Thanks to all who came to vote. The count was 186 yes, 37 no.

Lisa Caselles was elected Library Trustee and will serve a 5 year term.

Thanks to the Patchogue-Medford community for your continued support.

Krystle DiNicola is running for a seat on the Patchogue-Medford Library Board of Trustees. Photo courtesy: Krystle DiNicola

The two candidates running for an open spot on the Patchogue-Medford Library’s Board of Trustees have each been sent questions to help the public know a little more about them when hitting the polls for Tuesday’s library budget vote and trustee election. Krystle DiNicola speaks here about why she wants to join the board. Click here for the candidate profile for Elizabeth Kennedy, who is also running for the seat.

What is your current career and involvement with the Patchogue­-Medford community?

Krystle DiNicola: A lifelong Patchogue­-Medford resident, I chose to base my company, KLD Photography & Web Designs in this community. I have been in business for over five years serving both individual and corporate clients across Long Island. As a solo entrepreneur, I work closely with my clients to ensure that their needs are met in the most cost­-effective manner.

I am also an employee of the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce, Inc. working with local businesses to improve business communication and member relations. Lastly, I work closely with the Patchogue Village Business Improvement District as a web designer and marketing consultant to help continue to positively promote the community and bring new business and ideas to the Village.

That’s just my ‘day’ job though. For me, the real work begins after­hours. My family always tells me that I don’t know when to stop raising my hand to get involved. It’s true! It is hard to stop though when you realize that you’re actually making a difference in someone’s life; it’s not something that I take lightly.

Part of my volunteer efforts also go toward the Suffolk County Girl Scouts, of which I am a lifelong member.

When I was a high school senior, I received the Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouts. My project was to create a website unifying the various troops and their activities in Service Unit 49, which covers Patchogue-Medford. This project was one of the first in the new wave of ‘S.T.E.M.’ students and I now work to encourage young adults to use more tech­-based skills. For the past five years I have also worked with the business department at Patchogue-­Medford High School as a youth career mentor.

As a business owner, I have been a proud Chamber member since 2010 and I volunteer my free time assisting with the many Chamber activities from big festivals such as Alive After Five to welcoming new businesses to the Greater Patchogue area. Many of you have probably seen me or perhaps even been photographed by me at one of these community events.

What drew you to want to join the Patchogue­-Medford Library Board of Trustees?

DiNicola: Ever since I was a child, the Library felt like ‘home.’ I have such fond memories of participating in PML’s many programs – from the bake­off contests to spending hours at the annual Summer Reading Club. The beginner art programs helped guide me toward my career in the arts. I even volunteered time assisting in beautifying the Library by planting flowers with my Girl Scout troop in the small back garden and painting the mural that once faced the parking lot. To be a part of the PML Board of Trustees and help shape those experiences for the families and community members that frequent the Library would be a very special privilege. I want to continue the good stewardship of the past trustees that have helped shape my life.

If elected, what areas of Patchogue­-Medford Library do you hope to get to focus on?

DiNicola: Over the course of a five­-year term, there are three main areas I would hope to have the opportunity to focus on with the Board – the planning and opening of the Carnegie Library, continue to increase the diversity of programs and community outreach efforts, and nurture improvements in digital literacy/technology.

I am extremely excited about the revitalization happening throughout Patchogue-­Medford, especially with the historic Carnegie Library. The Board of Trustees, in cooperation with the Village of Patchogue and Suffolk County officials, have designated the Carnegie Library to be renovated as the Young Adult Center.

Its plan is to continue to be a safe haven for teens while increasing resources and services for them. While it is vital that the Library take into consideration the teens’ growing need for digital technology, I hope to also work with them on maintaining the historic look and overall feel of the facility.

I recently worked with LILTA, the Long Island Latino Teachers Association, on a grant­-funded enrichment program. This year-­long bilingual curriculum helped Patchogue-­Medford middle school students explore different cultures and experiences, as well as create multi­cultural performances to share at Long Island schools and colleges. I feel that it would be beneficial to continue and eventually expand similar programming through the Library.

