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Board of Trustees
The Library is governed by an elected seven member board, who serve six-year terms. Through long-range planning, the Board of Trustees ensures that high quality services and materials are available to patrons of the district.
Regular Library Board of Trustees Meetings are held in the Board Room of the Niles-Maine District Library, 6960 Oakton Street, Niles, Illinois, at 7:00pm. Meetings are usually on the third Wednesday of the month.
Community Involvement Begins Here!
Nomination packets are now available for Trustee of the Niles-Maine District Library. Two full 6-year terms will be on the ballot in the April 2, 2019, Consolidated Election. Persons interested in serving must be residents of the library district and qualified registered voters. The nomination petitions require at least 50 signatures from registered voters in the library district, a completed Statement of Candidacy and a Statement of Economic Interest filed with the Cook County Clerk. Library Trustee Petition Packets may be picked up at the Library’s Info Desk. For more information, contact Susan Lempke, Executive Director, at 847-663-6401.
Contact Information
To leave a voice message for the Board, call 847-663-6650. Your message will be automatically distributed to each Board member...
Board Members
Karen J. Dimond, President
Term Expires: 2019
Email | 847-663-6652
Training Certificate of Completion (Open Meetings Act)
Why did you become a trustee?
I enjoy serving on the library board because the library has been a wonderful resource for [my family], and because I want to ensure that it continues to be an important institution that serves all the residents of the Niles Library District.
What's your #1 goal for the Library?
I want to ensure that the Library continues to be an important institution that serves all residents of the Niles Library District.
What's your favorite book?
Isn't that like asking which child is my favorite? Ok, maybe not, but I still can't decide. :)
Linda Ryan, Vice President
Term Expires: 2021
Email | 847-663-6657
Training Certificate of Completion (Open Meetings Act)
Why did you become a trustee?
I had seen an ad in the Niles Journal that the Niles Public Library District was accepting applications for the upcoming ballot to become a member of their Board of Trustees. I had always wanted to give back to my community and volunteer my time; however, I never knew what position would be a good fit for me. The Library was a perfect opportunity for me to offer my expertise; I have a Masters in Library and Information Science from Dominican University, and am currently a Teacher/Librarian at Maine South High School in Park Ridge. My professional experience includes working and volunteering at a variety of private and public schools and public libraries for the past 20 years. Libraries are a large part of my life, and I am honored and humbled to represent the Library District to make our Niles Public Library one of the top Libraries in the State of Illinois.
What’s your #1 goal for the Library?
My number one goal is that our Library has diverse programming and collections, in contemporary formats to meet the needs of our patrons of all ages and cultures.
What’s your favorite book?
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
Dianne Olson, Secretary
Term Expires: 2023
Email | 847-663-6655
Training Certificate of Completion (Open Meetings Act)
Why did you become a trustee?
I have always had a strong commitment to libraries. They are an important part of a thriving community. I want to help in some way to keep our library vibrant and in tune with the community needs. I am also willing to deal with any challenges that arise, and as a responsible trustee, make sure that the library goals are front and center.
What's your #1 goal for the Library?
My number one goal is to ensure that the Library continues its mission to "engage, inform, enrich, and educate its patrons."
What’s your favorite book?
That's a difficult question. I've had favorite books at different times in my life. When I was an elementary teacher, I laughed out loud at Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. At middle school, one of my favorites was The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, a book written 50 years ago and still so relevant. Now I read many different genres, particularly historical fiction, stories that are based on extensive research and yet provide vivid pictures of the past.
Tim Spadoni, Treasurer
Term Expires: 2021
Email | 847-663-6651
Training Certificate of Completion (Open Meetings Act)
Why did you become a trustee?
Whenever I see people of every age gathering in our library for enjoyment, enrichment, entertainment and education, I am struck by the importance of our library as a heart of our community. The library - its facilities, its materials and its people - is something our community should cherish and nurture, and my hope is that I can help our library continue along the outstanding path it has traveled thus far.
What’s your #1 goal for the Library?
