You're in the right place to find this year's voting information, including voting period, open board seats, an overview of what board members do, candidate statements/bios, and a sample ballot.
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Board Member Duties and Positions
Voting Period
March 15 to April 15, 2024
The official ballot, available electronically only, includes the candidates for the open seats on the Board of Directors for a three-year term. All candidates were confirmed as eligible by a Nominating Committee. IHLS Board of Directors members help set policies for the library system and have an impact on the quality of library services throughout central and southern Illinois.
Open Board Seats
Voting is now underway for the five open seats on the IHLS Board of Directors. Seats to be filled are:
- 1 Public Library Staff Representative (three-year term)
- 2 School Library Representatives (three-year term)
- 2 Public Library Trustee Representatives (three-year term)
Board Member Duties
"The Board of Directors of the System shall have the authority to make such policy to carry out the spirit and intent of The Illinois Library System Act, and shall have the powers conferred by the Act." IHLS Bylaws Article 4 Sec. 2: Duties of Board
Effective board members bring to IHLS knowledge of the community and a willingness to continually maintain and strengthen library services in Illinois. The role of the board member is to (1) contribute by defining the Library System’s mission and governing the fulfillment of that mission, and (2) carry out the functions of the office of Board member as specified in the IHLS Bylaws and policies.
The board member role focuses on the development of board policies that govern the implementation of the institutional plans and purposes. This role is separate and distinct from the role of the executive director, to whom is delegated the responsibility of determining the means of implementation of board policies.
2024 (FY2025) Candidates
Public Library Staff Representative (1 seat open)
Ryan Johnson, Library Director
O'Fallon Public Library (120 Civic Plaza, O'Fallon, IL 62269)
I have worked in libraries for nearly 20 years. In that time, I’ve found a career and a passion. In addition to my day job, I’ve served on the IHLS Board since 2021 and on the ILA Executive Board since 2022, including ILA President for the 2023-2024 year. In all my work, I look to elevate libraries. A second term on the IHLS Board is a perfect opportunity to do just that. I believe IHLS’s main mission should be to support and empower its member libraries. That sort of work never ends and is always evolving. I look forward to the opportunity to help manage that change and innovation in the years ahead.
Laura Naugle, Library Director
Hillsboro Area Public Library District (420 S. Main Street, Hillsboro IL 62049)
My name is Laura Naugle. I represent Hillsoboro Area Public Library District, as their Library Director. I have worked an a library most of my life. I started in the library as a library media aide during all 4 years of my high school career. From there, it has always been my dream to be a librarian. I worked part-time in Carlinville Public Library as I began my college days and started a family. Then worked 9 years at Carlinville Schools as their library media aide. Until I finished my bachelor's degree. At which time, I started as the School District Librarian for Southwestern School District as their District Librarian. There, I took 4 libraries from Destiny-Follett system and moved all of them to IHLS's SHARE program and the Polaris system. I am now at Hillsboro Public Library, as their Library Director and ready to move forward with IHLS - Polaris as well. Being in a library and getting books in the hands of all people to encourage reading is a lifelong goal. I feel that IHLS does just that, encourage reading and get books and library materials into the hands of many people.
Grahm Underwood, Computer Lab Supervisor / Clerk
Mississippi Valley Library District (408 West Main Street, Collinsville, IL 62234)
I have been a front-line worker at the Mississippi Valley Library District for the past twelve years, and have greatly enjoyed serving our community. Serving on the IHLS Board of Directors is a great opportunity to become further involved in our library system.
Public Library Trustee Representative (2 seats open)
Ann Chandler, Public Library Board President
Taylorville Library (121 West Vine Taylorville, IL 62568)
My career began as a school librarian and ended as a School Superintendent. I have served on the Taylorville Public Library Board for eight years, six years as President. This experience qualifies me for a position on the IHLS Board of Directors, shows my passion and knowledge of libraries, understanding of finance, and organization oversight. I advocate that IHLS should do what is best to serve our membership. I am a proponent of questioning expenditures and creation of pro-membership budgets. I encouraged the Board to help libraries who cannot afford SHARE or ASPEN, and for libraries to have active operational plan participation. As a Board member I represent membership, ask questions, listen, and act to benefit membership by proposing ideas to improve IHLS services. My time on the IHLS Board has seen some positive changes and my desire is to continue to promote positive library services.
School Library Representative (2 seats open)
Kimberly Dykstra, District Librarian
Riverton CUSD #14 (1014 E Lincoln, Riverton, IL 62561)
My name is Kim Dykstra. I have a BA in Elementary Education from Calvin University in Michigan. I earned my MA in Information Resources and Library Science from the University of Arizona. I have been working in school libraries for the past 18 years, but prior to that, I worked in public libraries as well. I am currently the District Librarian for the Riverton School District.
Michael E. Treece, Jr., Library Media Specialist
Dupo High School (600 Louisa Ave Dupo, IL 62239)
I am a seasoned School Library Media Specialist with 17 years of experience, vying for a school representative seat on the Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS) Board of Directors. My wealth of expertise includes managing district libraries, overseeing staff, and implementing instructional technology. In 2023, I served as a public library trustee for the Mississippi Valley Library District, demonstrating a strong commitment to community service and fostering inclusive library experiences. Holding the role of Director of Curriculum & Reporting at Dupo CUSD 196, with additional responsibilities as Media Specialist and Director of Educational Technology, I am uniquely positioned to contribute valuable insights to the IHLS Board. With a Master's in Education, I passionately advocate for ensuring public libraries are inclusive and welcoming spaces for all patrons, aiming to enhance educational resources and promote diversity within the IHLS community.
How Do I Vote?
March 15 to April 15, 2024
Designated Administrators
Electronic ballot will be sent by email to member libraries' designated contacts on Friday, March 15, 2024. Ballot emails will be sent to the "Library Directors/Administrators" and "Regional System Contact: Annual Certification Contacts" specified by the libraries in their organizations' Library Directory & Learning Calendar (L2) profiles. (To update either of these contacts, please have your library administrator update your library's organizational profile in L2, www.librarylearning.org.)
Each library agency gets one vote.
If your system membership is shared among multiple locations or branches, be sure that only one person votes on behalf of ALL combined locations. If more than one vote is received by a library, then the first vote received is the one that counts.