Two running for Rockville Centre library

On Tuesday, May 20, Rockville Centre residents will also have an opportunity to vote for the library budget and for the two men running for one open seat.

Bill Murray, the incumbent, is running for another term on the board. He is being challenged by Jason Pauslen, a relative newcomer.

Much like the Board of Education candidates, the Herald asked each of the Library Board candidates questions to give voters a better sense of who is running.

What do you think is the most important function of the library?

Bill Murray: I believe that the most important function of our library is to provide equal access to information and materials to all residents in Rockville Centre. Whether you are just starting out in life or are now in your golden years, I believe the library needs to serve all in a balanced and thoughtful manner. While technology and e-services are continually evolving and transforming our library of today into our library of the future, we need to ensure that we maintain a balance with our traditional services in order to not leave one segment of our community under-served or left out. I, as a trustees over the past nine-plus years, have consistently respected and supported the recommendations of the professional staff of library to meet the needs of our community.

Jason Paulsen: A community center focused on promoting opportunities for the enrichment of Rockville Centre’s citizens. For example: information literacy has become a survival skill that our library can and should do more to support.

How can the library better serve the residents of Rockville Centre?

Murray: While there is always room for improvement, I think overall the director and library staff provide excellent services and programming to the community. As a trustee over these many years, I have been amazed at the dedication and creativity that the staff continually puts forth to make the library what is today. I have consistently supported these professionals as they have assessed and determined what is best to serve all segments of our community. From the excellent Youth Services department to the great programming for our adult population, the staff is the critical ingredient making this all happen. We need to continue to invest in and value our staff, because they are our most important asset for the library to better serve this community. If re-elected, I will continue to support their expert recommendations to best meet the needs of Rockville Centre residents.

Paulsen: Expand services and programs across all age groups, including concerts and community-building events. We have some fantastic children’s programs that fill up quickly; many residents would like to see additional classes opened to meet high demand. Additional internet kiosks would reduce or alleviate lines, modern solutions like secured tablet kiosks could be an effective low-cost solution. Develop additional services that are focused on information literacy for students of all ages and tech enthusiasts. Expand transparency on the website and use modern tools like Survey Monkey to increase feedback and engagement from the community.

What makes you the most qualified candidate?

Murray: The library continues to face financial challenges with the state tax cap, staff retirement/health costs and negotiating the next contract with the full-time library employees shortly. I believe I am the most qualified candidate because of my strong financial management skills. As a member of the board’s Finance subcommittee for several years, I have worked to ensure that we balance our budget appropriately while working to stay under the tax cap. While the library tax bill for most homes is relatively modest, I believe any budget increase needs to be justified to our taxpayers, given that we all struggle in one way or another to maintain our standard of living within this wonderful community. I believe I can continue to bring my financial expertise to the table by assisting the library to navigate and balance its many competing priorities, while maximizing the value it delivers to our community.

Paulsen: My skills are focused on people, education, marketing and process improvement through technology. I have 15 years of experience in the corporate world managing education and technology projects that range from minimal to multi-million-dollar budgets. I have also been the president of the condominium board of directors for Belvedere III Condominiums in Williamsburg Brooklyn for the last six years. When I took over management of the condo, we had $4,800 in savings. I hired new vendors, expanded services for all residents and today we have more than $30,000 in savings with no increase in monthly fees! Managing vendors from website developers to contractors and plumbers is all within my experience.