Politics & Government

Bolingbrook Election 2013 Candidate: Peggy Danhof

Peggy Danhof is one of two candidates running for the Fountaindale Public Library Board of Trustees.

Campaign information 

  • E-mail: pdanhof@yahoo.com
  • Phone: (630)209-4514

Personal information 

  • Age: 67
  • Family: Husband: Chuck (Deceased); Daughter, Meredith Dianna; Son-In-Law, Sean and Granddaughter, Macey Amari Walker
  • Education: AS: Ferris State University; BA: University of Louisville; MSED: Northern Illinois University
  • Occupation: Retired High School Social Studies Teacher; Current Adjunct Faculty for Illinois State University: Student Teacher Supervisor
  • Political party affiliation: The Library Trustee position is non-partisan
  • Previous elected offices: Bolingbrook Village Trustee: 1979-1983, 1987-1993; DuPage Township Supervisor: 1993-1997; Fountaindale Public Library Trustee: 1984-1988, 1998 – Continuing

Applicable experience qualifying you for the position: 

I have served in various appointed and elected offices in local government for over thirty-seven years. I have also held leadership positions in national, state and local organizations: specifically, I have served as the American Library Association President for the National Trustee Division and currently serve as the President of the Illinois Library Association Trustee Forum. In past years, I have served as President of many local civic and social groups and on the state level, I served as President of the Illinois Community Education Association. I also had the opportunity to be the Charter President of the University of Louisville Chicago Alumni Chapter. I have a broad knowledge of local government and social and civic responsibility. I bring this wealth of knowledge and experience to my role as a Fountaindale Public Library Trustee.

Candidate questions 

Why are you running for this office?

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Having served in many capacities in local government, I have found that my real passion is in library service. The library is not only the cornerstone of the community, it serves all patrons equally and encourages lifelong learning through the love of reading. My career in education demonstrated so clearly that those who can read, can do anything. It is my purpose to make the library a place for all ages to imagine, inspire, create and enjoy.

What will be your most important priority if you get elected?

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To continue our award winning service at Fountaindale, improve community involvement, and provide an environment conducive to lifelong learning.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I have a great deal of experience and use this wealth of knowledge to mentor my fellow trustees, work with our outstanding staff and continue to develop and promote library services and programs for our patrons.

How long have you lived in your community and/or been active in local issues?

I have lived in Bolingbrook for forty years. I have been involved in local issues for thirty-seven years. 

What's your favorite thing about Fountaindale Public Library District?

We have an outstanding staff at Fountaindale Public Library, a professional and knowledgeable Board of Trustees and a community that is active, involved, and use and support our library services.

What is the biggest challenge facing the Fountaindale Public Library District and how would you work to address it?

Libraries today have embraced technology as it is developed, promoted e-resources for our patrons and continue to involve the community in the planning process for additional services.  Funding for public libraries in many areas has become an issue though not so much for Fountaindale. We have been very fiscally responsible and have a new building with a new media lab both of which have come in under budget. We continue to work with a budget that is comprehensive and allows for so many services to our patrons. We practice fiscal transparency for the benefit of the taxpayers and ourselves.  We have seen a decrease in State funding for libraries and created our own consortium to counteract this decrease in funds for reciprocal borrowing and delivery. Today we also face issues with the publishers of e-books that now charge an exorbitant rate to libraries for lending their books rather than working with libraries to see that the needs of patrons are fulfilled at a reasonable cost. Publishers and Libraries need to be advocates for each other, not adversaries. Through the American Library Association, Fountaindale is taking an active part in finding solutions to this conflict and look forward to establishing cooperative ventures between libraries and the publishers for the benefit of our patrons.

Please add any other information pertinent to your campaign.

I am very excited to be a candidate again for the position of Fountaindale Public Library Trustee. I have worked very hard in the past with my fellow board members to continue the excellence of our library and look forward to keeping this momentum going. I enjoy serving the public as a trustee. It is a fascinating position. You have the opportunity to listen to the public, hear what they have to say and act upon their suggestions. Fountaindale has won many awards for our new building, the service which we provide and our outreach into the community. I look forward to the opportunity of serving this wonderful community in the future as a Fountaindale Public Library Trustee. 


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