The Wednesday Journal sent questionnaires to each person running for public office in 2025. The Journal’s questions are in bold and the candidate’s responses are below.
Political experience
I am a first-time candidate for local office. Considering especially that only approximately1 in 5 library trustees across the country are democratically elected (rather than appointed), I am honored to participate in this competitive local election for a trustee seat on our library board. I have been civically and politically engaged since my twenties, engaging especially in national and international movements for gender and LGBTQ justice, racial justice, and anti-war efforts. I have been a proud union member for over 10 years, first with UAW and currently CWA, and am a member of the Working Families Party.
Community experience
I moved to Oak Park six years ago with my partner and our two children in search of a community to raise our non-traditional family in a place where we could find belonging, grow together, and build community. We have since grown deep roots in our Oak Park community, especially through our local public school and our public library. As a working parent with two children attending school in District 97 and as a passionate educator myself, I am deeply engaged with our local school and community, including in my volunteer role co-coordinating our school’s PTO-sponsored after-school enrichment program.
What are the greatest challenges facing the Oak Park Public Library?
We face challenges common to many urban and suburban libraries, including meeting staffing needs, maintaining services and facilities amid resource constraints, and ensuring accessible and equitable services for a diverse community with varied interests, from youth to elders to people with disabilities. OPPL navigates these constraints with professionalism. Funded almost entirely by local property taxes, the library’s sustainability relies on the community’s social and economic wellbeing. While this may soften the impact of federal funding cuts, these rollbacks are adding strain to our community and increasing pressure on the library. As a trustee, I will prioritize supporting the library in weathering these challenges while ensuring it remains a vital pillar of our community.
In the face of national attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion policies, how will you protect and enforce DEI at the library?
Protecting and sustaining OPPL’s work to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion starts with recruiting, supporting, and retaining a diverse staff and promoting the vibrant community engagement, outreach, and partnership efforts that OPPL staff have innovated in recent years. In the face of national attacks on DEI and the fear and self-censorship they attempt to induce, our independence as a locally funded public library affords us an opportunity to remain steadfast in our values of upholding democratic, inclusive, equitable practices and fostering community belonging. As a trustee I will offer resolute leadership to ensure our library remains accessible, responsive, and accountable to everyone in our community and that we hold the line on our commitment to anti-racism and DEI.
When a new executive director is hired, how will you help ensure a smooth transition and strong leadership?
Fostering a smooth transition and enabling our next Director’s success would be my top priority. I would ensure a comprehensive transition plan is in place that sets clear timelines, responsibilities, and initial goals, clarifies the board’s role in the process, and ensures that staff are appropriately included in the transition process. I would also work with library leadership to facilitate meetings between the new director and key staff members, community partners, and local leaders to facilitate relationship-building and knowledge sharing. To foster open communication and alignment, I would propose regular check-ins between the board and the new director during their initial months to ensure they receive adequate support, troubleshoot challenges, and adjust goals or the plan as needed.
What is your take on the library as a third space, or place outside home and work that allows locals to connect with their community?
Our library is a crucial third space in our community, a free and public gathering place where all walks of life –all ages, genders, racial identities, class backgrounds, and abilities– can come together. With third spaces like these ever rarer, it is perhaps the only place many of us cross paths and engage with some of our neighbors, especially with those who differ from us generationally, culturally, or socioeconomically. That has always been important for fostering social cohesion, community resilience, and civic engagement; but it’s more vital now than ever that we protect our library’s ability to provide a welcoming and equalizing space for encounter–not only with information but also each other. As a trustee, I would ensure our library remains a vibrant community hub.
What should the policy be on banning books at the OPPL?
I support the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read statement and the principles of intellectual freedom. We must stand firm against book banning and other censorship efforts that violate our fundamental rights and values, in alignment with our status as a Book Sanctuary City. As trustee, I would advocate for policies that protect access to diverse perspectives while ensuring appropriate material placement. I trust our library’s professional staff to carry out their delegated role of managing our library’s extensive collections based upon these principles. As trustee, I would be committed to ensuring our library follows democratic principles and practices, including providing free access to information from various viewpoints and defending intellectual freedom in our community.
Please add final thoughts not covered in this questionnaire. These responses may appear online.
I am running for Trustee of the Oak Park Library Board because I want to ensure that we realize our vision of being a library for all, for always. Our library is a pillar of our community and a cornerstone of our democracy, and I hope to have the honor of doing the work to defend and support this cherished resource in our community. You can learn more about me and my campaign at: annieforoppl.com. See you at the library…
