Paul Nelson to Receive WLA President’s Award

Paul Nelson, adjunct assistant professor at UW-Madison SLIS and retired director of Middleton Public Library, will receive the WLA President’s Award at the WLA Conference Awards & Honors banquet on November 3, 2011, at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center.

Nelson, who has been in WLA’s legislative leadership for many years and was WLA President in 1998, will end his most recent term as the legislative committee chair at the end of 2011. His leadership was especially important this year as libraries faced some of the biggest challenges in memory, including budget cuts to library programs and institutions, threats to WiscNet and the elimination of maintenance of effort funding requirements for public libraries. 

Nelson’s efforts to keep people informed and motivated to advocate for libraries extends beyond official legislative alerts and communications.  His “Retiring Guy’s Digest” blog provides his personal, behind-the-scenes commentary about library and political activities in Wisconsin. There he often uses humor and a well-honed sense of irony to inspire, enlighten or even spark outrage. It has become a “must-read” blog for library supporters – or anyone - who loves politics and analysis of current issues.

The WLA Board and President Rhonda Puntney thank Paul Nelson for his exemplary legislative leadership during 2011.

The WLA President’s Award is given at the discretion of the WLA President and the Board of Directors.

Easy Reader Cork and Fuzz: The Babysitters Wins 2011 Burr/Worzalla Award

The 2011 Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award winner is the sixth book from the popular and loveable easy reader series, Cork and Fuzz: The Babysitters, written by Wisconsin native Dori Chaconas and published by the Viking Group. The Children’s Book Award Committee of the Wisconsin Library Association’s Youth Services Section annually awards the Burr/Worzalla to the most distinguished work in literature for children written and/or illustrated by a Wisconsin book creator.

In Cork and Fuzz: The Babysitters, Dori Chaconas tells another chapter in the lives of her characters Cork and Fuzz, the muskrat and possum duo. Dori tells a charming and amusing story, weaving in lots of humor and fun, with a good lesson to be learned as Cork and Fuzz learn the responsibilities of babysitting and the importance of helping others.

The Children’s Book Award Committee also named Barbara Joosse the 2011 Notable Wisconsin Author/Illustrator for her contribution to the world of children’s literature. To also recognize nominated books the Committee thought noteworthy, 5 titles were selected for Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Literature, written and/or illustrated by Wisconsin book creators:
My Garden by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books)
Shark vs. Train illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld (Little Brown and Co.)
Art and Max by David Wiesner (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
The Boys by Jeff Newman (Simon & Schuster)
The Reinvention of Edison Thomas by Jacqueline Houtman (Front Street)

The Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award is made possible by the Worzalla Publishing Company, Stevens Point, through a grant to the WLA Foundation.

The 2011 Children’s Book Award Committee members consist of Linda Jerome, La Crosse Public Library, Chair; Barbara Huntington, retired, DPI-DLTCL; Ruhama Kordatzky; Jennifer McNaughton, Greendale Public Library; Jeni Schomber, Beloit Public Library; Elizabeth Timmins, Muehl Public Library; Dawn Wacek, Rice Lake Public Library.

Waukesha Public Library is WLA's 2011 Library of the Year

The Wisconsin Library Association Awards and Honors Committee confers the 2011 Library of the Year award upon Waukesha Public Library. The award is conferred upon any type of Wisconsin library, library system or library network for distinguished achievement in service. The staff, library board or administering body, and the community or people served shall all be involved in the work for which recognition is sought. The award shall be based upon such activities or accomplishments as user oriented services, development and participation in networks and systems and cooperative planning with other libraries, collections, professional growth opportunities and employee job satisfaction, and changes or improvements in physical facilities resulting in better service.

Waukesha Public Library exceeds the five award criteria particularly in regard to strong community partnerships with organizations such as the School District of Waukesha, local businesses, UW-Waukesha, Carroll University, Waukesha County Technical College, Waukesha Civic Theater, the West End Artists Association, Waukesha County Project Head Start, Waukesha County Historical Society, and more.

