joan fishman
wilmette library board

​candidate video

responses to voter guide questions

1. Why are you running for library board and what are your qualifications?

• As a current library trustee and vice president, I’m running for re-election because I want to continue working to foster growth, change and meeting the needs of the community.
• I support the WPL’s mission statement, and the library director’s and staff’s efforts to enhance and increase equity, diversity and inclusion-focused programming. I also support the American Library Association’s intellectual freedom statements.  
• I’ve been involved with the library for many years and served as president of Friends of the Wilmette Public Library for four years. I’ve also been involved in the community at the Wilmette/Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce, Wilmette League of Women Voters, Women’s Club of Wilmette, New Trier Democrats, Go Green Wilmette and American Field Service (AFS).

 
2. What are your priorities for Wilmette Public Library (WPL) and how will you work with the board and library staff to address them?

• Encouraging a welcoming library and safe space for community members of all interests and points of view is a priority. The public library is just that – open to everyone with resources for all ages and affiliations. The staff does an outstanding job offering programs and events of interest to the youngest to oldest visitors.
• I see myself as a collaborative board member and respectful of varied points of view. I look forward to working with the new trustees and sharing my experience.  
• It’s important to continually ask, what’s working and what could be improved.
• Continue to seek recognition as a Five Star Library from Library Journal’s annual evaluation of American public libraries.

 
3. What have you done to educate yourself on the workings of WPL, including its operations and finances? 

• As a current board trustee, I’m a member of the Finance Committee and participate in annual budgeting, oversite of facility maintenance, resource projections and strategic planning. All board members review monthly finance and operations reports. Additionally, all financial information and board agendas and minutes are posted online to ensure transparency.

 
4. How well is WPL meeting its Strategic Plan goals and are there any areas you would like to address?

• I was involved in Strategic Planning in 2018-2021 (as the president of Friends of the WPL) and this current process last spring. It is vital that the board and staff review community, building, and technology needs, as well as assessing industry changes and trends. The recent community survey was also instrumental for collecting feedback.
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion must always be top of mind.
• For the WPL to become a library of the future, it is necessary to review the building spaces to meet both the community and staff needs. While we must work with the building footprint, building updates could be necessary. I would support more meeting, quiet reading and study spaces and electrical access at tables and seating,  
• Ongoing community surveys and meetings are useful for listening to our patrons. Then marketing and promoting programs and resources to the community.

 
  5. How do you view WPL’s value to the community beyond books and other media?

• The WPL is a vital community resource that is welcoming, accessible, and a safe place where patrons and visitors of all ages can interact and learn from each other. The library excels at offering in-person maker programs, hands-on technology, the Library of Things, musical programs, lectures, book clubs, cooking demos and relevant discussion groups -- all examples of innovation at the library beyond books or other media.