Library Board candidate Caren Raylesberg, Q&A

May 14, 2010
by Christine Yeres

Q1. Tell us a little about your background, family, education and work experience.

I have lived in Chappaqua for 25 years. I have two children, a 24-year-old daughter who graduated from Cornell and a 20-year-old son currently at Columbia University. I attended Skidmore College as an undergraduate, then earned a J.D. degree from Brooklyn Law School. I practiced law until deciding to stay home with my children.

Caren Raylesberg Q&A

Q2. Where do you see 21st Century libraries going? 

I spend a lot of time in the library and have been here for 25 years. Being here for so long gives me the ability to see what exists now and what people want now, because I’ve seen the continuum, the progression.  What people want is based on the same values that Chappaqua has always stood for, but now they want it in a different form, for example, through eBooks and online databases.  But on the other hand they’re still interested in the physical space of the Children’s Room and the basic need of being able to park, to get access to the library. 

Q3. What would you do to improve the Chappaqua Library? 

I decided to run because the library has always been a magical place for me. I’ve lived here for 25 years and during that time I’ve measured through the library how our family has grown and progressed. 

The first thing I did when I moved here was to get a library card; the old gray card still works, even at the automatic kiosk, by the way.  I signed up my children for nursery rhyme time, then each of them got their own cards and they made great use of the library through their school years.  And now I finally have the time to spend as much time as I want at the library, and to give back to the community in an area of great interest to me.

My legal background gives me the skill set necessary to focus on the issues that are facing the library today, whether economic or space challenges.  I have a great respect for fiduciary responsibility and using taxpayer money in a meaningful, responsible way.  I’m very impressed that in the $2.746 million budget, Pam [Thornton, the library director] has gone up only $52,000, a 2% increase, about $8 per household. Because the board was smart enough to use $85,000 from the library reserve funds, we are now at a -1.13% increase, so I think that the board has done an excellent job. 

I’ve read the library’s long-range plans and understand and agree with them.  Library board members are concerned about the need for space in the Children’s Room, which hasn’t been redone since 1986.  Since resources are limited right now due to the economic situation, I’ve wondered whether the library might use space at Seven Bridges or Bell as a sort of satellite library space.

I think the first priority of patrons is for the board to increase the limited space for parking, and one idea I agree with is the staggering of library programming, the start and stop times, to help alleviate the parking problem, because programming has become a very big part of what the library offers to the community. St. Mary the Virgin is our neighbor, and I do believe in dialogue with our neighbors.  I don’t believe there is ever a closed door.

I’ve read the minutes of the library board’s meetings for the last two years and feel that I could be an excellent contributing member of that team.  I’ve spoken to the director of the library. She’s important in the process, and she’s someone I would be able to work with in a cooperative manner, to serve the community and give patrons what they want. 

Q4. What was your reaction to the results of the survey —to see the survey results, click HERE—recently conducted by the Friends of the Chappaqua Library?

I find that the excellent survey conducted by the Friends of the Chappaqua Library is consistent with the findings of the Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC), which was formed to recommend specific ways to update as well as implement the Library’s Long Range Plan.

For instance, children’s books and programs came in a close second to adult books and programming for library use. Use by teens was approximately one third that of use by children and one quarter of that of adults. In response to the questions about what needs improvement, adult books and programming ranked highest followed by children. The children’s programs and books were more of a concern, 2:1 over the teen area. A primary need identified by the LRPC and confirmed by the Friends is attention to the children’s library. Refurbishing an enclosed area for exclusive use by young adults is pinpointed by the LRPC as well.

I agree with the LRPC goals as confirmed by the Friend’s Survey.

Although the Friend’s Survey did not specifically ask about parking, nevertheless, it was listed spontaneously as an issue by some who took the survey.  Adult books, DVD’s, audio books and music CD’s were a few of the high uses at the library and correlated with the feeling in the survey that these areas needed improvement. The Chappaqua Library’s mission, as mentioned in the report of the LRPC, is clearly consistent with these community needs and desires as well.

The Long Range Plan and the recommendations of the LRPC as adopted by the Library Board is a very impressive in that it is well researched, documented and thought-out. It addresses a variety of issues of direct concern to the Chappaqua community and provides practical and responsible solutions, both short- and long-term. 

As a member of the Library Board I would strive to work as a team player with the board, as well as to reach out to the community as a whole, to continue to provide and – find new ways to provide – the best service possible. 

Q5. What are you reading at the moment?

I like to have several books going at a time. Right now I am reading

The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak (author of The Bastard of Istanbul), perfect before bed. Also, God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life’s Little Detours

, by Regina Brett (excellent when you just have a short time to read). 

A DVD in the BBC series of Seventeenth Century Masters (I am particularly interested in Vermeer), which goes along well with my free museum pass to the Frick where I saw some Dutch paintings recently (when I want to procrastinate, I put it on in my home office). I also have a coffee table book:

Farrow and Ball: The Art of Color

, by Brian Coleman and Edward Addeo, as I am actively adding color into my life. 

Finally,

Julep O’ Toole: Miss Independent

, by Trudi Strain Trueit, a new book from the children’s section that I could not resist on my way out of the last WEBS 50+ class last week in the programming room in the back of the children’s library. All of these amazing resources courtesy of our Chappaqua Library: DVD, Rapid Read, 14-day book, new children’s book, 14-day coffee table book and a museum pass!