Waukesha Public Library has been fortunate to complete a two-phase building project which has culminated in better service to patrons from children to seniors. Waukesha Public Library has shown a history of being proactive as demonstrated by its initiation of an integrated library system with two other Waukesha county libraries, fostering the system for nearly a decade, and then recently gifting it to the Waukesha County Library System for the entire county to utilize. Waukesha Public Library recognizes the importance of public art and has made itself a destination for many reasons including a space to experience visual art.

Waukesha Public Library is clearly appreciated within its own community, and we are happy to recognize its achievements as well.  From the facility to the staff to the programs and community partnerships, Waukesha Public Library has much of which to be proud and is a great example of a Library of the Year.

Congratulations!
--Rebecca Dougherty, Chair, WLA Awards & Honors Committee

Betty Backus, Union Grove, Wins WLA Citation of Merit

The Wisconsin Library Association Awards and Honors Committee confers the 2011 Citation of Merit award upon Betty Backus, Volunteer at the Graham Public Library in Union Grove, Wisconsin. The Citation of Merit is conferred upon Wisconsin citizens who are neither librarians nor library trustees, who have made outstanding contributions to quality library services.

Betty exceeds the award criteria by being an exemplary library volunteer for almost 20 years. Betty not only maintains but created Union Grove's local history collection by indexing and creating metadata from local papers, collecting information on local families, businesses, and community events, and continually combing local resources for additional information. She serves as the unofficial local genealogist and historian for Union Grove and its surrounding communities including Yorkville, Dover, and Paris. As if that were not enough, she also organizes the library's profitable annual book sale including recruiting more volunteers.

Members of the WLA Awards and Honors Committee are happy to honor Betty with the Citation of Merit and envy Graham Public Library and Union Grove for having such a fantastic volunteer.  Congratulations!
--Rebecca Dougherty, Chair, WLA Awards & Honors Committee

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)

Dr. Robert Smiley Receives 2010 WLA/WEMTA Intellectual Freedom Award

Robert Smiley, PhD, has been named the recipient of the 2010 WLA/WEMTA Intellectual Freedom Award. The award (formerly the WLA SIRS/Proquest Intellectual Freedom Award) recognizes the contribution of an individual or group who has actively promoted intellectual freedom in Wisconsin. It is administered by the Intellectual Freedom Roundtable of the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA IFRT) and the Wisconsin Media and Technology Association Intellectual Freedom Special Interest Group (WEMTA IF-SIG). Sponsorship is provided by TeachingBooks.net and the Center for Information Policy Research at the UW-Milwaukee School of Information Studies

Dr. Smiley, who recently became Director of Technology for the Waunakee Community School District, has been a powerful and effective advocate for unfiltered access to the internet for school district students and staff. As Director of Technology for the Stoughton Area School District, he responded to federal legislation demanding that schools and libraries receiving e-rate funding filter internet access by weighing the fiscal impact of accepting the funding against the impact on student learning if filters were installed. The result: Stoughton Area School District does not filter.

The principles of intellectual freedom apply regardless of the format in which information is delivered, noted award committee chair Megan Schliesman. “Instead of saying, ‘We don’t have a choice,’ when it comes to filtering, Dr. Smiley’s actions said, ‘We do have a choice, and that choice is to make student learning our first priority.’ The work he has done serves as both model and inspiration for educators in the state and nationally.”

Dr. Smiley took the lead on developing a Telecommunications Use Policy for the Stoughton district that provides the foundation for supporting unfiltered access to the internet. He has educated administrators, community members, legislators and others about the importance supporting open access to information and its positive impact on student learning. In addition to speaking to district staff and community members about the capabilities and limitations of the internet, he has presented at conferences and has attended local, state and national advocacy days for libraries to lobby for intellectual freedom and access for all.

