OSRT Honors Ruth Sias with the Frances de Usabel Outreach Services Award

The Outreach Services Roundtable has chosen Ruth Sias as the 2011 recipient of the Frances de Usabel award.

Ruth Sias is the Children's Librarian at the Goodman South Madison branch of the Madison Public Library. She was chosen for exemplary work with children and families in local hospitals. Ruth was nominated for the award by Dipesh Navsaria, the director of the University of Wisconsin Pediatric Early Literacy Projects.

According to Dr. Navsaria, Sias was instrumental in developing an outreach program to promote reading and literacy to children and families at local clinics. In addition to providing direct services, she trained volunteers to engage children and parents in stories using effective modeling and reading techniques. After working closely with hospital and university professionals to make this program successful, she initiated plans to expand the program to reach more families in her service area and beyond. Furthermore, she has shared her experiences as a conference presenter, teaching other librarians about this innovative collaboration.

Sias will accept her award at the WLA Awards & Honors Banquet on Thursday, November 3 in Milwaukee.

Ruth Ann Montgomery Receives Frances de Usabel Outreach Services Award

Ruth Ann Montgomery, director of the Arrowhead Library System, is the recipient of the 2010 Frances de Usabel Outreach Services Award, presented annually by the WLA's Outreach Services Round Table (OSRT). Jamie Matczak, OSRT Chair, said Ruth Ann was instrumental in helping the workers displaced by the closing of the GM plant in Janesville. Presently, over 1,600 residents in Rock County have participated in the computer classes Ruth Ann developed as part of an LSTA grant.

"It is a great honor to receive the Frances de Usabel award,” said Ruth Ann. “It has been my good fortune to work in a profession that values making buildings accessible to all.  Public library special needs and outreach projects have always been dear to my heart.”

The award is named in honor of the former Special Needs Consultant for the Wisconsin Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning, Frances de Usabel. Frances worked diligently and successfully to advance outreach services in Wisconsin public libraries for many years.  Funding for this award is made possible by the siblings of Frances de Usabel. Ruth Ann will be honored at the WLA Conference Awards Banquet on Thursday, November 4.

Ruth Ann feels fortunate to have a position where a difference can be made. “Every day I get to work with creative people who value library services. It is magical the way librarians share, enhance and promote program ideas,” she said.

Janesville Gazette reports on Ruth Ann's award-winning ways.