Finally, I believe that we need to not only use technology to allow greater accessibility to information and services but also provide education to foster the use of these technologies. Even our senior population has seen the advantage of learning new skills.

With my professional background in digital technology and multimedia, I hope to be able to utilize my skills to assure that resources are properly allocated. I have previously served on the Board of the Suffolk County Women’s Business Enterprise Coalition as the co­-director of technology. SCWBEC, as it is commonly referred to, is a not­-for-­profit 501(c)3 that works to serve as a resource for women owned businesses and professionals. The Board and I worked tirelessly with Suffolk County Office of Affirmative Action and Minority Affairs, as well as other organizations, to facilitate acquisition of grants and financial support for our members throughout Suffolk County.

What is your favorite aspect of the Patchogue­-Medford Library currently?

DiNicola: I must confess that I am a self­-professed ‘bookworm.’ Reading is such an addiction! Even though our reading options are becoming more digital­-minded, which may mean iPads and tablets versus books and magazines, reading will always have a place in society.

The unique programming offered at PML is second­-to-­none though. Let’s be honest – there are quite a few ways to access reading materials especially since the Patchogue-­Medford Library is designated as the Central Library for the Suffolk Cooperative Library System. But PML also serves as a rich learning environment, a meeting place and a quiet sanctuary.

The staff at the Patchogue­-Medford Library are always improving community outreach, patron communication and educational opportunities through their programs and workshops. For example, the recently received grant will assist with the “Money for Life” series of programs to help patrons of all ages with financial literacy. Another recent example is the “Creative Young Professionals” networking group whose goal is to connect with the ‘new adult’ – young professionals who are between the ages of 18 and 35. The meetings held so far this year have been a delightful mix of camaraderie and education. I look forward to seeing, and hopefully working with the Library, on new projects that encompass meeting the needs of these new professionals.

From childhood to present day, I have attended many of the workshops and events hosted at PML and look forward to future events. I enjoy visiting the downstairs gallery to see what is on display as the monthly art exhibit. It isn’t just a Library, its a full­-service community center.

What is the biggest issue facing Patchogue­-Medford Library right now, and how do you hope to face it if elected?

DiNicola: One of the biggest issues currently facing PML is an understanding of how much more the Library is for its patrons. As mentioned previously, there are many programs to participate in. The Library also offers advocacy assistance, help and guidance for those in need and bilingual services, to name a few. Not only can you check out a book or magazine from PML, you can request one as an inter-­library loan. Museum passes and day trips to NYC are often available. You can even check out a fishing pole to take down to Mascot Dock! Unfortunately, statistics show that a large portion of our community are still not cardholders.

It is my hope that by continuing joint programming with the Patchogue­-Medford School District and increasing community engagement more Patchogue-­Medford residents will see the value and take full advantage of the Library’s many offerings.

What is the most important thing you want the Patchogue­-Medford voting community to know about you as they hit the polls?

DiNicola: As an entrepreneur, I am aware of the ever­-present economic challenges and know the importance of getting the best possible value for the taxpayer’s dollar. I have always been a strong supporter of the Patchogue­-Medford community and will work tirelessly to uphold the requirements of a Trustee.

I look forward to the changes and challenges that may arise as a member of the Board of Trustees. I want to be a part of encouraging and instilling the appreciation and value of service the library provides to the community in tomorrow’s leaders and entrepreneurs by supporting the mission of the Library. To assist in providing educational, cultural and recreational opportunities for the community, and to facilitate and support the informational needs of every community member. If you agree with these values, vote for me as the next Patchogue-­Medford Library Trustee on Tuesday, April 14.

Elizabeth Kennedy, pictured here reading to her 4-year-old son Alex, is running for a seat on the Patchogue-Medford Library Board of Trustees. Photo courtesy: Elizabeth Kennedy.

The two candidates running for an open spot on the Patchogue-Medford Library’s Board of Trustees have each been sent questions to help the public know a little more about them when hitting the polls for Tuesday’s library budget vote and trustee election. Elizabeth Kennedy speaks here about why she wants to join the board. Click here for the profile with Krystle DiNicola, who is also running for the seat.

