PRESS RELEASE: Jefferson-Madison Regional Library Board–– For the first time in its history, the Board of Trustees of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library has polled local and statewide political candidates on their experiences with and support for public libraries in advance of a General Election. The answers to questions asked of all 43 candidates in JMRL localities are available on the library system�\’s website (www.jmrl.org) and in printed form at library branches. The idea to poll candidates about library issues was a recommendation of the Library Board�\’s Advocacy Committee.
The Library Board asked no more than two questions of each candidate seeking election to the State Senate, House of Delegates, Boards of Supervisors, or Charlottesville City Council from the JMRL participating localities of Albemarle, Charlottesville, Greene, Louisa and Nelson. All questions were approved by the full Library Board and were tailored to specific funding issues in the General Assembly races and to local library topics in Boards of Supervisors and City Council contests.
Questions were both postal mailed and electronically mailed to candidates with their answers due back by September 23. There was no word limit placed on the candidates, and all candidates were told that their answers would NOT be edited.
The Library Board received on-time replies from 60% of the candidates. Answers to the candidate questions in each election are listed on the JMRL website in the order (by date and time) that they were received.
While the Library Board does not and will not endorse candidates, the Trustees hope that the information will be helpful to voters as they go to the polls on November 8.
Jefferson-Madison Regional Library serves Albemarle, Charlottesville, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson, and is one of the most heavily used public libraries for its size in the United States.
For further information or comment, please contact:
John Halliday, Library Director, halliday@jmrl.org
Tim Tolson, Library Board President, TfjTolson@gmail.com
Gary Grant, Chairman, JMRL Advocacy Committee (978-1825)