So here's my response...

Salado Village Voice Candidate Response for
Taylor Willingham
taylor@austin-pacific.com
254.947.3793

Question 1:
What is the strongest aspect of the Salado Library? What is its weakest aspect and how would you approach improving that? (100 word total)

Saladoans proudly claim, “our library is GREAT” followed with, “for a small village.” Let’s make this a great library – period! Let’s:

• Develop innovative programming with community partners,
• Aggressively adopt new technology, especially a new web site,
• Apply resources for rural libraries and adapt strategies of larger libraries. (Why should we travel to Temple or Austin?)
• Expand our “collection” within our limited space by promoting interlibrary loans and buying online databases.

We have excellent, but underutilized resources (e.g., the grant-writer’s database). We need to promote these resources and ensure that patrons know how to use them.

(word count – 100)

Question 2:
How often do you check out books from the library? What do you think of the total collection? How would you improve it, if it needs to be improved? (100 words total)

I treasure books. (My library is catalogued online: (http://www.librarything.com/catalog/TexasTaylor)

But books are the means, not the end. Libraries cannot simply warehouse books and measure success by circulation.

To remain relevant, libraries must be more than books. They must be:
• catalysts for intellectual exploration, social interaction and civic discourse,
• caretakers of local history and culture,
• advocates for literacy and intellectual freedom,

The board should not micromanage collection development, but should engage the community in big questions:

• “What is the greatest value the library offers?”
• “How do we measure our impact?”
• “How are we changing lives?”

(word count – 100)

Question 3:
Do you think there are any demographics in Salado that are overserved by the Library or underserved by the Library and how would you address these discrepancies, if they exist? (100 words)

To reach the underserved, the library should:

Allocate resources and programming to serve the senior population. Partner with local organizations for adult programming (e.g., financial, computer and information literacy). Meet the civic and community information needs of new residents.

Develop innovative strategies to attract and serve new users, perhaps through local literacy providers and ESL programs. Eliminate barriers to access for working families.

Cultivate future library advocates and determine youth needs through a Youth Advisory Board. Become an access portal for free resources such as 24/7 online reference services and homework help.

(See: http://www.austin-pacific.com for more of my ideas.)

(word count – 99)