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January 2023 - Rhonda Gould |
How has being a member of WLA impacted you or your career? Do you have a library role model (in Wisconsin or elsewhere) that has provided you with inspiration or guidance? Please share a little bit about it. The first person who comes to mind is my Lakeshores Library System director Bernie Bellin. He has mentored me for over 20 years and I feel like need a rubber bracelet stamped WWBBD! He can write the book on schmoozing and while I will never supplant the master I come very close to it some days. He has my unabashed gratitude for encouraging me to participate in WLA. Kate Laughlin, the former executive director of the Washington Library Association (now the ED for ARSL), for consistently demonstrating pure grace. My YSS peeps Marge, Shawn, Rob, Roxane, and so many others (you know who you are!) for their fierce love of children's services. Sherry Machones for comic relief during ALA Council. John DeBacher, who was director at Monona when I did my practicum there in the fall of 1996 (while also taking another SLIS class, working full time, and trying to juggle life with a six- month-old) who taught me that public library work was fun and I was well suited for it. Do you have any advice for new WLA members? CHECK OUT PAST MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS |