Your Library, Your Voice: What Elmwood Park Candidates Had to Say

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 12, 2025

ELMWOOD PARK, IL – On February 11, the League of Women Voters hosted a candidate forum for the upcoming Elmwood Park Public Library Board election. Three candidates—Jack Bower, Amy Prechel, and Meredith Zinanni—participated, outlining their vision for a more transparent, community-focused, and fiscally responsible library. Regrettably, none of the incumbent trustees running for re-election attended the event.

Transparency and Trust: A Key Theme

Throughout the forum, the Neighbors for the Elmwood Park Library slate of candidates emphasized the need to restore public trust, increase financial transparency, and ensure the library is welcoming to all residents, both new and old.

“If I’m elected, my primary goal would be to regain the trust of the whole community, to foster transparency, and to make sure the library is serving all residents,” said Jack Bower, who has nearly 15 years of experience working in libraries at multiple levels and currently serves as a library director.

“Transparency equals trust. Right now, if a resident wants to see detailed financial reports, they have to file a FOIA request. I’d push to publish monthly financial reports proactively, so residents can easily access this information without jumping through hoops.”

Bower also criticized the lack of public engagement from current library leadership, pointing out that the library did not promote the forum and did not stream it online as many other libraries do.

“The library board has lost some public trust,” Bower said. “I want to serve on a board where it is clear that there are no ulterior motives—only a commitment to serving every resident equally.”

Engaging the Community and Addressing Board Concerns

Amy Prechel, a career librarian with experience working in multiple public libraries, currently serves as an assistant library director overseeing circulation, technical services, and IT. She expressed concerns about how community feedback is handled.

“It seems feedback is given to the administration, but they don’t use that perspective to address problems,” she said. “It’s taken personally, and it becomes contentious… I would like to see the administration stay focused on solutions.”

She also raised concerns about the board’s decision to move meetings to 5:00 PM, a time that makes it difficult for many working residents to attend.

“Meetings should be scheduled at times when the community can actually participate,” she said.

Retaining and Supporting Staff

Meredith Zinanni, an attorney with over 20 years of experience, emphasized the importance of retaining qualified library staff and ensuring they are treated fairly.

“A great library starts with great staff,” Zinanni said. “We need to make sure employees are compensated fairly, have access to professional development opportunities, and feel valued. High turnover hurts services, and a stable, supported staff means a stronger library for everyone.”

The candidates also agreed that board meetings should be more than just procedural votes.

“Right now, there’s very little discussion during board meetings,” said Zinanni. “Community members deserve to hear not just the decisions being made, but why they’re being made.”

Inclusion and Community Engagement

The forum also covered how the library should serve Elmwood Park’s diverse population.

“Libraries are for everyone,” said Prechel. “Our job is to make sure all residents feel safe and welcome.” She said the library should prioritize hiring staff who reflect the community’s demographics.

Bower agreed, adding: “The library should be a space that reflects the needs and interests of everyone in the community.”

The Incumbents’ Absence

A noteworthy takeaway from the forum was the absence of the three incumbent trustees running for re-election—S.K. Narayan, Peter Fosco, and Alice Balundis. All declined to participate in the discussion.

“I was hoping our incumbents would join us, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen,” Bower said. “It seems they believe they can win without being held accountable to voters. I hope the community proves that’s not the case and sees who showed up for them.”

Election Details

🗳️ Early voting begins March 17

🗳️ Election Day is April 1

For more information about the candidates, visit www.elmwoodparkneighbors.org.

Watch the replay of the candidate forum on Facebook: Transparency for Elmwood Park Public Library

Media Contact:

Jack Bower
jackbower@mac.com