Dedham 2014 Candidate Profile: Rachel Forsyth-Tuerck, Library Trustees

Editor's Note: The following profile is part of a series highlighting the candidates running for seats in contested races as part of this year's town election, which takes place on Saturday, April 12. Dedham Patch is looking to showcase why the candidates are running and what they hope to bring to the table. Check back leading up to the election for more profiles on the candidates. If you’re a candidate and would like to have a profile included, please email mattp@patch.com for more information.

Rachel Forsyth-Tuerck is running for the Library Trustees. Dedham Patch recently spoke with her regarding her candidacy and what she hopes to bring to the table if elected this month.

Why are you re-running?

I'm running for re-election because we've accomplished a lot in the past three years and I'd like to see the momentum keep going. We finally have a five-year strategic plan on file with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, which means the Dedham Public Library can start applying for serious grant money. We submitted our first application this past January, and will find out in June if we will receive it. It's the first time in seven years that this grant has been made available, so the competition is fierce. There are almost 30 libraries applying and only a handful will be selected, so we have a back-up plan to continue meeting our goals if we don't get the grant. I wanted to be around to help keep going forward either way.

What do you hope to accomplish on the board?

I hope to continue working on the priorities we've established in the library's strategic plan, such as recovering professional staff positions that were lost in the last recession, revamping the library website, and increasing awareness about the library's programs and digital resources. Residents can borrow Kindles, access lots of helpful classes, encyclopedias, and periodicals online from any computer, and download e-books and audiobooks through the library website without having to come into the library. We need to get the word out and make sure everyone knows they can access all of this.

What do you see is the most pressing issue facing Dedham right now in relation to the seat for which you're running?

At the micro level, our biggest issue is recovering staff lost in the past ten years; we've lost the equivalent of five full-time positions, and of those, two were professional librarians. Our staffing is down 20 percent while our circulation is up 30 percent. That means the staff are often struggling just to get by every day, and can rarely take time to do extra programming or attend professional training. At the macro level, we are trying to navigate the world of e-books and figure out what it's going to take to be a successful, vibrant library in the 21st century.

What do you think you could do to help resolve this issue?

As a trustee, I plan to build awareness throughout the town about what the Dedham Public Library has to offer and deliver key messages consistently to the residents, the Selectmen, and members of the Financial Committee. The trustees recently formed a Marketing Subcommittee, of which I am a member, that is laying out a plan for a marketing and message campaign, as well as a new branding initiative.

Name one unique idea you would like to bring to the table if elected this April.

Once we regain our previous staffing levels, I'd love to explore the idea of "Sponsored Sundays," where local businesses and organizations would cover the operational costs for having the Main library open for a few hours on Sunday afternoons, October through May. Sponsored Sundays have worked in other towns, and it'd be great for the Main to be open during the weekend, even if it was just for a few hours.

Do you have any upcoming election-related events residents should know about?

It's not election-related exactly, but the week leading up to the election (April 7- April 13) is National Library Week. Come stop by and show your local library some love!

What is one thing voters might not know about you?

I have an extensive music collection and love to make music mixes for people and for various events. Each year, I try to discover a few new favorite bands from the SXSW, Pitchfork, and Bonnaroo music festivals. I have music from every decade and almost every genre, and I make my kids listen to all of it. They don't always love it, but it's good for them. They'll thank me later, right?