Politics & Government

Meet Your Candidates: Renee Miller, Morton Grove Public Library, Board of Trustees

Candidate Renee Miller runs for one of the six-year term seats on the library board.

Renee Miller is running for another six-year seat on the Morton Grove Public Library Board of Trustees, the seven-member group responsible for shaping the library's fiscal and operating policies.

Miller has served on the library board for 12 years, and is a retired elementary school teacher.

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). 

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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.

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

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

Miller: Our library is a self-governing library that has the right to set its own tax levy because we are a home rule area. We levy, the village collects for us. Our budget is in good order and we have been able to keep a reserve to cover emergency repairs or cover bills when the state does not pay its bills. We have lived within our budget by planning carefully for the 12 years that I have been on the board.

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

Miller: If expenses need to be cut back, it would be difficult since every penny that is budgeted is accounted for either for books and other library materials and programs all of which are well used and attended. We would probably go to the patrons and ask what they wouldn’t mind not having before we cut out anything. It is the patrons that use and attend library materials and programs.

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

Miller: Since the library has few options to raise revenue, this is a difficult question to answer. Unlike the village, we do not charge for all our services, but rather rely on tax money, interest and an occasional grant or donation. Those options are few and far between of late, leaving us with the only way we could raise money, and that is through the tax levy. We have kept the levy low for many years and would do our best to continue to keep it low and still have sufficient funds to run the library on a day-to-day basis.

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)

Miller: The library has a very qualified tech staff who have been working diligently to maintain the library’s ability to accommodate patrons’ growing need for new technologies. They would continue to provide classes in the use of the new technologies as well as updating existing systems whenever it is economically possible.

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?

Miller: Based on space limitations, the library is providing as much technology as possible to patrons. We presently have a small are for computer usage and an automated sign-up system to reserve time on these computers. At present there is no self-check out system due to the high cost of such equipment. In addition, there is very little unused space in the building for study rooms. Presently, students must work out in the library open spaces and maintain a certain quiet level.  At present there is no space to accommodate a food area, though this has come up for discussion at board meetings. Large reading areas are comprised of the main floor area and the reference room.

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

Miller: The present wireless system has been upgraded in some parts of the library just recently. This is an ongoing thing in order to accommodate the patrons use of the system.

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

Miller: I am such an avid reader, that I would have a hard time choosing just one favorite book. I have always enjoyed mysteries and have read all of Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories and Agatha Christie. At present I am doing a project with my granddaughter. We are reading the Rebecca Caudill nominated books so that she can decide what book to vote for to receive the award.

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

Miller: I believe that our library is reaching out to all segments of the Morton Grove’s population to the best of our ability and space limitations. We have an ongoing relationship with MCC school and other schools in the area so that children are becoming great library users. Our collection of ethnically based books is slowly growing considering our space limitations.

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

Miller: At present, patrons have the option to blog on the library website. Comments are always welcome at the circulation desk or to any of the staff at any time. The director’s door is open to patron compliments/complaints and he does his utmost to improve what needs to be improved.

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

Miller: In a word YES. The library does need to upgrade the facility and the collection. We are presently short (according to state standards) about 160 books due to a severe lack of space. The building and systems are long past their useful life according the engineering studies that have been done in the last two years. Because of space limitations, the present location does not allow the library to expand in situ, parking is at a premium, (even using St. Martha’s lot on which the church wants to more than double our rent for the coming year) and the building’s present construction does not allow an addition to go up since it could not sustain the weight of additional floors.

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

Miller: I have served on the board for the last 12 years and lived in Morton Grove for over 45 years. My children grew up here and attended school in District 69 where I also worked for over 29 years as a full time teacher and presently sub on a regular basis. I also tutor children who are in need of extra help outside of school. I have been an active member of FUND69, an active parent group who raise money for teacher grants beyond what is provided by the district. To date we have granted over $25,000 dollars to the staff of the district.


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