Headshot of candidate Sean Kirchman Sean Kirchman
On Saturday, March 8, The Xavierite interviewed Prairie Trails Public Library Trustee candidate Sean Kirchman.
At just 24 years old, Kirchman is currently a co-founder of and the President of the Young Democrats of Lyons Township, an organization created to educate the youth of Lyons Township on the understanding of local government problems. He also assisted in JB Pritzker’s gubernatorial re-election campaign as a digital assistant and is currently the chess coach nearby at Brother Rice High School.
After receiving his Master of Arts in Political Psychology from Arizona State University, Kirchman decided to become more engaged in his lifelong hometown of Burbank.
“I work on getting more involved in my community (in Burbank) by attending the City Council meetings and speaking with residents. Learning about everyday people’s experiences has really encouraged me to run for office because I’d like to be someone that can make life just a little bit better for others in any way that I can,” Kirchman said.
However, there was one place in Burbank that Kirchman felt closer to than others: the Prairie Trails Public Library. It made him reminisce about his times visiting the library as a child, reading with his parents or even attending free events. As he decided to run to be a Library Trustee, there were a few things he kept in mind.
“I would like to expand the library’s native plant garden, survey community input for improving library programming, start a library chess club, and foster a mental health initiative. I believe my experience and commitment to successfully revitalizing the Brother Rice High School chess program this year will serve me well as I look to help the library expand its offerings of creative and competitive outlets for young people,” he explained.
Kirchman went on to explain that libraries are important for all generations of citizens, no matter where they live. He made it clear that libraries aren’t just places where people can check out books.
“One day in the summer I gave directions to a resident who had taken a bus and was walking to the library just for access to a computer since she couldn’t afford one but wanted to login to her old Facebook account for photos of her brother who had passed away. It was a rather heart-breaking story that hasn’t left me. The library serves different purposes for different people, and regardless of what people use it for, I know that it’s important,” Kirchman recalled.
As a recent graduate, Kirchman knows how important libraries are for students.
When asked about how students should utilize the Robert and Mary Rita Murphy Stump Library, Kirchman suggested, “If students would like to make use of the library in a new way, I would encourage them to develop a plan and advocate for it. What the library can offer may be limited in part by its physical capabilities, but I’m sure there are options for events students might enjoy, assuming these events don’t already take place somewhere else on campus.”
Although he is the youngest person on the ballot, he remains confident that if elected he will bring about positive change to the community.
“As a young voter myself, I recognize that politics often feels very frustrating, especially when it seems like issues that matter to young people aren’t being addressed. I think part of learning about politics is realizing that really it’s about community. There are things we can do to improve our lives and the lives of those around us starting at the hyperlocal level, such as at the library. It may not seem like much, but organizing among our friends, coworkers, and within our communities is where we start building movements for change,” Kirchman said.
For those curious about the Prairie Trails Public Library, visit their website for more information. The Prairie Trails Library Trustee election takes place on April 1.