Meet Your Candidates: Bernadette Fahy, Morton Grove Public Library, Board of Trustees

Bernadette Fahy is running for another two years on the Morton Grove Public Library Board of Trustees, the seven-member group responsible for shaping the library's fiscal and operating policies.

According to the PROLibrary website, the incumbent owns a "home-based business to enable her to spend more time with her son who now attends Park View School" and spent years before in sales and management.

Members of the library board serve six-year terms. This year, three seats are up for six-year terms, and one seat is up for a two-year term on the library board. Two organizations are campaigning for spots on the library board: B-PAC (Mark Albers, Paul Berg, David Calimag and Catherine Peters) and PROLibrary (Bernadette Fahy, Laura Frisch, Lawrence Levin and Renee Miller, a write-in candidate). 

Calimag and Fahy are vying for the two-year term spot, while all other six candidates are campaigning for the six-year term spots.

Morton Grove Patch collects the library enthusiasts' notes with the same Q&As for each candidate, publishes them in alphabetical order, and does not change submitted answers in punctuation, style or content.

Now then, let's get down to the questions:

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

Fahy: The Library stays within their budget. Since 2005, the Library’s budget has increased only 10.18% even though usage in every category has gone up by double and triple-digit percentages. 

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

Fahy: We kept expenses as close to the 2010 level as possible, and we saved $60,000 by switching healthcare providers in 2010. Because we have to accommodate legal and contractual obligations, and budget for systems that are beyond their useful life, there aren’t opportunities to cut expenses without sacrificing services.

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

Fahy: The Library operates in a fiscally-constrained environment. The Library cannot charge for programs, cannot issue bonds and cannot carry debt. Our interest income has declined dramatically, and the State has not given the Library its Per Capita Grant. I would like to see corporate/business sponsorship to “Adopt a Program” at the Library. The Board has also discussed naming rights to raise revenue.

Patch: 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).

Fahy: The Library is an excellent resource for patrons to keep up with technology. We recently received a donation of 2 iPads from the Friends of the MGPL, we’re hosting the 2nd Annual TechFest on May 21 and you’ll see 2 pages of Computer Hands-On Workshops in “Books and Beyond”.

Patch: 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?

Fahy: Given the limitations of our building, we don’t have near enough computers, no study rooms and reading areas in the large, main rooms of the Library. We don’t have the space for a refreshments area or money for self-checkout stations at this time.

Patch: Does the wireless connection for patrons need to be upgraded?

Fahy: The wireless connection was recently upgraded in areas of the Library.

Patch: What is your favorite childhood book? What are you currently reading?

Fahy: We didn’t have technology around to distract us when I was growing up, so reading was (and still is ) one of my favorite pastimes. As a child, I devoured mysteries such as Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Agatha Christie, etc. I’m currently reading “Suite Francaise” by Irene Nemirovsky.

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

Fahy: We live in a very diverse community; that’s one of the reasons I wanted to live here. We have a terrific Outreach Coordinator that works with the schools in the area to introduce Library offerings to educators and children. We also have a World Languages section with books and magazines written in a number of foreign languages. Unfortunately, the Library does not have the space to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. Even if a hydraulic lift could be installed in the non-fiction section, the aisles are too narrow for wheelchairs and the shelving cannot be moved because of asbestos in the walls.

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

Fahy: Comments can be given on the Library website, via email or personally to the staff, the Library Director or the Board.

Patch: Does the library need upgrades to its facilities? Be specific.

Fahy: Yes. We need to replace the roof, carpet and some interior finishes; and every major facility system is at the end of its useful life. Because of the age of our facilities, we believe we have to budget to fund the replacement of two major systems in any fiscal year. We don’t have parking, and our collection is well short of what it should be because we’re out of space.

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

Fahy: I was a founding Member of the Friends of the MGPL and was elected as Trustee 2 years ago. In my previous corporate life, I was responsible for branch offices in Chicago, California, Ohio and Texas; and now manage my home-based business. I believe that instead of continuing to spend money…lots of money…on a poorly-designed building with an aging infrastructure and no parking, our tax dollars would be better spent on a new location and a building with access for wheelchairs and strollers, more room for Youth and Teens, multi-purpose rooms, more computers and, of course, more books. A new facility cannot happen, however, without approval by the residents of Morton Grove via a referendum.  I believe a new building would not only attract more patrons, but would add tremendously to the economic growth of Morton Grove.