Colin Bird-Martinez for Oak Park Public Library Trustee

Trustees and employees bear the responsibility of safeguarding access to books, programs, and resources. I'm proud that Oak Park Public Library is committed to being a true Book Sanctuary Community.

A diverse and integrated Village deserves a library collection that reflects all voices, ensuring everyone sees themselves represented and has the opportunity to learn about others’ experiences.

Trustees bear the responsibility of fair and equitable oversight of the Executive Director, ensuring transparent and accountable leadership that upholds the library’s mission and serves our entire community. Clear, structured rules governing the Executive Director ensure consistent, principled decision-making that is both justified and easily understood by the public. 

Trustees and employees must safeguard patrons’ privacy when using library resources. This commitment includes actively preventing the misuse of identifiable information for targeted advertising or by large language models such as ChatGPT.

Trustees must be committed to equitable, transparent access to meeting and event spaces. We must empower every library member to engage, share ideas, and grow together. 

The future of a thriving library depends on future generations recognizing its immense value as a public good. Trustees should be committed to engaging the young people of Oak Park through active partnerships with local schools and by hiring community organizers who champion youth involvement. 

Oak Park Public Library has faced multiple threats and acts of violence in recent years—including online bomb threats against staff and violent incidents near the library and in Scoville Park. I recognize that the library cannot thrive unless both staff and patrons feel safe. To foster a secure and welcoming environment, Trustees must collaborate with staff to allocate additional resources and build community partnerships focused on policing alternatives and proactive youth engagement.