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If you were searching the dictionary for the word "dynamo", you would find our speaker's picture next to it. Carmen Patlan is a Waukegan resident who immigrated with her parents to the U.S. when she was 7 years old. She took the struggling Waukegan Library from being just "okay," to a IMLS top library in the country in 2013. She was approached by the Highwood Library Board to come and recreate the same magic. She joked that they offered her a wonderful decrease in pay. She initially turned down the position, but when she was asked a second time, she said yes. It was the challenge that perhaps pulled her in. She soon realized this was where she needed to be. She had to take the "easy to forget about" library and turn it into a place that was relevant to the community. Her staff is learning Spanish to communicate with the public. The current home of the Highwood Public Library was built in 1976 and was stuck in a sort of time warp, she said. She got to work forming partnerships like she did in Waukegan. Slowly, she transformed the library into a community center ready with resources for the families in need. English as a second language for so many of the parents and tutoring for the students, computers, even the basic needs like shoes and clothes. She increased the budget and in doing so, increased the traffic of the library which is actually housed in three buildings. Like many other older libraries, they are landlocked. With immigrants, so many of them are illiterate - parents and children, many times it is the child writing checks and paying bills for the parents. Carmen developed learning partners (mentors - not tutors!) which means junior high students help elementary students, junior high students get help from senior high students, and medical students from Rosalind University help high school students. The 25 learning partners are paired with the one student each. Adult literacy and GED help is addressed as well. Carmen created a Friends of the Library Board to help fundraise. She received donations for furniture, applied for a grant that challenged the recipient to raise $1.3M for a total of $2M in funds for improvements. Carmen - in her vast network, has a volunteer architect to help with the improvements. With the necessity of all the air, plumbing and electrical upgrades, renovations have become a $4M project. State money that was earmarked for the library by Sen. Julie Morrison, is on it's way. Carmen continues to apply for grants. Carmen said U.S. Representative Brad Schneider has informed her that the Highwood Library is one of three finalists for this year's IMLS Award! It looks like she hasn't lost her touch! |
