Many people may not realize all that goes on behind the scenes in a public library. While patrons may be familiar with our staff, we also have a Board of Trustees who volunteer to guide and direct our services to the community. The Edwardsville Public Library is a municipal library, which means that the trustees are volunteers appointed by the Mayor for a period of three years. We have 9 trustees, who have years of service ranging from almost 1 year to 40 years. In general, the library board determines the mission of the library, sets the policies that governs the library, and hire and evaluate the library director. They direct the funds, set the policies, and are advocates for the library.
Robert LaRose has been a board member since 1999 and has served as the President of the Edwardsville Public Library's Board of Trustees since 2006. He is a tremendous resource for us, and we appreciate him and all the time he dedicates to making our library the special place that it is. I have asked Bob a few questions, and I hope his answers will help our citizens understand more about the library and their Library Board.
How long have you lived in Edwardsville?
We have lived in Edwardsville since 1983. We lived in St. Paul, Minnesota for the first three years after we were married but after our second child was born, we wanted to be closer to family. Mary was born and raised in Staunton and we decided to settle in Edwardsville because I was working in downtown St. Louis. All three of our kids graduated from Edwardsville High School.
What is your professional background?
I graduated from Northwestern Law School in 1980 and originally worked for a large law firm in the Twin Cities. When we moved here in 1983, I started with Thompson Mitchell (now Thompson Coburn) which is one of the largest law firms in St. Louis. I retired in 2016 as a partner after 33 years at that firm. I was a corporate lawyer representing mostly publicly traded companies and large private corporations in mergers and acquisition transactions, securities offerings and corporate governance transactions. I was chairperson of the Corporate Department for the last 20 years of my time at the firm.
What prompted you to volunteer for the library board?
As an attorney especially at a firm like Thompson Coburn, we are always cognizant of the fact that we should give back to the communities in which we live. I had served on the Finance Committee of my church for many years and was serving on the Sunset Hills Country Club board at the time Mayor Gary Niebur asked me to fill a vacancy on the EPL Board. I jumped at the chance to serve on the Board because I have always felt that the library not only served the obvious purpose of providing the community with affordable reading and entertainment materials but was also one of the pillars of our Edwardsville community.
What are some of the changes you have seen over the years at the library?
The first 15 years that I served were very smooth. Deanne Holshauser was the long-time library director and had assembled a very competent staff. Her retirement coincided with a number of new developments in the provision of library services and created some new challenges for the staff and the board. We had looked at expansion possibilities even going so far as doing public surveys, hiring a library consultant and architects to draw up plans. That effort coincided with the 2008 financial crises and had to be tabled because there did not seem to be an appetite for a bond issue vote and resultant tax increase.
Since then we have revisited the provision of library services within our existing facility as well as over the internet. We have utilized data to determine that our physical book inventory is more than sufficient and needed to focus more resources on electronic services and utilizing our space differently. The Library has increasingly become a meeting place for many different groups for many different reasons. To address these needs we embarked on a plan to create new versatile meeting and work spaces and are in the process of implementing that plan. Because the library is a meeting place for all in the community we have partnered with SIUE to provide social work services to those patrons who are in need.
What role does the library have in this community?
Our Carnegie-funded Library is a landmark building that is one of the most recognized locations in Edwardsville. Citizens are genuinely proud of their library, both because of its history as well as the services it provides. The staff and the board are committed to continuing the strong legacy of the library and continue to be the strong resource in the community.
About the Author
Jill is the Director of the Edwardsville Public Library. She worked as a CPA for 15 years before moving to Edwardsville and joining the library in 2013.