What is your current career and involvement with the Patchogue-Medford community?

Elizabeth Kennedy: I am a lifelong resident of the Patchogue-Medford district. When choosing a place to put down my roots and raise a family, there was no question that I wanted to be here in Patchogue. I have always been involved with the library, ever since my mom dropped me at the Summer Reading Program in Elementary School.  I’ve spent countless hours in the rows of books, searching for everything from Travel Guides to Presidential Biographies. Currently, I am ecstatic about my 4-year-old son Alex’s enthusiasm over trips to the library and its programs.

The library was actually influential in my decision for a career. I always loved getting lost in the books at the library, so I became an English educator. I have now been an English Teacher for 10 years, and an elected Union Delegate for two.  If I can inspire students to become lifelong readers, and to just find something, anything that they can connect with, I feel I have done my job.

What drew you to want to join the Patchogue-Medford Library Board of Trustees?

Kennedy: I have wanted to be on the Library Board of Trustees ever since I found out about the position in middle school. I have always been drawn to the library and spent so much time here, that the idea that there was a board that oversaw every aspect of the library was something that I definitely wanted to be a part of. Now that I am settled in the community as a homeowner and taxpayer, I felt it was the perfect time to use my experience to run for the position.

If elected, what areas of Patchogue-Medford Library do you hope to get to focus on?

Kennedy: Through my position as an educator, I understand the importance of moving the library forward into the 21st Century. This is why I have a tremendous interest in the direction of the Carnegie Library project.The Carnegie Library is going to become a Young Adult Center, with the goal to better service this age group. The library recognizes, as I do, that teenagers need to be targeted for resources and services through the library. Especially with the upcoming changes to the education system here in New York, it is vital the library offer programs to help students to reach their full potential. The stakes are high, and the library needs to be part of the equation for added assistance.  When the proposal for the Carnegie Library was written, only 35% of the teenagers in the district had library cards. I would like to utilize my background and experience to help with the ongoing project of reaching out to teens to get them into the library, to take advantage of all the benefits the library has to offer.

What is your favorite aspect of the Patchogue-Medford Library currently?

Kennedy: People need a place to feel part of the community, and the library provides that. So many of the residents I have spoken to while campaigning have vivid memories of their experiences here at the library. They talk of the comfort they found and new friends they made when attending classes with their infants. Of the prizes they won in the Summer Reading Programs when they were kids. Of accessing digital books through Live-brary, having an experience with the library from the comforts of their own home.  Yes, some mention fines they got on books they just couldn’t part with. The Patchogue Medford Library had over 500,000 library patron visits last year. These patrons accounted for 877,723 total circulation transactions. Add this to the 52,000 who attended one of the library’s programs, and you can see how influential the library is in our community.

What is the biggest issue facing Patchogue-Medford Library right now, and how do you hope to face it if elected?

Kennedy: After attending a Meet the Candidate event at the library, I realize that one problem facing the community right now is how the Patchogue-Medford Library can serve the needs of both communities, considering just how far the distance is between the library and some of its patrons up in Medford. The population of the district is over 50,000 people. That is a large population to serve through one central building. Hopefully, through community outreach, more statistical data and continual communication between the citizens and the board, we will be able to assist all patrons.

With respect to reaching all members of our community, according to the 2010 United States Census, Hispanics make up approximately 21% of the Patchogue-Medford community. This is a rise from the 2010 census, where Hispanics made up 13% of the population. The library already does quite a bit of Spanish Language Outreach, hosting over 700 programs that reached 3,761 people last year alone. However, we need to continue to put energy into creating more programs to include all of members of our community, especially those that the library can serve as a gateway to understanding their environment as a whole.

What is the most important thing you want the Patchogue-Medford voting community to know about you as they hit the polls?

Kennedy: I am a homeowner, taxpayer, educator and parent here in the district. I understand working within a budget and the difference a strong public library, complete with numerous programs and resources can make on a community at large. I am living proof that trips to the library can be inspiring and influential. This is the only public position I have ever been truly interested in, and I would love your support. Please come out to vote for me on April 14th for Library Board Trustee at the Patchogue Medford Library.