Dr. Smiley has also made it a priority to educate others on navigating safely in an unfiltered world. In her nomination letter, Erlene Bishop Killeen, a library media specialist for the Stoughton Area School District, wrote that Smiley has “upheld the need for educating and proactive supervision of our students so that they are savvy technology users yet safe consumers.”

Additionally, Dr. Smiley has been an advocate and educator on the issue of net neutrality, emphasizing the importance of the internet as a place for the open exchange of ideas and information without restrictions based on content or that would limit or control access. He chaired the WEMTA Legislative committee that developed the WEMTA position on this issue, which states in part, “WEMTA supports the continued access to the Internet as an open forum for the free exchange and dissemination of information and opposes any legislation that would limit or control access . . . . Common carriage is the fundamental principle that supports the Intenet as an open, unbiased medium, and it should not be abandoned.”

The award will be given at the WLA Annual Conference Awards Banquet on Thursday evening, November 4, in the Wisconsin Dells.

The 2010 WLA/WEMTA Intellectual Freedom Award Committee was comprised of three individuals from the WLA IFRT board of directors and three individuals from the WEMTA IF-SIG. Members were Marcia Aas, School Library Media Specialist, Darlington School District; Nancy Biese, School Library Media Specialist, Menasha School District; Val Edwards, Library Media Specialist, Monona Grove High School; Judy Eulberg, retired library media specialist; Joyce Latham, Assistant Professor, UW-Milwaukee School of Information Studies; and Megan Schliesman, Librarian, Cooperative Children’s Book Center, UW-Madison.

WLA Awards Announced: Celebrating Excellence in Library Service

The Wisconsin Library Association is pleased to announce this year’s library luminaries, selected as outstanding for their contribution to libraries and librarianship:

Library of the Year
UW-Sheboygan University Library
Sheboygan
A new, state-of-the-art facility and a staff that have spent the last decade systematically building and enhancing progressive library services make this academic library a winner.

DEMCO/Librarian of the Year
Kathryn (Katie) Hanson, director, Graham Public Library
Union Grove
Library service improvements through technology, an expansion project and Katie Hanson’s personal touch have made the Graham Public Library a treasure in the community. WLA’s DEMCO Librarian of the Year will help Union Grove celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Graham Public Library this year.

Muriel Fuller Award
Darla Jean Kraus, director, Lakeview Community Library
Random Lake
Darla Jean Kraus is this year’s Muriel Fuller winner, recognizing her tireless advocacy for the Lakeview Community Library, from fundraising, management of remodeling and expansion projects, to increasing programming and collaboration with other community organizations.

WLA Highsmith Award
Ruff Readers Program – Racine Public Library
Racine
One of the first programs of its kind offered in the state, Ruff Readers gives the children of Racine an opportunity to practice their reading skills with non-judgmental listeners – certified therapy dogs that visit the library with their handlers.

Special Service Award
Chelsea Couillard, Christina Johnson, Catherine Phan
UW-Madison School of Library and Information Services
Madison
Conducted when all three were students at the UW-Madison School of Library and Information Studies, a Community Needs Assessment for the Red Cliff Tribal Library resulted in the restoration of some tribal library service, threatened by a lack of funding and other challenges.

Citation of Merit
Mead-Witter Foundation, Inc.
Wisconsin Rapids
The Foundation awarded noncompetitive grants totaling $382,000 to selected public libraries in central and northern Wisconsin for a variety of public use materials and equipment or programs. The Foundation has now given a total of $1,206,000 through grants that have provided libraries and their patrons innumerable benefits.

View more details about the award winners.

WLA congratulates these stellar winners and will celebrate their accomplishments at an Awards & Honors Banquet at this year’s WLA Conference in Appleton at the Radisson Paper Valley. The banquet will be held Thursday, October 22, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

WLA will present these award winners with a proclamation and plaque detailing their accomplishments. In addition to contributions from DEMCO and Highsmith, the WLA Awards program is supported by the WLA Foundation, through individual charitable contributions.