I'm running for Library Trustee because I believe public libraries provide essential resources that empower individuals at every stage of life, for every resident, and they are critical for our communities. As a Barrington Area Library trustee, I will advocate for: 

• OUR COMMUNITY

• OUR LIBRARY, and  

• LIFELONG LEARNING

WATCH THE LIBRARY TRUSTEE CANDIDATE FORUM HERE
It gets a bit interesting starting at the 33 minute mark, with a rebuttal from me at the 36 minute mark, if you don't have time to watch the whole hour.

I'm firmly against banning books. There's room on the shelf for everyone's story, and every person in our community should have the opportunity to see themselves in books. We are fortunate in this country to have the freedom and responsibility to choose which books we want to read for ourselves. Parents have the right AND the responsibility to decide which books are appropriate for their children, and only their children.

EXPERIENCED TRUSTEE FOR OUR LIBRARY:

• Two-term public library trustee in Dedham, Massachusetts: 

  • Retained the library’s state accreditation after the financial crisis in 2008.

  • Spearheaded campaign to modernize the library's branding and expand community outreach. 

  • Co-founded the Dedham Library Innovation Team (DLIT), which received the Massachusetts Library Advocacy Award from the Massachusetts Library Association in 2015.

  • Maintained strong fiscal management and strategic growth to keep our library nimble and vibrant, with materials and resources that meet the needs of all residents.

  • M.B.A. from Northeastern University and years of professional experience in marketing and communications within companies like GE Financial (now Genworth).

  • Committed to ensuring our library continues to thrive while remaining fiscally responsible.

  • Personally frugal: still driving my 2011 Honda Odyssey, and hoping she'll make it through the next six years while we pay for college tuition ;-)

FOR OUR COMMUNITY:

I'm a mom, a gardener, a reader, a runner, and I've been an active community volunteer for the past 10 years:

• Mom of three: two are graduates of St. Anne's and Barrington High School, and my youngest is a junior at the high school) who attended both St. Anne's and District 220 schools.

• Active member with Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, BHS Soccer Boosters and numerous PTOs: St. Anne's, Lines Elementary, Station Middle School, and Barrington High School. 

• Marketing volunteer with BStrongTogether, a local 501c3 that collaborates with local schools and organizations to enhance the health and well-being of Barrington area children and youth from early childhood through high school and beyond.

• Alpine Runners of Lake Zurich Board Member since 2021. 

• Volunteer with Barrington Giving Day, helping to create displays to connect books with readers.

• Volunteer with BeSmart, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes secure gun storage and helps to distribute free gun locks.

• In these roles with BStrong, Alpine Runners and BeSmart, I’ve organized community events, fundraisers, and initiatives that foster connection and address important local issues.
  
  

FOR LIFELONG LEARNING:

As an avid library user and strong library advocate for the past 20 years, it still amazes me how our library provides so much for every resident, no matter their age or season of life, and how important it is to have:

• Programming for preschoolers, as well as elementary and older students,

• Books and resources for all ages and stages of life,

• Storytimes for kids and opportunities for their caregivers to connect to other adults,

• Spaces for tutoring, Scouts, organization events, crafts, music and meetings,

• Spaces for older students to meet and study together,

• Spaces for professionals to work "from home" without actually being "at home,"

• Professional spaces for college kids and job seekers to have online interviews,

• Book groups for different interests,

• Regular visits from residents at The Garlands,

• Convenient book lockers and book drops around the 72-square mile library district,

• Materials delivery to home-bound residents,

• Concerts and music appreciation classes,

• FandomFest!

• Learning opportunities, both in person and via Zoom, for gardening, ancestry research, financial planning, cooking, journaling, music and film appreciation, yoga, and more...

• The MakerLab with helpful staff on hand to help, 

• Outdoor programming in warmer weather, and our "Seed Library" in January, and

• Access to our amazing e-books collection and online movies, available from anywhere, anytime.

The library really is the best bang for your buck, and I would be honored to have your support to keep it that way. 

Please vote on or before April 1st!

VOTE FOR ALL THREE CANDIDATES WITH THESE VALUES

as shown on the ballot:

#1 Carrie Carr

#2 Rachel Forsyth-Tuerck

# Rick McCarthy