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How many years have you lived in Winchester? My wife and I first moved to Winchester in 1986, and have lived here ever since. Both children graduated from Winchester schools.
Please describe your professional background and education. Nearly all of my career was spent in commercial real estate investment, development and management. I have a BS in Resource Economics from the University of New Hampshire, with a focus on Land Use. While at UNH I worked part time in the Library for three years.
What Winchester town positions (appointed or elected) have you held, and for how long? This is the only position I have held. I was originally appointed trustee to fill a position for one year, after a trustee relocated. I was then elected to a full three-year term; this will be my second election.
What are the primary issues motivating your candidacy? The library is an incredible resource for our town, and my goal is to help ensure that it continues to be managed effectively, with appropriate staffing, and access to as wide a range of books, periodicals and information as possible.
Can you share any volunteer work or civic engagement experiences that have shaped your perspective and prepared you for this role? I am on the Board of Trustees of Native Plant Trust. I also volunteer mentoring small businesses with SCORE, and I volunteer with SOAR, which provides project based consulting for nonprofits in the Boston area.
Library Board of Trustees-specific questions
How would you assess and respond to Winchester's evolving community needs while ensuring library services remain relevant? The library is constantly evaluating our offerings to reflect what the community needs/wants. Two examples: our Library of Things, where patrons can borrow tools to help them with cooking, home improvement, hobbies, etc.; and we are working on expanding our Chinese language offerings, since many Winchester residents speak the language as their native tongue, and would like to read books in that language.
What strategies would you employ to ensure fiscal responsibility while exploring additional funding opportunities? The trustees spend quite a bit of time working with the executive director and her team to review and approve the annual budget. Additionally, we review financial information regularly to make sure we are working within the budget, as well as suggesting ways to reduce costs and provide the maximum value to Winchester taxpayers.
How would you advocate for the library to increase public support and awareness of its offerings? The library sends weekly emails outlining current offerings, upcoming programs and events, etc. There's also regular posting on social media, which I hope all town residents who use the platforms follow. We'd like to see more utilization by teens, and the staff is working on ways to encourage teen usage and engagement. Overall, the library receives great support from the community, which we appreciate.
Have questoins for Coughlan? Contact him at either winlibtrustees@gmail.com or 617-584-0860
