Meet Your Candidates: Mark Albers, Morton Grove Public Library, Board of Trustees

Mark Albers, 50, is aiming for a spot on the Morton Grove Public Library Board of Trustees, the seven-member group responsible for shaping the library's fiscal and operating policies. This is Albers' first campaign for elected office.

According to the B-PAC website, "He has a Bachelors degree from the University of Illinois in Marketing with advanced studies in Computer Science at De Paul. Mark has worked as a merchandising executive at a large international product distributor...Mark founded his own business in sales, marketing and technology in 2008."

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.

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

Albers: In recent years, the levy increased from $2 Million to more than $3 Million per year. There has been a 40% increase in full time staff.  The next budget cycle adds another 5 staff members. The budget, tax and personnel count increased tremendously and yet the library building was not properly maintained and equipment replacement was not budgeted. The Library Board increased its levy 15% in this budget cycle. Why? This board has been fixated on constructing a significantly larger, costly building.  I want to stop these processes and thoroughly review all the operations of the Library. We cannot continue to raise taxes to balance the Library budget ; we must control expenses. We need to be more responsible to the Morton Grove taxpayers and stop looking at building a new facility as the one and only solution. The budget needs to be thoroughly re-examined for waste .

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

Albers:  I want to review the internal numbers that are not generally available to the public; we need to follow the numbers to see how effectively tax payer money is being spent. I have no intent to cut programs as these are relatively small budget items. We need to look at energy efficient lighting, along with building and systems automation. I was involved in LEED projects and we should look at getting our Library to go “green”. By automating processes we save time and money.

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

Albers:  I am completely set against any form of tax hike as a way to raise revenue. We  need to look at Fundraisers, appeal to various beneficial Foundations, we can consider selling naming rights for conference rooms,  we should ask to be included in benefactors wills.  We cannot rely on the state to bail us out. There are many other fundraising activities we can conduct; too may to list here.

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).

Albers: The staff appears to be keeping up with the changing technologies. We need to send staff to conferences and continued education to ensure we keep that edge. The Library needs to offer eBooks, have more computer access for patrons, ensure our computer servers can handle more web traffic, provide staff with state of the art equipment and programs so we can share our knowledge more efficiently and effectively.  Tomorrows library is located on your computer and  on Lincoln Avenue and we must keep up with the changes in technology.

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?

Albers: We must have state of the art technology that matches or exceeds the technology used by nearby businesses and schools. This is what would be expected by patrons. We need to examine whether we have this today. I don’t favor having refreshments and food around books and computers; I have young children and that’s not a good mix. Study rooms and reading areas must be designed for comfort and be well lit. We already have a drive through book drop off and the staff does a wonderful job checking out the books.  I may suggest we prioritize a room for young adults and students so they can do class projects together. We could also upgrade a conference room so local business might use the facility for certain meetings.  I would really like to see more volunteer involvement in the day to day, and long term planning needs of the Library.

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

Albers:  I have not tried to access a wireless network at the Library. Though it is very important  adequate security is built into any wireless connection. This would be best addressed by the Library staff.  We can certainly conduct a poll among users to see if we are meeting their needs.

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

Albers:  I always enjoyed history and eagerly read any books I could about World War II (which my father served in the Pacific Fleet from 1943 to 1945). I can’t name a specific book.  Here’s something most people would not admit to, but I read the entire set of World Book Encyclopedia and the Dictionary.  Today, I read business periodicals, business books, self help books, books on maintaining your health, anything I can get my hands on about new technology and science.

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

Albers:  We are being adequate; but we can do much better. The handicapped person has been denied access to the second floor book racks because the current library board wanted to use this as a reason to construct a new building. Lets get realistic and provide a ramp, or lift, so these folks can get to the books. If we need to reconfigure the racks lets do this too. If we need to do some internal rework to make it more appealing to the visually impaired, lets do so. Morton Grove has a tremendous number of languages being spoken here. We will need to adapt as we see fit to accommodate the needs of all our patrons. Running a library is a dynamic process and adapting to community needs is vital. There is no one size fits all answer here.

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

Albers:  The current board does not appear to value the feedback or input from patrons. Its meetings provide almost no time for questions. I strongly favor moving the Board meetings to the Baxter Room and recording every meeting for replay on MGTV Channel 6. The Library belongs to the citizens of Morton Grove, not the Board.  Citizens will be able to ask questions in my meetings and will get answers!  I will put a link on the website specifically for questions to the Board which are not filtered through the Directors office. No major projects get started without seeking input from citizens first. If the current board listened to citizens, and a former trustee, it would not have wasted years of time and money pursuing a new building.

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

Albers:  The Library building needs some TLC. Its been neglected while the focus of the current Board was strictly on building a new facility. I have a background in HVAC and understand we need to look at new heating and cooling units, along with a new roof. We have to make repairs  and while doing so should look at using energy efficient equipment and lighting for long term payback. Think Green. We also need to look at our internal technology and make decisions on its viability.  There is much to do; again this is a dynamic environment and we must keep up with all changes and needs of our patrons. The upgrades will need to be prioritized, based on a fiscally responsible model.

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

Albers:  Please go to www.B-PAC.org  you will find our 4 candidates platform there. We pledge to deliver on these points. Call or write us, there are links on the site to do this. I have daughters at Golf School and we routinely use the Library; we enjoy this library. I am small business owner of a sales, marketing and technology company. I understand taxes, business issues and the financial realities my friends and neighbors face right now; we must stop the runaway taxation. I do volunteer at my daughters schools and am active at St Martha Church in many respects including presiding over the Parish Council. I am very open to discussions, and feedback,  and look forward to the day open and transparent management of the library becomes the talk of our town. Please vote April 5 for the 4 B-PAC Candidates. We will make a welcomed difference.