Board welcomes new trustees, celebrates accomplishments of outgoing trustees

At its May 21 meeting, the Board of Library Trustees welcomed two new trustees: Virginia Bloom-Scheirer (left); and Colleen Burns (right), both sworn in to their elected official positions by Village Clerk Vicki Scaman (also pictured above in both photos).

The Board also recognizes two outgoing trustees, Janet Kelenson and Carmenza Millan. Read the approved resolutions on this page honoring their commitment and contributions to the library and to Oak Park.

Janet Kelenson, 28 years of service

Janet Kelenson, Library Board Trustee

Resolution to Honor Janet Kelenson for Her Service to the Oak Park Public Library

WHEREAS: Janet Kelenson was appointed to the Board of Library Trustees of the Oak Park Public Library in June 1991 and was elected by the citizens of Oak Park thereafter to many terms as Library Trustee, and has served the Oak Park Public Library faithfully for 28 years, and

WHEREAS: Janet Kelenson dutifully served in various years in the capacities of Library Board President, Vice President, and Secretary, and

WHEREAS: Janet Kelenson fostered cooperation between the Board of the Library Trustees and the Friends of the Oak Park Public Library by serving as Board Liaison to the Friends for many years, and

WHEREAS: Janet Kelenson was awarded a citation by the Illinois Library Association in 2005 as Library Trustee of the Year, and

WHEREAS: Janet Kelenson also served on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Library System, and

WHEREAS: Janet Kelenson leant her considerable talents and enthusiasm to shepherd both the referendum to increase library funding in 1992 and the referendum for a new Main Library in 2000, as well as going to Washington D.C. numerous times to advocate for library funding in general, and

WHEREAS: Janet Kelenson has brought her considerable experience as an attorney and community advocate to the Board of Library Trustees with thoughtful and measured participation in meetings, enthusiasm for participation in community events to raise the profile of the Library, and strong commitment to provide the best in library collections, services and programs;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Board of Library Trustees of the Village of Oak Park express its deepest appreciation to Janet Kelenson for her many years of dedicated service to the Oak Park Public Library.

Adopted this 21st day of May, 2019, by unanimous vote of the Board of Library Trustees of the Village of Oak Park, Illinois.

Carmenza Millan, 4 years of service

Carmenza Millan, Library Board Trustee

Resolution to Honor Carmenza Millan for Her Service to the Oak Park Public Library

WHEREAS: Carmenza Millan was elected for a four-year term on the Board of Library Trustees of the Village of Oak Park in April 2015; and

WHEREAS: Carmenza Millan dutifully served the Board of Library Trustees as representative to the Intergovernmental Committee (IGov) in 2015 and 2016; and

WHEREAS: Carmenza Millan has served as a member of the Nominating Committee in 2016, and

WHEREAS: Carmenza Millan has always shown great interest in and sought to foster Library Trustee learning and networking between members of local library boards, and

WHEREAS: Carmenza Millan willingly made time to be trained in the Harwood Method for Community Engagement for the purpose of assisting with the work of finding out what our community wants and needs from the Library in terms of collections, programs and services, and

WHEREAS: Carmenza Millan has enthusiastically represented the Library at various community
events, such as A Day in Our Village, and

WHEREAS: Carmenza Millan has brought her considerable experience as a patron advocate to the Board of Library Trustees and demonstrated her strong commitment to the Oak Park community and the provision of excellent library collections, services, and programs;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the Board of Library Trustees of the Village of Oak Park express its deepest appreciation to Carmenza Millan for her years of dedicated service to the Oak Park Public Library.

Adopted this 21st day of May, 2019, by unanimous vote of the Board of Library Trustees of the Village of Oak Park, Illinois.