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Jill Clouse is a candidate for Glen Ellyn library trustee seeking nomination at the 2014 Civic Betterment Party town meeting, which will be held Saturday. In anticipation of the meeting, Glen Ellyn Suburban Life is publishing questionnaires submitted by participating candidates. For more information, visit www.shawurl.com/1l5k.
Name: Jill Clouse
Age: 37
Email: jillclouse@yahoo.com
Website: N/A
Family: Spouse, Michael Clouse
8-year-old son
6-year-old daughter
Profession: Career coach
Employer: Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management
Education: St. Mary's College, B.A., History
Northwestern University, School of Education, M.S., Higher Education Policy
Why are you seeking Civic Betterment Party nomination for library trustee?
Reading and sharing what I read with others is like inhaling and exhaling to me. So naturally, upon moving to Glen Ellyn, one of the first things I did was obtain a library card, and my family soon did the same. As a parent of two young children, I greatly appreciate all that is at my fingertips to help indulge the current interests of my children. I also appreciate the technology the library has embraced to facilitate digital reading. As one of those people who always has a book on hand, I love that my library books are as close as my e-reader app. Yet, at the end of the day, I turn to the books on my nightstand and the comfort of flipping through actual pages.
I believe it is essential to give back to the community in which we live by supporting its institutions. As an avid reader, I would be honored to serve on the Library Board of Trustees and lend my talents to help the library continue to carry out the mission to “serve the community as a vibrant center for information, learning and discovery.”
If elected, what will be your top priority for the library?
For an organization like the library, there are likely many projects on the list to continuously improve the operations and collections. My first priority would be to listen well to the current trustees and staff to better understand the current needs and issues. If elected, I would also strive to serve the library and our community in addressing the following needs:
1. Meeting the challenges of serving a wide range of demographic needs
2. Increasing the number and availability of digital resources (e-books, etc.) while maintaining robust print collections
3. Continuing to adapt the physical library space to meet the needs of the dynamic community
4. Continuing to meet and strive to exceed expectations of the community in all aspects of service.
What qualifies you to serve on the Glen Ellyn Public Library Board of Trustees?
My ability to actively listen, think strategically, as well as advise and support the library staff qualify me to serve on the board.
Through my work on the St. Mary’s Alumnae Association Board of Directors, as a career coach, a church small group leader and as a mom of two young children, I’ve honed my skills at listening to those I serve, identifying themes and proposing action steps.
Understanding the strategy and developing creative solutions to execute strategy is something I’ve done frequently in my career at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and in my previous board work.
Successful implementation of strategy can only happen if those who execute have the resources and support needed. Through my previous board experience, I understand how to partner effectively with organization staff to empower them to carry out operations.
Through active listening, strategic thinking and collaborating with the library staff, I will better understand the different demographic needs, how to strike the balance between digital and traditional resources, what the needs are for the physical space and better understand the community’s expectations for service. My skills and passion for information, learning and discovery would render me an effective trustee with a lot to contribute.