A few months after controversy erupted at the Lincolnwood Public Library, local voters are being asked to choose trustees to serve on the Library Board.
In the April 4 municipal election, Lincolnwood residents will be asked to vote to fill four open seats on the Board from among eight candidates.
The election comes after a firestorm by some parents about whether a few specific book titles should be shelved in the children’s section.
The candidates include three incumbents: Board President Sheri Doniger, Vice President Georgia Talaganis and Secretary Mary F. Silber.
Joining them in a coalition calling themselves Freedom to Read Lincolnwood is Deborah Silver. Incumbent Pamela Stavinoga is not running.
The other four candidates include Jacqueline Kosir, Mohamed Hafezi, Andrea Serban and Kari Fleck Gutstein. Gutstein said in an email that the four candidates are running “aligned” with one another.
Pioneer Press reached out to all eight candidates asked them respond to a questionnaire.
Doniger, Silber, Silver and Talaganis provided answers; the others did not respond.
Read on for information about the candidates who responded.
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Sheri Doniger
Education:
Loyola University Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Education
University of Illinois Doctor of Dental Surgery
Profession and/or work history:
I have been a small business owner in Lincolnwood for 40 years. I have a solo dental practice in Lincolnwood, serving all ages, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, physical abilities and sexual orientations. As a solo practitioner, I am involved in the daily aspects of the practice. In addition to the clinical, I have experience in human resources, budgets, procurement, financial aspects, social media and marketing.
Prior Community Involvement:
Lincolnwood Public Library District Trustee from 1987 to 1999
Illinois Literacy Coalition and Friends of the Library Board from 1999-2001
Niles Township High School District Trustee from 2003-2015 (Vice President 2011-2015)
Oakton Community College Alliance for Lifelong Learning Board 2003-2015 (Chair 2012- 2014)
Lincolnwood Fire and Police Commission 2004-present (Chair from 2011 to present)
Lincolnwood Public Library District Trustee 2019 to present (President from 2021 to present)
Oakton Community College Leaders Unlimited Conference 1992-2012
Lincolnwood 9/11 Commission 2002-2004
I also received the Madeleine Grant Volunteer of the Year award in 2020 for my years of volunteer work.
What are the top issues facing the Lincolnwood Public Library?
Censorship: there are attacks from groups who want to curtail our freedom to read, choose and access books
Defunding: shortening hours and eliminating services
Controversy has occurred at the Lincolnwood Public Library over whether children’s books about human anatomy, gender identity and related issues should be available in the children’s section of the library. What are your views on this?
Books should not be relocated or re-shelved. This is censorship. Censorship has no place in the Lincolnwood Public Library. Books unite us, censorship divides us.
The library is not someone’s mom. Each parent has the right to choose what is appropriate for their child, not for every child. If a child selects a book that the parent feels is not right for them, for whatever reason, they have to right to say, we don’t want that book and either have a conversation as to why or discuss it later. No one should impose their beliefs on everyone.
Our general collection consists of reliable materials embracing broad areas of knowledge that reflect the diverse needs of the Lincolnwood community and the library’s mission to foster lifelong learning and connect the community through our materials, space, events and expertise.
Best practices in (library) collection development assert that materials should not be excluded from a collection solely because the content or its creator may be considered offensive or controversial. Refusing to select resources due to potential controversy is considered censorship, as is withdrawing resources for that reason.
Our library has Master’s educated professional librarians who select books that reflect the diverse nature of our community. Lincolnwood residents have a variety of beliefs, including those from a variety of backgrounds. The Lincolnwood Public Library acquires and provides materials that meet a range of diverse needs.
Georgia Talaganis
Education:
B.A. in English from the University of Illinois.
Profession and/or work history:
I am a retired City of Chicago English teacher who taught literature as part of the curriculum and relied on libraries for information beyond the scope of the school’s library. In order to enhance the students’ awareness, assignments involved the use of public libraries to begin their lifetime use of the facilities.
Prior Community Involvement:
District Leader, Illinois Association of Teachers of English.
Delegate, Chicago Teachers Union.
Lincolnwood Cultural Diversity Commission 1996-2001.
Lincolnwood Village Clerk 1997-2001.
Friends of the Lincolnwood Library 2001-present, serving as president
Lincolnwood Library Trustee 2003-2009, serving as president 06-09.
