette Matyas, Niles Library

"All politics is local" and "The closer to home, the greater the impact on your pocketbook" are two truisms in politics.

The candidates in local elections affect how much you pay in taxes, and what you get for your money, more than candidates in Springfield and Washington, D.C. 

So who are these folks who will impact your life and money? Find out on Patch. Then make an informed choice when you vote in the April 5 election.

Danette Matyas 

Candidate for the Niles Public Library District board

Accessibility: Citizens need to be able to contact their elected officials to voice their opinions, so Patch is noting how accessible they are. Danette Matyas has a phone number listed on whitepages.com.

1) How would you assess the state of the library district’s budget?

The library funds are very healthy because of the extraordinary job that both the staff and board are doing in keeping expenditures within the budget.

 2) If expenses need to be reduced, exactly what would you cut? Be specific.

The director and department heads would evaluate their areas to determine what they believe to be needed and not needed and then present their findings to the board for review and approval.

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

If revenue raising was a necessity I would be stricter on late fees, raise the copy machine price, and consider renting out the meeting rooms.  There are not many places that provide free meeting rooms.  Another idea would be to find local companies within the village to sponsor a variety of areas in the library.

4) What’s the best way for the library to keep up with changing technologies, such as the way people access books and materials? (Example: eBooks, iPods, and developing technologies).

Patrons can learn how to use and checkout eReaders.  Numerous on-line services and databases are accessible.  There are a couple of self check-outs for patrons in a hurry.  

5) Is the library adequately providing the following, or do you feel these need to be adopted or augmented: computers, study rooms, reading areas, drive-through book drop-offs, self-checkout stations, refreshments/food. Would you suggest any others?

 I would like to expand in order to allow for more quiet rooms.  There is currently no drive-through book drop-off but, I don’t think that with the present layout one could be put in.  

6) What is your favorite childhood book? What are you currently reading?

My favorite childhood book was the Nancy Drew Mysteries.  I enjoy Danielle Steele books and just read Heartbeat, which I own.

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

Yes, the Niles Library has movies, large print books, and books on tape.

8) Does the library need upgrades to its facilities? Be specific.

The parking situation needs improvement.  I would like to look into improving this matter without raising the taxes.

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

I am a mother of two grown children and grandmother of a three-year-old.  While my children were growing up I worked full time, took care of my family and returned to school.  I received my bachelors degree in business management from DePaul University in 2006.  I have been at my place of employment for 30 years, in the Finance department. 

Technology is always changing for the better.  If elected I would expand the computer classes for seniors and look into offering after school programs for the children.  Education is the number one priority.