Residents Favor Appointed Downers Grove Library Board: Patch Survey

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — The majority of residents who took a recent Patch survey said they would prefer no change in the way members of the Downers Grove Board of Library Trustees are chosen. A total of 432 self-identified Downers Grove residents responded to the unofficial survey, with 288 responding "No" to the question "Should the Downers Grove Library have elected board members."

Patch shared the survey after a village meeting that involved contentious discussion about a proposed referendum question about how the library board is governed. The proposal had its first reading Dec. 3. The question, proposed to be added to the April 1 ballot, would appear as follows:

“Shall the trustees of the Downers Grove Public Library be elected, rather than appointed?”

At the Dec. 3 meeting, a number of residents urged the village to wait until residents and library trustees could have information about the referendum question and its possible implications. A similar sentiment was shared by the majority of readers who responded to Patch's survey.

Just over 67 percent of survey responders voted "No" to the question "Do you think the library board question should appear on the April 1 ballot?"

Patch asked, "How would you like the village council to handle the question about library governance?"

Several readers commented, "leave it as it is."

One recommended "[f]urther gathering of data regarding implications of an elected board. Does this necessarily require [the] library [to] be a separate taxing body?"

One reader responded, "I have nothing against elected officials. I have a problem with asking a question with no context at all, including what the difference would even look like. And a problem with it being done without partnership with the library. Poor form, Downers Grove. We are better than this."

Another wrote, "The village should work with the library to address issues of concern. Many people cannot afford to run for an elected position, and many times elected officials do not provide the variety and diversity needed for a truly successful board. There is no way to remove a board member if they are an elected official, which takes off guard rails that are important. The appointments also ensure the library has diversity of representation (age, socioeconomic status, gender, race, etc.) as well as skill set."

Other responders suggested the village host a series of meetings in which they, the library board and residents discuss governance.

Of the 137 readers who said they would prefer members of the Downers Grove Board of Library Trustees to be elected, many also supported a referendum question.

One reader wrote, "Let the residents votes, voices be heard."

Another wrote, "Put it on the ballot. Answer to the citizens."

At the Dec. 3 meeting, Mayor Bob Barnett mentioned that residents have sought more transparency in how library board members are chosen. Barnett spoke in favor of allowing voters to have a choice to express their opinions about library board governance.

Commissioner Michael Davenport said at the Dec. 3 meeting that he supported additional discussions about the proposed referendum question. The village has until January to decide whether to put the referendum question on the consolidated election ballot.

Read more on Patch:

'Chaotic Timeline:' DG Library Board Slams 'Nonsensical' Referendum

Residents, Commissioners Sound Off On Proposed Library Referendum