Lincolnwood Library Trustee 2019-current and seeking re-election 2023.
Madeleine Grant Award for Volunteerism.
Police and Fire Commissioner, currently serving.
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What are the top issues facing the Lincolnwood Public Library?
I am running as our campaign slogan states: Freedom to Read Lincolnwood. I am a strong advocate of our First Amendment rights and believe everyone has the right to choose what they want to read. This means from the all inclusive material at the library everyone may select what they wish to read, authors have the right to write what they wish and above all people have the right to read the books, e-books, magazines, periodicals if they so desire, or not, to read the material. This privilege is being challenged in our library and across the country. Our opponents want books to be re-shelved or in other words be “banned” and replace and choose what is put on the shelves by themselves. At the Lincolnwood Library, as other libraries, we have excellent, well-trained librarians with Master of Library Science degrees that make decisions based on the population Lincolnwood serves. The collection reflects a broad range of subjects such as: religious, ethnic, socio-economic, technology, diversity, etc., not only for the region, but also globally. I am running to preserve intellectual freedom.
Another issue is that our opponents want to defund the library by lowering the tax levy. Also, they want to cut the hours the library is open and cut programs. By doing such things, children would not have much-needed after-school programs that are free, and other programs for teens through adults would be canceled.
Controversy has occurred at the Lincolnwood Public Library over whether children’s books about human anatomy, gender identity and related issues should be available in the children’s section of the library. What are your views on this?
Books are selected to not actively seek to cause harm to any population or offer incorrect information. Books are selected based on relevance, suitability, relation to existing materials, budget and space in the library. The choice to read or not to read a book, whether it be in the children’s section or any other section, regardless of topic, belongs to the parent or guardian of the child. No group such as our opponents has the right to take something away from others to choose from. They may only do that for their own children. It is a family decision: leave the book alone or use it as an instrument to discuss a topic with your child, pointing out what your values are and explaining why the book does not meet those values.
In conclusion, I want to keep the Lincolnwood Public Library inclusive to all; continue to serve with integrity and be fiscally responsible and transparent.
“Freedom to Read Lincolnwood” stands for First Amendment rights for all. Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.
Mary Silber
Education:
Associate of Science from the College of Lake County
Profession and/or work history:
My professional background was in the customer service industry and sales. In addition, I spent many years as a stay-at-home mom which has given me first-hand knowledge of how children use a public library and that parents are responsible for monitoring what their children read.
Prior Community Involvement:
I am currently serving my first term as a Lincolnwood Public Library Trustee. I serve as secretary for the library board. I am a member of the Friends of the Library and an active community volunteer.
What are the top issues facing the Lincolnwood Public Library?
Freedom to read in the face of censorship.
Developing a diverse range of programs, collections and resources while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Fostering an inclusive environment for library staff and patrons.
Controversy has occurred at the Lincolnwood Public Library over whether children’s books about human anatomy, gender identity and related issues should be available in the children’s section of the library. What are your views on this?
Collection management is performed by Master’s level, professionally-educated librarians. They are making determinations based on their expertise and other industry reviews and guidelines. I trust the library staff to decide if a book should be added to the collection and (in) what section of the library that book should be shelved. If a cardholder has a concern with a book, the Lincolnwood Public Library has a well-defined collection development policy in place.
Deborah Silver
Education:
I hold a B.A. in elementary education, an M.A. in reading, and an M.S. in special education, all from National Louis University.
Profession and/or work history:
I have taught in the Chicago Public Schools, Glenview Public Schools and Glencoe Public Schools as a certified reading specialist. Additionally, I taught a graduate level class in reading at National Louis University.
Prior Community Involvement:
I have served as past president and (board) member of Lincolnwood School District 74, chaired the child care study committee in Lincolnwood that placed a child care program in our school building that still exists today, and currently serve as a member and past Vice President of the Barclay Condominium board.
What are the top issues facing the Lincolnwood Public Library?
Our first amendment rights are being challenged. Censorship of books in a public library, free for all to use, limit our democratic values. Our tax dollars ensure that our public library reflects the diversity in beliefs, cultures and histories of our nation.
Controversy has occurred at the Lincolnwood Public Library over whether children’s books about human anatomy, gender identity and related issues should be available in the children’s section of the library. What are your views on this?
Our library staff of professionals are well trained to assess the needs of our residents when selecting books for our library. An educated and well informed public enhances our community.