At this point in my term, I don’t really have any grand goals for our library. Is that wrong? Maybe, but I don’t think it’s bad to simply want to maintain our library as a welcoming social center and a place where anyone regardless of their age, race, religion or political affiliation is able to come in and use whatever is available to them. I also want to support and promote the many programs that the library offers; to support and promote the staff in all their hard work, vision and enthusiasm; and to keep our library as a place that promotes reading, writing and communication. Aside from all that, what I really want to do is to keep the library as a nice place where people can find a quiet corner to curl up and read a good book.
What’s your favorite book?
I don’t believe I can name just one. When I think of all the books I’ve read, I realize that some have stayed with me for years, such as Steven King’s Insomnia and The Stand, and Larry Niven’s and Jerry Pournelle’s Inferno which I read again and again. Others are more one and done, such as William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist, which I read in a one-night, all-lights-on marathon. Recent books that I have thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend are David McCullough’s The Wright Brothers, Andy Weir’s The Martian, and Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven. All very different and all excellent.
Carolyn Drblik, Trustee
Term Expires: 2019
Email | 847-663-6654
Training Certificate of Completion (Open Meetings Act)
Why did you become a trustee?
The library has always been an integral part of my life and my family. I believe the library provides a wealth of knowledge and information which can transform our lives. Knowledge is the key to unleashing a future of possibilities for everyone, beginning in early childhood and continuing through the multiple facets of adulthood. I am committed to enhancing our library’s purpose and meeting the needs of our patrons - reaching the many ethnicities, various age groups and socio-economic levels within our community.
The Niles Public Library is an intellectual center of inquiry which is reflective of our highly qualified and dedicated library staff. As the library enters its new era, I believe the future growth of our library is contingent upon qualified and dedicated employees to serve the various needs of our patrons. As a board member, who is committed to the staff and patrons of the Niles Public Library, I will be instrumental and available to their queries or concerns.
As your Niles Library Board Trustee, I welcome feedback and suggestions from the community. I can be reached at the trustee telephone number: 847-663-6654.
What’s your #1 goal for the Library?
My #1 goal is to enhance our library’s purpose as the community link for valuable information and services relevant to issues facing our patrons today while being mindful of streamlining costs to the taxpayers through transparency, accountability and alternative sources of funding.
What’s your favorite book?
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Dennis Martin, Trustee
Term Expires: 2023
Email | 847-663-6656
Training Certficiate of Completion (Open Meetings Act)
Why did you become a trustee?
The way people are using libraries is changing as fast as technology is changing society. This exponential change can potentially drive bigger rather than smarter solutions that exceeds our means. My desire is to see our library continue to grow at a pace driven by rigorous spirited discussions, so that the library patrons get the biggest bang for our buck.
What's your #1 goal for the Library?
As a library trustee I represent the people in the library district and will strive to keep an open mind, listen well, and have a willingness to learn from all. My number one goal will be to an effective advocate for library resources while being cognizant of cost, advising and supporting the library administration and staff as a representative of the community to the best of my ability.
What’s your favorite book?
I have no single favorite book but rather an eclectic range of book interests. I am a big fan of author Janet Evanovich who has authored a series of contemporary mysteries and romance novels. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter fantasy books series is also a favorite of mine, over and over in Harry Potter books, good always triumphs. Bill Bryson is another author whose books and writing style I favor, especially his book A Short History of Nearly Everything. It's a fascinating read, “Kinda like a reader's digest version of the history of science.”
Patti Rozanski, Trustee
Term Expires: 2021
Email | 847-663-6653
Training Certficiate of Completion (Open Meetings Act)
Why did you become a trustee?
I initially made the decision to run for the Library trustee because I am a big fan of books and have enjoyed having the Niles library has a resource. Because of that, I wanted to make sure that the library would be able to stay a useful, welcoming place for families for years to come.
What’s your #1 goal for the Library?
My main goal is to be able to support library staff in developing programming to suit the needs of our community.
What’s your favorite book?
My favorite book is The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss, because it brings back so many happy childhood memories