The Chicago Public Library’s Junior Board will host the second Night in the Stacks fundraiser on Friday April 10 under the stars in the Winter Garden at Harold Washington Library. In anticipation of the event, which sold out last year, we sat down to chat with Junior Board members Mercedes Bender, Trevor Scheetz and Angela Burke on what guests can expect this year, why should someone consider joining the board and why the library is so important, even in today’s digital world.
Trevor Scheetz, Mercedes Bender and Angela Burke are all 20/30 something young professionals using their talents to give back and support organizations they feel passionate about, theirs being the Junior Board of the Chicago Public Library Foundation. Though the CPL Foundation’s Junior Board is relatively young on the auxiliary board scene, having only being formed in September 2012, it boasts a growing membership that ranges from lawyers, entrepreneurs, educators, MBA’s and more.
Related: No Drinking in The Library! Our Night In The Stacks
SLC: How did you get involved with the Junior Board of Chicago Public Library
Trevor: I moved back to Chicago and hoped that something like the junior board existed and at that time it was still in its infancy when I joined.
Angela: I was at Printers Row Lit Fest and at that time they were just starting to build awareness for the organization. I signed up immediately, and jumped in as soon as I joined.
Mercedes: My aunt was a librarian and I used to spend a lot of time at the Flagstone branch and even during high school at Whitney Young, the Harold Washington Library was our after school hangout. I knew I wanted to get involved with board service and everyone told me to do something that you are passionate about because it takes a lot of time and commitment and that’s how I got involved.
SLC: Last year was a sold out success and surprisingly, for a library event, it was great fun, what can guests look forward to this year?
Mercedes: This year, we decided to align with the library’s current initiative of “One Book, One Chicago” program featuring the book “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay” by Michael Chabon, which is set in a world of comic books, heroes and superheroes. The event will be based on the superhero theme. It will be really cool.
SLC: If someone were to consider joining CPL Foundation’s Junior Board, why should they get involved?
Trevor: The library is the coolest. The foundation supports so many cool things such as the Summer Learning Challenge that’s immensely useful to the children of Chicago; Teachers in Library and the YOU Media program, that helps kids explore their talents using digital media.
Angela: I agree and a majority of our members have joined the organization because libraries were a big part of their lives growing up and it’s coming full circle. It’s much more than just books, libraries in our communities are a central hub where everyone can come. Whether you need to brush up your skills or pick up new ones like learning a new language, being a part of that is an amazing thing.
I will say our board consists of some really cool people who love what they are doing, yes we are nerds but it’s cool to be one now and we all love to hang out with each other outside of board meetings and events.
Mercedes: People are using the Library much differently now that in years past but it’s great to see how the Chicago Public Library has adjusted with growth and the digital revolution. I think because we all have similar interests and people want to be here, we just have a good time.
SLC: What was your first favorite book or book your read that you just couldn’t put down?
Trevor: The first book I ever stayed up all night to finish was a Goosebumps book. I have this distinct memory of wanting to go to sleep but couldn’t because ever chapter ends with “and then there was a creek…” (laughs)
Angela: For me it was the Babysitter Club series. As soon as a new one was released I had to get my hands on it. That was the first time I got an author’s signature too.
Mercedes: Mine was anything by Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume. My mom read Beverly Cleary books when she was a girl and so she got me reading those. I loved all of those books.
SLC: Are you kindle/e-reader or physical books?
Trevor: I got a e-reader for a trip I was taking but I find that I read physical books more often. I am currently reading “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore” which I got during our member Christmas book swap and it’s a winner.
SLC: What is your take on the generational gap especially with digital boom?
Angela: The YOUmedia lab is always packed with teens working on all types of stuff. It’s so much more than what you can do on your own, with skilled mentors available to help teens in whatever they want to explore. For adults, whatever they might want to learn, there is a resource for it at one of the public libraries.
Mercedes: One of the things that’s really cool is that students can get tutoring on any subject at different grade levels from English or Spanish speaking tutors. I don’t remember what grade it was, but there got to a certain point where my mom couldn’t help with my homework anymore and that’s really great to have a resource like, Teacher in the Library that kids can take advantage of.
Trevor: My parents were librarians, and I volunteered and I see it has changed a lot. It was exciting when they had DVD’s and you could get it there rather than pay at Blockbuster but it’s so much more now. Everything YOU Media does and the Maker lab, even if you can’t afford a 3D printer you can come to the library and use one here.
Since it’s a a superhero themed event, who is your favorite superhero?
Trevor: Batman because anybody can be batman
Mercedes: She-Ra for me. That was the first female superhero I saw on TV.
Angela: Storm from X-Men; it was probably the first time I had ever seen an African American woman in a super hero character.
Did you know that the Harold Washington Library Center has 5 3-D printers, 2 laser cutters, 2 vinyl cutters, electronic knittings machines and all you need to have, to use it, is a library card?
All of the software used is either free or open sourced so you can download it. Looking to pint something? 3 days a week they offer open shop where you can come in and make whatever you want. What’s the cost you ask? $1 for every half hour of 3D printing.
SociaLifeChicago is a media sponsor of Night in The Stacks. Get your tickets HERE and we’ll see you on the scene!
*photos by Holly Max Myrick
