Wisconsin Library Stories

There is a reference librarian at Madison Central who is extraordinary (and he's up against some mighty tough competition since everybody there is wonderful). I think his name is Jim and I have sort of known him for a long time, too long to ask his name now. Anyhow, I frequently have to select music for a radio show I co-produce and if I have even the smallest inkling about what I want, Jim is always there to help ferret it out. He goes to great, great lengths and is very skillful at using the reference materials to find stuff. It's almost as if each job is his own special mission. I really appreciate it. Jim and all the dedicated public library employees are part of the last bastion of what a civil society looks like in this country. Along with the public schools, there are what a democracy should be. We must defend and protect this valuable public resource. Thanks again.

~ Gay Davidson-Zielske

Anne Cherrier, who turned 101 this month, will be honored for her life-long love of reading at a reception on May 18th at the Menomonie Public Library. The reception is being sponsored by the Library and the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and will include the presentation of a certificate from the National Library Service. Read the full story in the Dunn County News.

For the last 13 years Judy Thelen has been volunteering in the West Salem Elementary Library Media Center. While Judy has helped with a variety of tasks, she's known for working with students to create extravagant bulletin boards and displays that promote reading. Recently, Judy received the Outstanding Adult Volunteer Award given by the Coulee Region Volunteer Coordinators. Read Judy's story in the Coulee News.

Dave Zweifel, editor of The Capital Times, offers his opinion that things have turned around for the State Historical Society.

A recent news release from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction summarized some of the exciting ways that libraries are preserving and disseminating information in the digital age: Wisconsin citizens conducted 18.8 million searches using BadgerLink, the state’s on-line library during 2006. The University of Wisconsin Digital Collections continue to grow with the recent addition of the Great Lake Maritime History site. Local public libraries have used federal funding to create electronic resources from local history materials. Wisconsin libraries recently formed a consortium call Wisconsin Heritage Online to encourage even more digitization of such materials. Finally, every public library in the state provides public Internet connections and school libraries help children learn to evaluate and use digital resources properly. Read the complete news release to learn more.

After joining the library in 1995, Paula Kiely's route to the top was rapid. Read the recently published story of the 11th city librarian of the Milwaukee Public Library System.