by Christina Stoll

The MLS Board of Directors is pleased to announce the Slate of Candidates to fill the open seats on the Board. Two are incumbents interested in continuing their service to the MLS membership, and five are new nominees who seek the opportunity to serve. At the beginning of a strong nationwide voting trend, MLS would like to see the membership actively engaged in selecting from these nominees. We encourage everyone to participate in the governance of the system by voting.

Voting for the FY2011 MLS Board runs from Thursday, May 6, 2010 through Friday, June 11, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. Election results will be reported to the MLS Board on Monday, June 21, 2010 and will be announced to the membership via MLS E-nnounce on Wednesday, July 7, 2010. Election results will be posted on the MLS website on Tuesday, June 22, 2010.

PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEES (NEED 3):

Crystal Megaridis currently serves as a board member of the Indian Prairie Public Library District. She first served 2006-2009 and was re-elected 2009-2012 as Treasurer. She also currently serves as Vice President of the MLS Board of Directors. 

“I have enjoyed being a proactive board member. During my term I worked closely with members and staff on sustainability issues, which led to the establishment of the MLS Foundation. I have repeatedly advocated with our legislators on behalf of MLS and, during this tumultuous year of insufficient funding from the State, I chaired the Planning Committee.” 

Crystal  holds a MLS degree, is a 2006 Synergist and a member of both ILA and SLA.

John Chrastka is a public library trustee for the Berwyn Public Library. His, his term runs through 2012.

Offering his reasons to serve, John notes,  “The services that MLS and the sister system offices provide to libraries in Illinois enable Berwyn to be a much larger library than it is by square footage or staffing. By participating in governance, I would hope to help ensure a more stable future for MLS.”

As Director for Membership Development at ALA, John is familiar with funding and governance challenges for department and district libraries.”I have participated in legislative advocacy for Illinois libraries and feel that the most significant job for a trustee is to build relationships with funders while standing in between staff and micro-managers at those funding sources.”  John is a member of both ALA and ILA.

Murray L. Barr is a public library trustee for the Homewood Public Library. His term,  2005 -2011.

The son of a librarian, Murray spent much of his formative years in his mother’s library. “My mother was the head librarian for the local elementary school system and she instilled in me a healthy respect for libraries.”

Murray wishes to serve on the MLS board because “MLS will be facing a crisis during the next two years. I believe my skill set can benefit the MLS in analyzing the data and finding solutions to mitigate or resolve issues. I am an attorney licensed to practice law in Illinois. I have experience in drafting legislation, interpreting legislation, drafting policy, interpreting court decisions, and advising clients on compliance issues.” Murray is also a member of ALA.

ACADEMIC LIBRARIES (NEED 1):

Merri M. Monks is the Director of the Learning Resource Center at the American College of Education.

She currently serves on the MLS Board of Directors. Her term is 2007-2010, and she wishes to continue her service on the board. “With the retirement of the current executive director, in spite of the State's budget crisis and its effect on library systems, I believe this shift offers great opportunities to MLS to move forward in some very new directions, with new leadership. I would like to be part of the new shape of the system.”

Merri was a MLS consultant (2002-2006). She was part of the reorganization from SLS to MLS, serving as a staff member on a committee of MLS board members, staff and system member librarians to analyze the proposed merger, and to determine strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats at that time.  “My significant familiarity with the system, its changes, its current strengths and weaknesses, how its staff functions, and what its members want will enable me to continue to be of service in an effective way to represent the interests of academic librarians specifically, and to serve MLS as a whole as it goes through the changes in front of us.“

Merri’s prior library experience includes Stanford University Medical School, a CPS library media specialist, and a publications manager at ALA for the divisions YALSA and AASL.  She currently serves on four other boards of directors, is the editor of The Enneagram Journal, and has worked with a variety of not-for-profit organizations to facilitate change and leadership development. Merri holds a certificate in project management from the University of California at Berkeley and is a member of ILA.

SPECIAL LIBRARIES (NEED 1):

Amy Affelt has been a special librarian for over 15 years, currently working as the Director of Database Research for Compass Lexecon. An active MLS member, she has served on the Reference Advisory Committee and the MLS Organizational Planning Committee.

Amy articulated her wishes to serve on the MLS board. “I would be privileged to serve on the Board of Directors in order to help find the opportunities that will help MLS move into the future in such a way that honors its commitment to its membership and to librarianship at large.”

“As a member librarian, I have benefited tremendously from the continuing education and networking opportunities that MLS offers. I believe strongly that MLS is very important to the library community in that it provides amazing learning opportunities that are not only close to home and but also low in cost. It also serves to unite librarians from libraries of all types to idea-share and help us to see that our commonalities are so much greater than our differences. There simply is no better place than MLS to learn and grow as a librarian! As a member of various MLS committees, I have been awestruck at the commitment and dedication of not only MLS staff but also the member librarians who volunteer their time to help the system grow and prosper, especially during this tumultuous, challenging period for libraries. Even in the current economic environment, there are many opportunities for libraries to change and grow in order to remain vital, viable, and vibrant; we just need to look for them.”

Amy is an active member of SLA, currently serving as Chair of the Public Relations Advisory Committee, the Membership Chair, and the Alignment Ambassador for the SLA Business and Finance Division. She has also been a program planner for the SLA Leadership Annual Conference and Management Division, has written for SLA Legal Division Quarterly, and has presented at the SLA Annual and the Internet Librarian Conferences. A published author in the information industry, Amy has written for Online Magazine, Searcher Magazine, Alert Publications, and Information Outlook. She is also a member of ILA, ALA, the American Association of Law Libraries and the Chicago Association of Law Libraries.

PUBLIC LIBRARY ADMINISTRATORS (NEED 1):

Megan Millen is the Library Director for the Flossmoor Public Library.  A librarian for 15 years, Megan has served on countless boards and committees ranging from local business associations to state-wide library initiatives.

“Along with being a library director for the past eight years, I have been a practicing library consultant. I have consulted with boards on topics such as vision planning, future trends, and building remodeling. Additionally, I have done building programs for several new library buildings, some of which are standing today. I bring an open mind and a fresh approach to the table.”

Megan sees that being an MLS board member is a great service opportunity. “I believe in the Chinese philosophy that in crisis, there is opportunity. In this time of potential crisis in the State of Illinois, there is also tremendous opportunity for real leadership and a reshaping of library systems to be better than ever. As someone who likes to look at all sides of issues and develop unique solutions, I feel this would be an excellent time to be part of a dynamic team.”

She is a LACONI Administrators' Immediate Past President, a member of the ILA Best Practices Committee, MLS Advisory Committee, MLS Organizational Planning Committee and member of ALA, PLA and ILA.

Mary A. Tuytschaevers is the library director for Acorn Public Library District
.
Mary  wishes to serve on the MLS board to help find creative solutions to issues facing our libraries. “I have been on System committees in other states and am very concerned about the state of libraries and systems in Illinois. I feel my varied background would be a support and help in this economic climate. I am open to other ideas and welcome the collaboration and networking. I do think we need to begin thinking ‘out of the box’ to solve some of these crucial issues.”

Mary has worked in a variety of libraries in several states, and on system committees in Illinois and other states.  “I have an open mind and a service attitude. I have also attended several leadership workshops”, she says. She is a member of ALA, ILA, MPLA, and BPM.

To read the entire application for each candidate and to vote, visit http://www.mls.lib.il.us/board/index.asp.

Contact Dorothy Kovacs at kovacsd@mls.lib.il.us or (630) 734-5147 with any further questions.

Published May 5, 2010 in vol. 4, iss. 9 [View]