About the Board
The nine-member Library Board, established by City Ordinance in 1898, governs the Library pursuant to the bylaws. The members of the Board are selected by the Caucus and appointed by the Mayor with approval by the City Council. Trustees serve a maximum of two three-year terms. Officers are elected annually in July.
The Board meets on the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are currently held online. The public is welcome to attend. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. For guidelines on how to participate, please see our Public Comment at Board Meetings Policy.
Individuals with disabilities who require certain accommodations in order to allow them to observe and/or participate in Board meetings, or who have questions regarding the accessibility of the meetings or the facilities, are requested to contact the Library Director at 847.810.4602 promptly to allow the Library to make reasonable accommodations.
Upcoming Meetings
45th Annual Friends Book Sale: 50% off
Drop off items for the Community Craft Exchange
Kid's Grab-and-Go Kit: Fall Fairy Craft
Interest, passions, hobbies
- Music
- Reading
- Perennial gardening
My favorite thing about libraries
Reading pages and documents on a screen is possible, but holding a book is still a special way for me to learn. Having this extraordinary place in our community with a knowledgeable staff offers an opportunity for all ages to take a deeper dive into subjects that stretch our minds, whether you use a book or digital media.
Why I serve on the Board
Since my youth, libraries have always attracted my thirst for learning. After observing so many volunteers and leaders helping over the past thirty years, it was time for me to take a turn in serving.
Interest, passions, hobbies
- Architecture
- Sports
- Tinkering
My favorite thing about libraries
My favorite thing about libraries are that they offer opportunities and amenities to community members at all stages of life.
Why I serve on the Board
Having fulfilled my full term on the Lake Forest Caucus Committee, I was looking for the next opportunity to serve the City of Lake Forest. The Library Board is a good fit for my personal and professional interests, and I think I can make a valuable contribution to this important civic asset.
Interest, passions, hobbies
- Reading
- Biking
- Gardening
My favorite thing about libraries
An important thing to me about libraries is their accessibility to anyone in the community. How remarkable to be able to access programs, materials, space, and information just by walking through the door—or by utilizing the online platforms supported by the library! Libraries are one of the great educational institutions we have, supporting life-long learning for anyone who cares to take advantage of them.
Why I serve on the Board
As my own children approached adulthood, I considered ways that I could give back to the community that gave us so much as a family as our children grew up. Lake Forest Library supported the growth and development of my son and daughter from the time we moved here and they were ages 2 and 5, right through to their leaving home. Indeed, it also supported my husband and me in giving us access to information and to entertainment at no cost. The mission of public libraries as educational institutions for the community is one I believe in to my core, so I sought to be on the Board. It has been and continues to be an amazing experience, and one where I try to keep centered on the idea of continually improving access for all.
Interest, passions, hobbies
- Gardening/Landscape design
- Genealogy
- Antiquing
My favorite thing about libraries
My favorite thing about libraries in the feeling of a community coming together, whether physically or virtually, to share in the joy of lifelong learning.
Why I serve on the Board
I was led to serve on the Lake Forest Library Board because my diverse experiences in the library field would benefit the Board and Library.
Interest, passions, hobbies
- Exploring nature
- Tutoring for Reading Power, a childhood literacy organization
- Working on my golf game
My favorite thing about libraries
I love that libraries empower people and ignite the spirit of the communities they serve. Our Library's mission of inspiring lifelong learning, promoting the free and respectful exchange of ideas, and building community is something we can all embrace and make part of the fabric of our community.
Why I serve on the Board
The opportunity to serve on the Library Board is my way of contributing to the City. I grew up in Lake Forest and the Library has always been a important part of my family's life. I am excited to be working with others to set a strategic course that will assure that the Library continues to be a vibrant, dynamic, and welcoming community resource.
Interests, passions, hobbies
- Traveling with my wife and kids
- Platform tennis
- Reading
My favorite thing about libraries
I've always appreciated the fact that this singular building in a community can attract the attention of those young and old and allow anyone to pursue their passion for knowledge. The library is a unifying place: whatever an individual's need for a library may be, there is an underlying thread that brings us all together.
Why I serve on the Board
Since moving to Lake Forest in 2016, our family has enjoyed becoming ingrained in this amazing city. Given the intersection of my belief in servant leadership along with the unique challenges the Library is facing, my hope is that my background can bring significant value to the Board and staff to further advance the mission of this wonderful institution that we've come to know and love.
Interests, passions, hobbies
- Reading and being a lifelong learner
- Preserving our environment, treasuring our open lands, and taking a peaceful and restorative walk through the Middlefork Savanna
My favorite thing about libraries
Libraries play a critically important role in a healthy and vibrant community. Beyond being a repository of books and countless resources, they are a foundation for lifelong learning from birth through old age. The library is more than a welcoming and gathering place for all ages: it serves a dynamic and vital role in creating the joy of learning new things and a social setting to build community.
Why I serve on the Board
As a career educator and retired school superintendent, I view the library as an extension of everything that is the mission of our schools except that the population served starts at birth and continues throughout one's lifetime. It was the perfect segue for someone with a passion for lifelong learning and a desire to serve the community. I hope to contribute in some small way to assure that we continue to have a world-class library and 21st century programming services for our entire community.
Interests, Passions, Hobbies
- Reading
- Spending time in nature gardening or walking
- Cooking
My favorite thing about libraries
One of my earliest childhood memories was the thrill of trotting to the local library with two books to return, knowing two more would come home with me. I continue to feel that unique combination of anticipation and contentment every time I walk through a library’s doors.
Why I serve on the Board
We moved to Lake Forest from the U.K. more than a decade ago. The Library was my first community interaction and I felt instantly welcome and impressed with the building, the collections, and the programs for my children. It is a fascinating time to be involved with this unique institution in our town.
Interest, passions, hobbies
- Playing board games and visiting museums
- Perusing auction catalogs
- Watching my yard bloom
My favorite thing about libraries
I remember getting my first library card, learning how to find a book on my own, and later covering a table in books doing research for school projects. You can learn anything at a library. Recently I attended storytime with my children, which led them to make the Library the destination for their first "on their own" bicycle ride. Discovering, sharing, learning together—the Library is the place.
Why I serve on the Board
Being an architect with large project experience, I am acutely aware of the complexities of the Library’s Capital Improvement Project and the importance of a thoughtful design process. Architects are uniquely trained as critical thinkers, multi-taskers, and problem solvers. I look forward to serving my community in this capacity.