Four candidates are battling for three opens spots on the River Forest Public Library Board of Trustees in the sole contested race this April. They include a lawyer who has penned several books, a retired Spanish teacher and a stay-at-home mom looking to get her first novel published.
Jennifer Rice Epstein, 33, said library trustee will likely be the only political office she’ll ever seek. She believes the library is running pretty smoothly and wants to help move it forward.
A River Forester since May 2009 and an aspiring writer, Rice Epstein believes the library board could use a writer’s perspective. In a recent endorsement interview, she spoke of interest in bringing writers to the River Forest library, possibly for a workshop.
Rice Epstein said the parking situation there is “terrible,” but she isn’t sure how they could solve the issue. She’d like to see the library bolster its collection while remaining within the confines of its current space
“It’s kind of exciting to think of being involved with something I already respect and like and think runs well,” she said.
Tom Smedinghoff, 59, is a lawyer in a tech-related practice that deals with intellectual property. He’s written several books, most of which are related to technology and Internet law.
He was inspired to get involved with the library when he looked at the changing landscape of the book industry and the shifting roles of libraries.
“We need to start thinking about what is that role, and how is it going to change,” he said.
A River Forester since 1981, Smedinghoff said he doesn’t have any specific gripes with the library, which he calls the “community living room,” but said he’d like to see the organization do what it can to get students’ eyes off Twitter and into books, possibly by rearranging to give more space to teens.
Mary T. Small, 78, is retired from a career as a marketing researcher, where she dealt with a $3 million budget. She calls the library a “treasure,” and says she goes there nearly every day. She would like to help run the place.
Small believes she has the required background, after previously serving on St. Xavier University’s board of trustees and the Friends of the Library board.
A village resident for almost 50 years, she said the library building does need some deferred maintenance and suggested the library could pursue fundraising to help increase its budget and expand its offerings and community presence.
Claudette Zobel, 76, has a degree in 15th century Spanish literature, and previously taught Spanish at Morton West High School in Berwyn. She decided to run after a retiring board member suggested it.
She figured she had the skills after previously serving on the Oak Park Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and the board of the Oak Park-River Forest Day Nursery.
She also finds little to criticize about the library, saying the organization has been pretty “lean” in its spending.