Lisa Scoons
Delmar
Occupation: Communications manager for the New York State Health Insurance Program
Question: What do you consider your most meaningful career accomplishment?
A. In the 20 years that I have worked in state government, my focus has been to improve access to benefits; whether workers’ compensation benefits or health insurance benefits, that recipients have earned. More pointedly, it has been personally meaningful to help to clearly communicate and simplify both the process and the benefits they are entitled to.
Q. What skills do you bring to your tenure on the board?
A. Non-profit board experience and training; 15-plus years of experience in communicating with very large, diverse populations; research/writing/editing and media relations; legislative and regulatory knowledge and advocacy.
Q. What are your goals as a library board member?
A. To see the library survive and thrive in our community by delivering services to its patrons that meet current needs, while also balancing the fiscal concerns of taxpayers and the community goals at large.
Q. How does a public library best serve its community?
A. By being cognizant of its stakeholders’ needs/concerns and fairly allocating limited resources to address them. Ongoing communication is crucial to this task.
Q. What are the most important issues facing public libraries today?
A. How to remain relevant in the face of technology and social media; obtain/retain taxpayer support for library resources and needs; and protect the privacy of patrons who use public library resources.
Q. How are public libraries changing?
A. Public libraries are providing more services than just making physical resources accessible to patrons, and the menu can include training, community events and employment services. Boards can expedite these changes by looking for new opportunities and budgeting for them.
Q. How have libraries influenced your life?
A. I am a lifelong library patron, and it has made me a constant reader, a more compassionate person and a better informed citizen.
Q. What do you like best about the Bethlehem Public Library?
A. I like that the library is always looking to improve upon and expand services for its patrons and that the staff is always willing to assist us.
Q. What is your vision for the future of this library?
A. Continuing to serve the needs of our community as they change and growing future generations of library patrons in our children.
