Meet the Interns! Susie Seefelt Lesieutre and Laura Damon-Moore

The WLAF has hired two graduate students from UW-Madison SLIS as public relations interns for the Campaign for Wisconsin Libraries. We are excited to have individuals of their caliber working for WLAF. Read all about them in their profiles below:

Name:  Susie Seefelt Lesieutre
Professional Status:  1^st year SLIS student at UW Madison (going part time). Worked as an ESL instructor for many years after obtaining a Master’s in TESOL. Completed further graduate work in publishing and communications and then worked for several years as an editor, both in-house and freelance, focusing on independent and academic press publications.

I decided to pursue the MLS because I felt that the program would build nicely on my previous professions of teaching ESL and editing. And I love being around books and reference materials (but see “aha” moment below).

The biggest “aha” experience of my SLIS education so far is that “digital” defines the profession to a much greater degree than I had expected. I was amazed to learn that academic libraries now often share large database collections that are packaged and sold by vendors, and that as a result of this libraries are having to cancel print journal subscriptions by the thousands and are placing books and other printed matter in remote shelving. Although I am sad to think of things getting canceled and tucked away out of sight, I also think this is a fascinating time to be in librarianship: I may no longer be helping users find books, but I will still be helping them find what they need by navigating new and innovative ways of storing and retrieving information. And I appreciate even more the set of mid-1950s Encylopaedia Britannica I own, which my husband, the eBook Reader fan, threatens every now and then to place in his own version of remote shelving—boxes in the basement.

Professionally, in 3-5 years, I hope to be finished with my degree and working in a library on the UW campus, possibly in a reference or library curation position.

Something interesting about me (not related to libraries): My husband and I adopted our daughter from Guatemala when she was an infant. She’s now 7-years-old and is in the second grade. We have been to Guatemala once since picking her up, to visit with the birth family—an amazing, poignant trip.

Favorite thing to do when I’m not working/going to school: traveling with my family.

What I hope to contribute during my internship: By drawing on my background in language and communication studies, I hope to effectively compose monthly emails for the WLA that will contain recommendations for librarians across the state on how to build advocacy activities into their monthly calendar of events.

Name: Laura Damon-Moore

Professional Status: Graduate Student and Office Assistant to the UW–Madison General Library System

I decided to pursue the MLS because I thrive on conversations and learning about new people, new ideas, new technologies, you name it. I enjoy being an educator outside of a traditional classroom. I am a firm believer in interdisciplinary/cross-curricular education and I think that libraries can serve as a fabulous bridge between disciplines and schools of thought.

The biggest “aha” experience of my SLIS education so far: My fieldwork at Hedberg Public Library in Janesville. It realized for me a love for working with young adults and teens of which I was not previously aware.

Professionally, in 3-5 years, I hope to be working! Many options and ideas: teen/youth services, undergraduate services, library communications, instruction and programming, etc.

Something interesting about me (not related to libraries): I was a theatre major in college! This is coming in handy when teaching library workshops! I also worked in the energetic world of student affairs for two years before library school, which has informed a lot of how I approach library work today. Oh, and my hometown library is Cole Library – a joint-use academic and public library in the tiny town of Mount Vernon, Iowa. That has had quite an impact on my view of libraries, too!

Favorite thing to do when I’m not working/going to school: Read (right now? George R. R. Martin). Do yoga. Take walks by the Madison lakes. Enjoy my first year of married life with Jim!

What I hope to contribute during my internship: An interesting look at Wisconsin libraries for a general public audience. I really want to make library users and non-users aware of the awesome things going on in our state's libraries.

2010 Library Hall of Fame Selections Announced

The Steering Committee of the Wisconsin Library Heritage Center, a program of the Wisconsin Library Association Foundation, has selected five individuals to be inducted into the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame in 2010:  Wayne Bassett (1915-1988), H. Vail Deale (1915-2004), Lea Gruber (1907-1996), Julia Wright Merrill (1881-1961), and Calvin Potter (1945- ). The inductions will take place on November 4, 2010 at the Wisconsin Library Association Conference in Wisconsin Dells.  

Wayne Bassett served as Director of the Wausau Public Library, later merged into the Marathon County Public Library, and the Wisconsin Valley Library Service.  He served as the Legislative Advocate for WLA and as its President in 1976. 

H. Vail Deale was the former Director of Libraries at Beloit College.  He was a member of the 1954-55 Steering Committee that helped establish the Wisconsin Association of Academic Libraries (WAAL) in WLA and served as its first chair in 1955-56. Deale served as President of the WLA in 1960-61.  

Lea Gruber served as a trustee on the Prairie du Sac Library Board for 48 years. She also served on the boards of the Sauk County Library and the South Central Library System.  Leah served as President of the Wisconsin Library Trustee Association in 1973 and 1974.  She was honored as WLA’s trustee of the year in 1968 and was again selected for this honor in 1976.  

Julia Wright Merrill worked for the Wisconsin Free Library Commission on two occasions, from 1903 to 1906 and again from 1917 to 1922. She taught in the WFLC’s library school and served as a field agent promoting public library service throughout the state. She was a national leader in public library extension and served as the first Executive Secretary of the Public Library Association of the American Library Association.  

Calvin (Cal) Potter’s was a consistent and effective legislative supporter for Wisconsin libraries of all types during his 23 year career as a member of the State legislature and during his four and a half years service as Assistant State Superintendent, Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning.  For his advocacy for libraries, Potter received WLA’s Citation of Merit in 1981 and again in 1985.  

More extensive coverage of the accomplishments of these five individuals will be forthcoming in later posts to the WLHC website. (By Larry T. Nix, WLHC Steering Committee)

Wii? Wheee!

A fine time was had by all at the WLA Foundation fundraiser, Wee? Wii? Que??...Gaming! Participants had the chance to play Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Wii bowling, and something called DDR that made me tired just to look at it. I got to try Wii bowling and Guitar Hero for the first time (under the expert and patient tutelage of some of my younger colleagues) and had loads o' fun -- while still getting trounced.

Music was provided by the fabulous Mississippi Blue -- the talented David Polodna and Mike Obmascher playing great tunes of their own plus covers of some old favorites. I especially enjoyed hearing "Pocahontas," an old Neil Young song that no one remembers except me and Mississippi Blue.

Thanks to the Foundation, the sponsors of the event, and all the fun folks who played.